Most Valuable Passer ... *Player

 

In a Quarterback-driven league, the MVP race is a Quarterback-driven award. It sounds like I am referencing the Heisman, but I promise you that it is much different. 

One week it is Russell, then Hail Murray, and now all votes point in the direction of reigning Super Bowl MVP Patrick Mahomes. Two of those three extremely talented professionals are under the age of 25. Patrick Mahomes knows what it feels like to be one of the youngest to win league MVP, but Kyler Murray would be joining an elite group. Lamar Jackson, Patrick Mahomes and Dan Marino were all under the age of 24.

Russell Wilson seemed like a sure thing, then the Hail Murray to DeAndre Hopkins happened and we all began to understand and appreciate how impressive Kyler Murray has been, then the Week 11 KC Comeback occurred. 

Let's recap (because it is worth recapping, no cap) ... 

Buffalo is leading Arizona 30-26 with just 34 seconds left. With a touchback and two timeouts remaining, Arizona needed to cover 75 yards. After a couple completions to reliable receivers, Murray went for it all from the Bills' 43 yard line with 11 seconds left to take home the victory. Did you know that there were two All-Pros included in the Hop coverage (Tre'Davious White and Micah Hyde)? Boom. Game over.

Fast forward to Week 11 and we're all tuned in to what is going on is Las Vegas (I know, it's still weird). The Raiders took a late lead over the Chiefs, but leaving any time on the clock is simply enough time for Pat Mahomes to do what he does best. Mahomes found his not-so-average tight end Travis Kelce for a 22-yard touchdown. That's it. That's the game. 

The common theme here seems to be game-winning drives that lead to MVP moments. Yes, I noticed that I did not dedicate a special paragraph to Russell Wilson. Numbers never lie and Wilson's stats speak for his MVP candidacy themselves. 

So, let's let Russ kickoff (football pun intended) this statistical starship conversation. Wilson leads in the category of completion percentage at 70.72%. He has 2,986 yards so far, accompanied by 30 touchdowns and over 350 yards rushing. Another category he leads the MVP front runners in is interceptions, at 10. Oddly enough three of his last seven interceptions came against Seattle's overtime loss to Arizona (I told you all that the NFC East would be intense). Regardless, Wilson has set himself a part from many in the game right now and is very much so deserving to be in this conversation. I know you all were shocked when the world found out that Russell has yet to receive a league MVP vote in his career. The disrespect. 

Wilson was the first sure-MVP candidate. Next, Kyler 'Hail' Murray *que Quinnen Williams*. Murray is arguably the best dual-threat quarterback in the game right now. 2,644 passing yards posted up on the year, 19 touchdowns, and only eight interceptions. Murray has over 600 rushing yards and 10 rushing touchdowns, the first since 2015 CAMVP to record that many rushing touchdowns. 

Now, for many, the leader in the MVP race ... at no surprise comes Patrick Mahomes. Over 3,000 passing yards, 27 touchdowns and only two interceptions. Yes, two. His rating is currently at a 114.3. Numbers do not lie, but the playmaking ability that Mahomes has is unlike anything we have ever been fortunate enough to witness before. He is surrounded by some of the league's best talent, yet he appears to be the most talented. 

Whoever takes home this award is more than deserving. You may see the numbers, but if you are watching the games then you understand that this award is much more than statistics. It is truly up for grabs, just like that 55-yard launch. One thing I do know for sure ... Russell is going to get that long-overdue vote. 

It is never too late to fight for justice and to ARREST THE COPS THAT KILLED BREONNA TAYLOR. 

Black Lives Matter. And will always matter. Let us use our voice for the voiceless and fight for CHANGE.