Packers’ Aaron Rodgers vs. Chiefs’ Patrick Mahomes

They will not meet in Super Bowl LV — quarterback Tom Brady and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers spoiled that — so the one Aaron Rodgers–Patrick Mahomes head-to-head matchup this season comes on Saturday evening on the tenth annual NFL Honors (9 p.m. ET, CBS).

One among them will virtually actually be named the NFL’s MVP.

And it will not be the primary for both one.

Rodgers, the Green Bay Packers‘ 37-year-old quarterback, would grow to be a three-time winner — becoming a member of Joe Montana, Brett Favre. Peyton Manning and Tom Brady — as the one gamers to win it greater than twice.

Mahomes, the Kansas City Chiefs‘ 25-year-old quarterback, would grow to be the tenth participant to win a number of MVPs and would be a part of Jim Brown as the one gamers to win it twice of their first 4 NFL seasons.

Within the voting for the Related Press All-Professional workforce, picked by the identical group that selects the MVP, Rodgers obtained 46 of the 50 votes. Mahomes and Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen every obtained two. There are not any second- and third-place votes; selectors decide one participant for the MVP.

If Rodgers wins it over Mahomes, it will be the sixth time within the Tremendous Bowl period quarterbacks on groups with the highest two data completed one-two within the MVP voting.

This is a more in-depth have a look at the instances for Rodgers and Mahomes:

Aaron Rodgers

Common-season stats: 372-of-526 (70.7%), 4,299 yards, 48 TDs, 5 INTs, 121.5 QBR

Case for Rodgers: Do not forget that receiver Rodgers wanted? He by no means bought him. Not solely did the Packers take quarterback Jordan Love within the first spherical of final 12 months’s draft, they ignored the receiver spot fully, which means Rodgers primarily had the identical group of pass-catchers (broad receivers and tight ends) he had the 12 months earlier than. He has a star in Davante Adams. However what number of different quarterbacks may do what Rodgers did with Allen Lazard and Marquez Valdes-Scantling as their Nos. 2 and three receivers? And the way many individuals had heard of tight finish Robert Tonyan earlier than this season? Sure, coach Matt LaFleur’s scheme helped get gamers broad open extra typically than most — and he ought to get some run for Coach of the 12 months — however Rodgers’ group of weapons does not stack up with Mahomes’.

Key MVP stat: Forty-eight touchdowns and 5 interceptions. Rodgers grew to become the third participant in NFL historical past to guide the league in passing touchdowns whereas throwing the fewest interceptions, in keeping with Elias, becoming a member of Brady (36/4 in 2010) and Johnny Unitas (19/7 in 1958).

Case towards Rodgers: It is good this can be a regular-season award, as a result of he wasn’t at his greatest within the NFC Championship Recreation. He grew to become the primary quarterback to lose in 4 straight convention title recreation appearances when the Packers misplaced to Tampa Bay. He is thrown at the very least one interception in every of his 5 NFC title recreation begins. However because the voters should flip of their ballots the week after the regular-season finale, there’s not a lot of a case to be made towards Rodgers.

Nitpicking quantity: Possibly the offensive line ought to be given extra credit score for Rodgers’ success. He was sacked 20 occasions, and the Packers led the NFL in ESPN’s cross block win price at 73.8%. — Demovsky

Patrick Mahomes

Common-season stats: 390-of-588 (66.3%), 4,740 yards, 38 TDs, 6 INTs, 108.2 QBR

Case for Mahomes: He led the NFL in passing yards till the season’s ultimate recreation, which he sat out as a result of the 14-1 Chiefs had already clinched the AFC’s No. 1 playoff seed. Mahomes was at his greatest when the Chiefs wanted him most. He guided them to a 4-0 file towards groups that finally made the playoffs. In these video games, Mahomes accomplished 70% of his passes for 1,326 yards with 12 touchdowns, zero interceptions and a passer ranking of 118.6. Within the three cases when the Chiefs wanted a rating on their ultimate possession of the fourth quarter to both win or ship a recreation to extra time, Mahomes delivered a scoring drive.

Key MVP stat: Mahomes was at his greatest within the fourth quarter and extra time. He had a QBR of 93.7 after the third quarter, which was greatest within the league and 17 factors greater than Rodgers, who completed ninth.

Case towards Mahomes: There is no such thing as a case towards Mahomes that’s hermetic. He did get sloppy at occasions, notably in a Week 14 recreation towards the Dolphins. He threw three interceptions — two within the first quarter — and took a 30-yard loss on a sack when he made a nasty resolution to attempt to keep away from the cross rush. He nonetheless wound up throwing for 393 yards and two touchdowns.

Nitpicking quantity: Mahomes was thirteenth within the league in QBR within the purple zone at 80.2. Rodgers was first at 99.1. — Teicher