As the NFL season comes to a close, soon journalists and football greats will be debating and deciding on who should be crowned this years MVP. Although you can make a case for numerous players, two stick out from the rest: Patrick Mahomes and Drew Brees. Drew Brees, a future Hall of Famer who's still kicking it while being only days away from turning 40. And Patrick Mahomes, the new kid in town who makes plays that leave you wondering, how?
I've been following the NFL for the past decade, and I've fallen in love with the game of football. For the past couple of years, I've noticed a pattern though, especially when it comes to the MVP award. Unlike in years past when legends such as Joe Montana and Kurt Warner would bring home the award, for the past few years, the MVP award has turned into the “Decent Quarterback blows up for one year award."
Future Hall of Famer Peyton Manning Wikimedia Commons
This all started back in 2015 when Cam Newton had a season for the ages. The Panthers were 15 and 1, and Cam Newton looked like the best player in football. This was uncharacteristic of Cam because in seasons past he had been a solid quarterback but never a top 5 quarterback. He won the MVP award that year but had a meltdown in the Super Bowl, the next season he came back down to earth and he has not been at that unstoppable level ever since.
The year after Cams MVP year another NFC south quarterback seemed to magically elevate his play, Matt Ryan. In 2016 Matt Ryan looked like one of the greatest quarterbacks to ever play the game. Same as Cam, Ryan had never been an electric quarterback, but in 2016 his play was extraordinary. He won MVP that season and similar to Cam lost in the Super Bowl and the next year. He has not been able to mimic that play ever since.
Some people may point out last seasons MVP, Tom Brady. Arguably the greatest quarterback to ever play the game. He is a prime example of a legendary player winning the MVP award. However, you have to realize that throughout the majority of the season the MVP front-runner was Eagles quarterback Carson Wentz. In his second year in the league went was playing lights out before a torn ACL ended his season short. If not for that injury Wentz would've continued the streak of a breakout season being awarded the MVP honors.
Philidelphias Quarter Back Carson Wentz Wikimedia Commons
This year the NFL is on a similar path, Patrick Mahomes is having a magnificent season, playing excellent at the quarterback position. I'm not saying Mahomes is having a fluke season but if I had to choose the MVP award I would give it to Drew Brees. A quarterback who consistently plays at this level year in and year out. If he wins the MVP the NFL would prove it doesn't have a recency bias. I'm not saying Mahomes will not be an all-time great quarterback. Or that he won't be able to keep his game at this level every year. But I would not be surprised if Mahomes looks average next season after winning MVP this season. It's turning into a pattern and Mahomes could easily keep the streak going. He could also prove me wrong, well just have to see.
