NFL MVP rankings: How does Patrick Mahomes rank after the overtime victory against the Buccaneers?
In the NFL, you can either play to avoid losing or take risks to win.
Following the game on Monday Night Football, Tampa Bay Buccaneers coach Todd Bowles appeared to choose the latter, opting not to attempt a two-point conversion in the final moments against Patrick Mahomes, Coach Andy Reid, and the Kansas City Chiefs.
Bucs quarterback Baker Mayfield was visibly frustrated as he looked skyward after Mahomes won the overtime coin toss, then led the decisive touchdown drive for a 30-24 win while Tampa Bay’s offense never took the field again.
“We believed the wet conditions would make it better to go into overtime rather than go for two,” Bowles stated post-game.
Isn’t that the same wet field that allowed Tampa Bay to score a touchdown and successfully convert the extra point to tie the game?
When will NFL coaches grasp this concept?
Bowles’ choice to play for overtime cost the Buccaneers a shot at a significant upset against the two-time reigning Super Bowl champions. Consequently, Mahomes and the Chiefs remain unbeaten, strengthening his case for the 2024-2025 NFL MVP title.
But how does Mahomes rank in YSL News Sports’ NFL MVP listings after Week 9?
5. Commanders QB Jayden Daniels, stock down
Perhaps we were a bit too quick to elevate Daniels to the No. 1 spot last week after his remarkable Hail Mary touchdown. Either that, or his Week 9 performance didn’t quite measure up after that electrifying play.
In Week 9, Daniels completed 15 of 22 passes for 209 yards with two touchdown connections to Terry McLaurin, leading a touchdown drive in a 27-22 victory to sweep the New York Giants on Sunday. Washington is now 7-2 for the first time since 1996 and leads the NFC East.
Daniels boasts the third-best QBR in the NFL and ranks fifth in passer rating. He is a strong contender for Offensive Rookie of the Year. The team has recorded 27 touchdowns, placing sixth in the NFL, and leads the league with 15 rushing touchdowns.
However, with only nine touchdown passes this season, Daniels falls to No. 5 on our MVP list.
4. Bills QB Josh Allen, stock up
Allen climbs a spot in our MVP rankings after throwing three touchdown passes in the second half and leading the drive for a game-winning field goal against the Dolphins last week.
This was a comeback win for the Bills, who were behind 10-6 at halftime and may have already secured the AFC East title in Week 9, enhancing his MVP profile.
Allen is tied for fourth with 17 touchdown passes and holds the fourth-best QBR as well as the sixth-best quarterback rating this season. He also threw just his second interception last week.
Together with the Bills, he is tied for third with 31 touchdowns, consistently defeating teams with weaker records this season.
3. Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes, stock up
Mahomes has risen in our MVP rankings after throwing two touchdown passes in the fourth quarter and orchestrating the game-winning drive in overtime, leading the Chiefs from a 17-10 deficit to maintain their undefeated record.
Despite his impressive performance, Mahomes’ stats keep him from claiming the top position after Week 9; he ranks sixth with 11 touchdown passes, sixth in completion percentage at 69.9%, and has the sixth-best QBR at 67.6. His average of 242.8 yards per game is 10th, while he sits 14th in total passing yards at 1,942.
An additional upside is that Mahomes is no longer the leader in interceptions; he remains with nine following Week 9, while both Jordan Love and Geno Smith have 10 each.
Still, leading the NFL’s only undefeated team supports Mahomes’ campaign for a third MVP title.
2. Lions QB Jared Goff, stock steady
Goff holds on to the No. 2 position for the third week running after another solid showing: He connected on his first 11 passes, wrapping up with 18 of 22 for 145 yards and a touchdown in a 24-14 victory over the Green Bay Packers on Sunday.
A key strength in Goff’s MVP candidacy is his remarkable statistic: He has an 82.8% completion rate with a passer rating of 140.1 over his last six games, marking the highest figures over any six-game span in NFL history. He has also thrown 13 touchdown passes against just one interception during Detroit’s flawless stretch of 6-0.
It’s evident that Detroit is the premier team in the NFC: The Lions are 7-1 for the first time since 1956 and have amassed 32 touchdowns, the second-most in the NFL.
Goff stands out as the most efficient quarterback, boasting a completion percentage of 74.9 and the second-best passer rating (115.0). However, his QBR of 58.7 places him 14th.
1. Ravens QB Lamar Jackson, stock up
Jackson retains the top position in our MVP rankings after a stellar performance on Sunday, throwing for 280 yards and three touchdowns while achieving a perfect passer rating in Baltimore’s 41-10 triumph over the Denver Broncos.
This marked the fourth occasion in Jackson’s career that he achieved a passer rating of 158.3, a feat he has accomplished more than legends like Tom Brady, Peyton Manning, Kurt Warner, and Ben Roethlisberger since the Super Bowl era.
Jackson holds the highest passer rating (120.7) and QBR (77.3) in the league. Additionally, he ranks second in the NFL with The Ravens have thrown 20 touchdown passes and currently hold the top spot in the NFL with a total of 34 touchdowns this season.
Despite their 6-3 record, Baltimore fans are enthusiastically chanting for MV3, anticipating that Jackson will win his third NFL MVP award.
