Chiefs’ Patrick Mahomes and Russell Wilson embroiled in two-man race for MVP
By Joel Wagler
Kansas City Chiefs’ star quarterback Patrick Mahomes is trailing slightly in a race for the NFL MVP with Russell Wilson.
There are two huge reasons why the Kansas City Chiefs and the Seattle Seahawks are a combined 13-2 so far in 2020. Those reasons are their quarterbacks – Patrick Mahomes and Russell Wilson.
These teams are both good for more than JUST their signal-callers. Both teams sport a lot of weapons on offense. The Chiefs have their own stars at wide receiver, running back, and tight end. The Seahawks’ receivers and running backs may not be household names, but they are an impressive group.
Clyde Edwards-Helaire is third in the NFL in rushing yards, and Kansas City has added Pro Bowl Le’veon Bell to the mix. The Seattle tandem isn’t quite as impressive, but Chris Carson and Carlos Hyde, when healthy, offer a strong running attack.
Tyreek Hill is the star at wide receiver, with a lot of emerging talent around him, but the Seahawks have maybe the best one-two punch in the league with Tyler Lockett and the beastly DK Metcalf. Both of them rank in the top 14 in the NFL in receiving yards.
The Chiefs’ other big weapon is Travis Kelce, who ranks ninth on the receiving yards. He creates a lot of matchup issues because he has to be accounted for on every play.
As offenses, Seattle ranks third in total yards with the Chiefs right behind them at fourth. The Seahawks lead the league in scoring, with the Chiefs second.
Make no mistake, though. These two teams are led by their terrific quarterbacks. They are the brightest stars on any field on which they play.
Patrick Mahomes trails Russell Wilson by the slimmest of margins for MVP.
The MVP race may come down to the wire, and Mahomes and Wilson have to be considered the frontrunners. There are arguments to be made for each quarterback at the midway point of the season.
- Wilson leads the NFL in passing touchdowns with 26. Mahomes is third with 21
- Mahomes has only one interception (fewest in the league) to Wilson’s six
- Wilson is second in passing yards per game, Mahomes sixth
- Wilson leads the league with a QB rating of 120.8, Mahome is not far behind at 115.0
- Wilson has completed a career-best 71.5 percent of his passing attempts, while Mahomes has connected on a career-best 66.9 percent
- Both quarterbacks play on teams with just one loss
There is no doubt Mahomes and Wilson are playing at a very high level. Their offenses are high-performance machines, and the quarterbacks are the high-octane fuel that drives them.
Chiefs are a rushing team masquerading as a passing team. light. Interesting
If they perform at this level all season, the race may be determined by the team record and seeding in the postseason. The Chiefs, up to this point, have a slight advantage in that their defense is better.
Kansas City’s defense is tenth in fewest yards allowed per game while Seattle’s is dead last. In fewest points allowed per game, again, the Chiefs are toward the top of the league at third, and the Seahawks rank 24th.
The Chiefs still have games against the Dolphins (fewest points allowed) and the Buccaneers (seventh) and the Panthers (13th). If Mahomes can continue his stellar play against these stingy defenses and the Chiefs continue to win, Patrick Mahomes will be in a good position to overtake Wilson.
If Wilson continues at his incredible level of play, it will be hard for Mahomes or anyone else to catch him.
Next. Chiefs all-time passing leaders. dark