New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye played for UNC before he was drafted in the first round of the 2024 NFL draft. Photo credit: Tennessee Titans/Wikimedia
Although the Associated Press picks five finalists for each of the NFL’s awards, this year’s MVP award is between two.
Matthew Stafford, quarterback for the Los Angeles Rams, led his team to a 12-5 regular season record.
Drake Maye, quarterback for the New England Patriots, helped his team finish 14-3.
Even with an inferior record, Stafford threw for 313 more passing yards than Maye, a differential wide enough to win one or even two more games. Both threw just 8 interceptions, but Stafford finished with fifteen more touchdowns.
Stafford was named to the Associated Press’ All-Pro first team, while Maye was named to the second.
However, don’t be shocked if Maye walks home with the award.
In 2024, Lamar Jackson threw for 441 more yards than Josh Allen. Jackson threw for 13 more touchdowns, and fewer interceptions.
Jackson was named to the All-Pro first team, Allen was named to the second.
Allen still won the MVP award.
The reason? ‘Most Valuable’ does not mean best. That’s the purpose of the All-Pro teams, to identify the best.
Jackson was aided with an elite running back in Derrick Henry, along with a thousand-yard receiving season from Zay Flowers.
While Stafford led the league in both passing yards and passing touchdowns, he has a top three receiver in Puka Nacua. Nacua ranks first in receptions, second in receiving yards and fourth in receiving touchdowns.
Maye’s number-one wide receiver is Stefon Diggs. Diggs ranks 12th in receptions, 16th in receiving yards, and 60th in receiving touchdowns.
MVP voters don’t take playoff performance into consideration, but at the end of the regular season, Stafford and the Rams were the fifth-seed in the NFC. Their regular season ended with losses to the top-ranked Seattle Seahawks and the eliminated Atlanta Falcons.
Maye and New England finished as the second-seed, behind the Denver Broncos.
Many critics bring up the fact that Maye and the Patriots faced a historically easy schedule. At the start of the season, the Patriots’ opponents had a combined 2024 record of 124-165. In comparison, the Rams’ opponents had a combined 2024 record of 142-147.
Even with an easy schedule, another angle to consider is that Maye reached a historic level of efficiency. Maye led the league in QBR (quarterback rating), gained yards per attempted pass, and completion percentage.
That was also accomplished by Tom Brady in 2007 and Kurt Warner in 2001. Both quarterbacks won MVPs.
While Stafford certainly has a solid argument for deserving the award, don’t be surprised if Maye’s name is called instead.
