Even the most optimistic fans probably weren’t expecting this level of play from New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye. After a promising rookie season, he has quickly risen to become one of the best passers in the NFL.
The second-year quarterback’s play has been so impressive that he’s entered MVP conversations in recent weeks. The typical candidates are mostly out of the running for various reasons this year, so Maye has a legitimate shot to win the award.
Two of his top competitors for the honor, Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford and Seattle Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold, faced off in a Week 11 matchup that captured the attention of football fans across the country. They both put forward disappointing performances, making Maye the obvious MVP choice at this point in the season.
Patriots’ Drake Maye is the clear MVP frontrunner after ugly Rams-Seahawks game
Maye didn't exactly have a league-shattering game in Week 11. He had a relatively quiet one-touchdown performance against the New York Jets in a comfortable win for New England. His day was marked by precision and efficiency as his 25 completions were his most since Week 3.
But it isn't his own performance that has him emerging as an MVP favorite. It's the disappointing showings from both Stafford and Darnold in a game that everyone was watching. Stafford had just 130 passing yards and barely completed half of his attempts, earning a mediocre Quarterback Rating of 45.5. The Rams' rushing attack carried their offense.
Stafford's performance wasn't anything special, but Darnold completely tanked his chances at winning the MVP. The former Minnesota Vikings quarterback threw four interceptions on the day, ruining what could have easily been a Seahawks victory. He seemed lost throughout the game, consistently getting fooled by the Rams' defensive looks.
The costly mistakes often came in the face of pressure, reviving an old critique of Darnold's play. There is still plenty of time left in the season, but it's hard to picture him winning the MVP after a performance like that.
AFC East rival Josh Allen put his name into the hat with a six-touchdown outing against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. At this point, it looks like a race between Maye, Stafford, and Allen. If the Patriots quarterback continues his current level of play and New England earns one of the top seeds in the AFC, he should be the favorite to win the award.