Patrick Mahomes played a major role in pulling the Kansas City Chiefs out of their early-season slump, helping the team win five of six games after stumbling to an 0–2 start.
However, the Chiefs’ rising playoff momentum suffered a setback in their Week 9 defeat to the Buffalo Bills. The loss not only pushed Kansas City out of the current playoff picture but also dealt a significant blow to Mahomes’ pursuit of a third MVP award. His chances dimmed even further during the team’s bye week as several competitors vaulted ahead of him in the MVP race.
Mahomes Slips in MVP Rankings
According to Scott Phillips of The Athletic, Mahomes slid out of the top two positions in the MVP odds following a career-worst outing against Buffalo.
Phillips reported that Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford has emerged as the current MVP favorite, followed by rookie New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye. Mahomes now sits in third place, tied with Indianapolis Colts running back Jonathan Taylor.
Buffalo quarterback Josh Allen also fell sharply in the rankings after the Bills suffered a surprising defeat to the Miami Dolphins.
“The long-standing Mahomes vs. Allen MVP duel took a major turn after Week 10, with both losing their grip on the top of the odds board,” Phillips wrote. “With Buffalo’s unexpected loss in Miami and the Chiefs sitting at just 5–4, the MVP race is suddenly wide open.”
Mahomes has earned two MVP titles so far, and a third would further elevate his legacy, placing him alongside Tom Brady, Jim Brown, Brett Favre, and Johnny Unitas for the third-most MVP awards in NFL history.
Opportunity for Mahomes to Rebound
Despite holding the No. 8 seed in the AFC, Kansas City can begin climbing back up with a challenging stretch of games on the horizon. Phillips noted that Mahomes could quickly regain MVP momentum if he guides the Chiefs through this tough upcoming schedule.
“Recency bias certainly contributed to Stafford, Maye, and Taylor overtaking the usual MVP frontrunners,” Phillips explained. “It also shows that Mahomes and Allen have some ground to make up with so many strong contenders in the mix.”
The Chiefs return from their bye to face Denver and Indianapolis in consecutive weeks. Victories over two AFC playoff hopefuls could significantly strengthen Mahomes’ MVP odds.
Following those matchups, Kansas City faces a more manageable slate to finish the season. Andy Quach of SI.com wrote that Mahomes may need to tap into his elite form again if the Chiefs hope to make a deep postseason push.
“They have the 16th-easiest remaining schedule according to ESPN’s Football Power Index,” Quach said. “But they must handle business if they want to take the AFC West or even secure a Wild Card spot. An MVP-caliber second half from Mahomes may be essential for them.”
