The NFL regular season has come to an end, and what a season it’s been. Unexpected teams rose from the ashes, records were broken, rookies were sensational, and unlike most years, the Super Bowl is any team’s for the taking. Throughout the season we’ve also witnessed the rise of Kansas City Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes.
In the 2018 off-season, the Kansas City Chiefs traded QB Alex Smith to the Washington Redskins. After this trade people questioned how backup Patrick Mahomes would step up to the plate. After his personally successful time at Texas Tech, people saw him as nothing more than an above average QB with a strong arm. Soon enough, he’d prove everyone wrong. In his season opener against the Chargers, Mahomes would notch 256 passing yards, four touchdowns, and zero interceptions. 4,841 yards and 46 touchdowns later, he’s having one of the best QB seasons in recent memory, and an MVP campaign for the ages.
When we talk about the MVP, we talk about the player who’s the best in the league. Drew Brees, Philip Rivers, and Aaron Donald also had phenomenal seasons, but what Patrick Mahomes did this season, arguably tops what any player did in the last decade.
When discussing how good any player is, we look straight to the numbers before anything else. Patrick Mahomes, in 16 games played this season, had a whopping 5,097 passing yards, 50 touchdowns, and 12 interceptions. He’s only the second player in league history to hit the 5000-yard and 50-TD mark. Mahomes also achieved the eighth most passing yards in single-season history. In addition to that, he’s only the third player in league history to throw for 50+ touchdowns. Those stats alone give Mahomes a case for MVP. However, there’s even more that Mahomes accomplished that make him a surefire favorite.
The numbers always tell the story, but the eye test does as well. Some will argue that Saints QB Drew Brees has the numbers to back up an MVP argument as well. After watching both Mahomes and Brees this season, it’s clear to me and many others, that Mahomes is one of the best QB’s we’ve ever seen. He’s as accurate as any QB in the league. He can excel both in and out of the pocket, as well as use his legs effectively. You can contradict this statement by saying how Mahomes has weapons such as WR Tyreek Hill and TE Travis Kelce at his disposal. But even with them, any
Of course, with almost all of the MVP recipients across all leagues, one thing that may be common is winning. Mahomes didn’t lack one bit when it came to winning and coming through when it mattered. Patrick Mahomes led the Chiefs to a 12-4 record. With this record, Kansas City secured home-field advantage in the AFC at one of the toughest places to play, Arrowhead Stadium. Even with only four losses, Mahomes did face his fair share of adversity and came through in the clutch. Being down 20-23 in the four
With three minutes left, Mahomes managed to lead a game-winning drive while tossing a left-handed pass in the process. Furthermore, in Week 14 against the Ravens, Mahomes would make even more magic. Down seven with 90 seconds left, Mahomes would once again lead a drive that would result in a clutch game-tying TD. This drive would include an impossible and improbable fourth-down conversion, further adding to Mahomes’ MVP deserving season.
Considering all factors, it’s clear that Patrick Mahomes is the MVP. His season has just been incredible. Mahomes has already entered unprecedented territory this season, and he can only go up from here.
As the playoffs are here, Mahomes should feel that he has a chip on his shoulder. That chip is proving that he’s the best player this season. There’s no telling or predicting how Mahomes will perform because his opponent is unknown. Regardless, one thing remains clear: Patrick Mahomes is the 2018 NFL MVP… in my opinion.