Turf Show Times
One of the biggest debates over the past month has been the MVP debate. While Josh Allen made a quick appearance, this has mostly been a two-player race between Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford and New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye. The debate between Stafford and Maye has been done ad nauseam and, to a point, it’s almost become toxic.
From a Rams fan’s perspective, you have a 37-year-old Matthew Stafford who finished the season as the NFL leader in passing yards and touchdowns. Only three quarterbacks ever have thrown for 4,700 yards, 46 or more touchdowns and two or fewer interceptions. Those three quarterbacks are Peyton Manning in 2013, Tom Brady in 2007, and Stafford this season. From a pure passing standpoint, Stafford has been the best quarterback in the NFL.
However, a Patriots fan will tell you that Maye is the clear MVP. Maye led the NFL in yards per attempt, passer rating, and more advanced stats like QBR and EPA per play. The value that Maye added to his team from a rushing standpoint also can’t be ignored. Maye became the only quarterback not named Josh Allen in 2023 to throw for 4,300 yards, have 30 or more touchdowns, and 450 or more rushing yards in a single season.
One side of the argument will point to how Stafford has had the best statistical season for a quarterback in 2025 while playing against one of the more difficult schedules. While Stafford played six top-10 defenses to Maye’s five, Stafford only played against four bottom-10 defenses to Maye’s eight. At the time that each quarterback played against each defense, Stafford faced a pass defense with an average ranking via EPA per dropback of 15.47 while Maye faced a pass defense with an average ranking of 18.65.
Against top-10 defenses, Stafford averaged 0.22 EPA per play while Maye averaged 0.23. Maye dominated lesser competition, averaging 0.45 EPA per play against bottom-10 defenses to Stafford’s 0.21. Against common opponents, Stafford averaged 0.09 EPA per play to Maye’s 0.33.
There have been so many layers to the MVP conversation that it almost becomes difficult to keep track. What does ‘most valuable’ truly mean? Is it simply about being the best quarterback over the course of the season or is it the quarterback that does the most with the least?
It seems unfair to either quarterback to knock them for their style of play or their supporting cast, but it is something that will be used against Stafford. The media loves to fawn over the modern quarterback that can create out of structure with their legs. It’s how Josh Allen and Patrick Mahomes play the position. Lamar Jackson is one of the most exciting quarterbacks in the NFL because of his mobility. This is something that teams look for when drafting quarterbacks.
Still, while those quarterbacks create with their legs, Stafford is able to create and make plays out of structure, but in different ways. His ability to adjust arm angles...
