NFL MVP Watch: Regular Season Finale
There have truly been so many amazing seasons by players in the NFL this year. But two in particular top the rest in the Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts and Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes.
There are obviously cases that can be made to back candidates like former LSU stars Vikings wide receiver Justin Jefferson and Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow. Honorable Mentions also belong to Bills quarterback Josh Allen and Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith.
Allen again has put Buffalo right where they need to be heading into divisional weekend, and Smith even with the loss last week has proved everyone wrong about himself and the team without former quarterback Russell Wilson. With a decision looming, it seems only fair that Mahomes and Hurts are the ones we really outline an argument about.
There is just so much to say about the season that Hurts has had. The Eagles quarterback lost one game all season while throwing for 22 touchdowns and just six interceptions and running for another 13 scores. Last season, many were weary of Hurts and what he could potentially accomplish. But another year in Nick Sirianni’s system and the addition of wide receiver A.J. Brown and emergence of second year wide receiver Devonta Smith has done wonders for Hurts.
The Eagles offense suffered when Hurts was injured at the end of the season which in many’s eyes is the only reason he may have lost the MVP race. Philadelphia dropped two games with quarterback Gardner Minshew under center and looked a bit worrisome in their last game against the Giants backups. There is no question after this season that Hurts means nothing short of everything for this talented Eagles team.
Losing wide receiver Tyreek Hill worried a lot of Chiefs fans coming into the season. Quarterback Patrick Mahomes stats alone are impressive enough to win MVP and you could make the case, they are as good, if not better than his first breakout season in 2018. He has thrown for 41 touchdowns and 12 interceptions while also having a career high with four rushing touchdowns.
Mahomes has yet again proved that he is the best player in the league this season.
He has led the Chiefs to three top seeds in the playoffs during the last five years. What this former NFL and Super Bowl MVP has done for this franchise is truly something that Jalen Hurts and the Eagles are still years away from.
It seems a bit unjust for a player of Mahomes’ caliber to have just one MVP title in five seasons as the starter. There is no doubt that Jalen Hurts has proved he is going to be a threat to this whole league. But throwing for over 5,000 yards, not missing a single start and sweeping one of the more talented divisions in the NFL in the AFC West is just too tough to beat.
Mahomes should have this award wrapped up, but expect to see Hurts considered in the MVP race for years to come. Unfortunately, his shoulder got in the way of him making this an extremely close finish.
Sam Kirk is a junior majoring in broadcast journalism. To contact him, email sjk6325@psu.edu.
