Kansas City Chiefs: Thursday night could determine league MVP in 2018

By Leigh Oleszczak | Dec 11, 2018

CARSON, CA - SEPTEMBER 09: Quarterbacks Patrick Mahomes #15 of the Kansas City Chiefs and Philip Rivers #17 of the Los Angeles Chargers shake hands after the game at StubHub Center on September 9, 2018 in Carson, California. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images) /

The Kansas City Chiefs host the Los Angeles Chargers on Thursday night and it’s a very important game for both sides. It could, however, play a large factor in who wins the MVP award at season’s end.

All season long, Patrick Mahomes has been listed among the top when it comes to who could the Most Valuable Player award when the 2018 season wraps up. It’d be the first time a member of the Kansas City Chiefs have won the award, which is baffling, but true.

Mahomes appears to be the favorite right now and for good reason. The gunslinger out of Texas Tech has thrown for 4,300 yards, 43 touchdowns, and 11 interceptions and continues making some incredible throws along the way.

Mahomes’ 43 touchdowns leads the league by a large margin, with Andrew Luck posting the second most with 34 scores through the air. Drew Brees has 31, but as good as the Saints quarterback has been this season, his rough start against the Cowboys and tough first half in Tampa this past weekend might have doomed him in the MVP race.

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A player who could, however, make a strong case for MVP is the very same player squaring off against Mahomes this Thursday night at Arrowhead Stadium. That guy is Philip Rivers, who is having a phenomenal season.

Through the first 13 games of the season, Rivers has thrown for 3,638 yards, 29 touchdowns, and six interceptions. His total yardage and touchdowns aren’t as good as Mahomes’, but that interception number is quite impressive and is what’s keeping Rivers in the running.

Thursday night’s game is mostly important because it’ll play a big factor in determining who wins the AFC West, as well as the top seed in the AFC playoffs. Mahomes very well could wrap up the MVP race with a dominant performance in primetime, but he also could slip if he has a bad game.

If Mahomes struggles and Rivers ends up out dueling him, that could put the Chargers quarterback in the driver’s seat for the MVP award. Again, this is a big IF.

It’s hard to imagine Patrick Mahomes NOT winning Most Valuable Player, but perhaps if he struggles in one of these final three games, it won’t be as much of a given. He could end up breaking Peyton Manning‘s all-time single season touchdown passes record set in 2013 and that should speak for itself. Manning won the MVP that year for what it’s worth.

Chiefs fans get upset when anyone brings up another potential MVP candidate, but Philip Rivers being in consideration for it isn’t the craziest thing. He has the Chargers in prime position to make a big run this winter whether they’re the AFC West winners or a Wild Card.

At this point, however, the MVP award appears to be Patrick Mahomes’ to lose. If he puts on a show this Thursday night, he very well could wrap up the race all together.

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