The MVP race is anything but simple

Nobody cares who the MVP should be halfway through the season, but voters also like to have a decision made before the playoffs begin and Matthew Stafford’s case is as good as anyone’s. The quarterback in his 17th season is having a career year with a league-leading 21 touchdowns and only two interceptions, which in many cases would make Stafford a simple vote for the undecided. However, 2025 has been anything other than simple and while Rams fans will say “Yeah, obviously it’s Matthew Stafford”, what about fans of the Patriots?

Or the Eagles?

Or the Bills?

Or the Seahawks?

Or the Colts?

In past years, Stafford’s numbers would have him as a clear frontrunner on the stat leaderboards. But in an age of passing where the league has practically made it illegal to touch the quarterback or the receivers, Stafford’s phenomenal touchdown:interception ratio only has him sixth in passer rating. How is that possible and what does it to do in the MVP debate?

Halfway through the 2025 season, does Matthew Stafford have the strongest case to win MVP?

Patriots fans would say: “Drake Maye does more with less”

In only his second season, Maye has the Patriots back atop the AFC East at 7-2 and tied with the Colts and Broncos for best record in the AFC. Maye was drafted by a team that went 4-13 in Bill Belichick’s last season and 4-13 in Maye’s rookie season with Jerod Mayo, ranking 30th in points scored, and now they’re already back in the race for the number one seed.

Maye’s 116.9 passer rating is the best in the NFL for any quarterback who has made more than 5 starts.

With 17 touchdowns and four interceptions, Maye is on pace for over 30 touchdown passes despite his top receivers being Stefon Diggs (who nobody wanted before he got linked up with Maye), Kayshon Boutte, Hunter Henry, and Mack Hollins. New England is also supposed to have one of the worst offensive lines in the league and Maye has endured 34 sacks already, second-most in the league behind Cam Ward.

Maye is also a gifted athlete, rushing for 270 yards and two touchdown.

C’mon Rams fans, are you really going to deny that the voters are dying to vote for a Patriots MVP again?

Eagles fans would say: “Jalen Hurts is a winner”

The Eagles had the week off but the defending Super Bowl champions are still in first place and leading the race for the number one seed at 6-2 with a 5-1 conference record. Hurts is 49-12 as a starter since 2022.

This season, Philadelphia has already beaten the Rams, the Bucs, the Chiefs, the Vikings, and the Cowboys. We’re almost certain of three of those teams making the playoffs and the Vikings, Cowboys could get in too.

This season, Hurts has a 114.4 passer rating (Stafford’s is below his at 113.2) with 15 touchdowns and one interception, plus he has rushed for 207 yards and five...