The NFL MVP race for the current season has developed into a two-horse race between Kansas City Chiefs star Patrick Mahomes and Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts.
Mahomes, who won the prestigious award back in 2018, had been leading the way for much of the campaign but now Hurts is seemingly in with a big chance of landing the prize.
Patrick Mahomes has developed into the most consistent performer in the NFL, leading the Chiefs into the playoffs in each of his four full seasons at Arrowhead. His obvious brilliance has been noted in this interesting list of the 100 best position groups by franchise. For Kansas City fans, it must be very comforting to know that the 27-year-old is only just getting started.
Hurts has been instrumental during the Eagles’ stunning campaign, where they clinched their playoff berth before anyone else and are now 12-1 for 2022. This is Hurts’ third season in the NFL, and his performances have shown a marked improvement over this relatively short space of time.
This season he has thrown just three interceptions, and his total of 22 touchdowns is a tie with how many Hurts managed in 2020 and 2021 combined. His all-round game is what puts him in with a shot of the MVP award, with already ten rushing touchdowns to his name this season; an impressive stat, to say the least.
Over the course of the Eagles’ win over the New York Giants, Hurts set a new NFL milestone, becoming the first quarterback in the history of the league to reach ten rushing touchdowns for two successive seasons. No Philadelphia Eagles player has ever won the NFL MVP award, and that may be another achievement set to be unlocked.
Following their loss to the Eagles, Giants defensive coordinator Wink Martindale spoke of the similarities between the two MVP rivals in terms of their progression, stating;
“Then last year to this past year, he’s really worked on his throwing mechanics, his footwork, and it’s paying off for him,”
“The same way it did for Patrick Mahomes. If you go back and look at those comparisons, it’s very similar. He is a triple threat.”
“I was telling the defensive staff: I know they’re not going to play the Pro Bowl this year; they’re playing it in Philly because they’re talented across the board. Jalen is getting into that level — that top-tier quarterback — because you can just see the jump.”
The Eagles look set to win the NFC East for the first time since 2019, and under Nick Sirianni, it’s clear a punt at a Super Bowl title isn’t far off.
Meanwhile, the Chiefs are three games up on the Los Angeles Chargers in the AFC West and look a safe bet to lock up their seventh successive divisional title, and then the sky may well be the limit.
As for which of these two top QB talents will take the MVP award, it could go either way, and the final weeks of the regular season could prove crucial in the race.