NFL MVP Race Update Following Week 16
The narrative around the NFL MVP race shifted coming out of Week 15, as Josh Allen and the Buffalo Bills made a significant statement with a comeback win over Drake Maye and the New England Patriots. However, Week 16 saw a restoration of the order at the top of the race.
On Sunday morning, a banged-up Josh Allen played a subpar game against the Cleveland Browns, with the Bills eking out a narrow victory. Simultaneously, Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert put on a show against the Dallas Cowboys, helping the Chargers improve to 11-4 on the season. Later that night, Drake Maye bounced back from an early interception to engineer two clutch fourth-quarter touchdown drives, overcoming an 11-point deficit to beat the Baltimore Ravens in prime time.
Earlier in the week, MVP frontrunner Matthew Stafford delivered one of the best quarterback performances of the 2025 season despite the Los Angeles Rams falling to the Seattle Seahawks on Thursday night.
So, did Maye do enough to claim the top spot? Did Allen’s rough day drop him in the rankings? Let’s break down the MVP race following Week 16.
Honorable Mentions
– Jaguars QB Trevor Lawrence
– Browns EDGE Myles Garrett
– Seahawks WR Jaxon Smith-Njigba
5. Packers QB Jordan Love
Week 16 didn’t go as planned for Jordan Love. He left Saturday night’s Packers-Bears game early in the first half with a concussion. Malik Willis stepped in admirably but couldn’t secure a win over the resilient Bears.
With the Packers essentially eliminated from the division race—the Bears now needing just one win or a Packers loss to clinch the NFC North crown—Love’s injury and the potential to miss Week 17 against the Ravens have caused a statistical drop-off. This has pushed him down the MVP list this week.
4. Bills QB Josh Allen
Allen arguably had his worst performance of the season on Sunday against a stout Browns defense, dropping him one spot in the rankings.
Among all qualified passers, the reigning MVP posted the second-lowest EPA per dropback (-0.45), outperforming only Jets rookie Brady Cook. Completing just 12 of 19 passes for 130 yards, Allen helped the Bills secure a 23-20 win to maintain their chase in the competitive AFC East.
Allen’s final public opportunity to bolster his MVP case will come in Week 17 against the Philadelphia Eagles. However, the Bills’ chances to win the AFC East depend on the Patriots losing to either the Dolphins or Jets. Allen may need those outcomes to occur to gain sizable ground on Drake Maye in the MVP race.
3. Chargers QB Justin Herbert
Herbert finally matched his stat sheet with the eye test in Week 16, dismantling the Dallas Cowboys in a convincing 34-17 victory.
While the Cowboys’ defense may not be representative of the challenges the Chargers will face down the stretch, Herbert’s performance was undeniably elite. He led the league in Week 16 with an impressive +0.72 EPA per dropback.
The Chargers star completed 23 of 29 passes for 300 yards and two touchdowns, adding 42 rushing yards and a rushing touchdown. At 11-4, the Chargers trail division-leading Denver by just one game. A Week 17 win over the Texans would set up a crucial showdown for the AFC West title with the Broncos.
2. Patriots QB Drake Maye
Maye’s Sunday night started shakily with an early red-zone interception. However, he quickly rebounded, showcasing exceptional pocket awareness, accuracy, touch, and athleticism—traits rare for a quarterback in just his second NFL season.
Leading the Patriots on two clutch fourth-quarter touchdown drives, Maye turned a 24-13 deficit into a thrilling 28-24 victory over the Baltimore Ravens, keeping New England ahead of the Bills in the AFC East.
Maye has consistently performed in high-pressure moments this season and has guided one of the league’s most improbable turnarounds. With two games left, he sits firmly in the heart of the MVP race.
1. Rams QB Matthew Stafford
Despite the Rams’ 38-37 overtime loss to the Seattle Seahawks on Thursday night, Stafford’s performance was nothing short of spectacular.
He completed 29 of 49 passes for a staggering 457 yards and three touchdowns, including an overtime touchdown to Puka Nacua on the game’s opening possession.
Although the Rams will likely enter the postseason as a wild card team, Stafford’s elite quarterback play makes a strong case for his MVP candidacy. Whether or not the Rams secure the division crown, Stafford leads a Super Bowl contender with one of the league’s most potent passing attacks, maintaining his hold on the top spot in the MVP rankings for now.
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The MVP race remains wide open heading into the final two weeks of the regular season. With stellar performances from Stafford, Maye, Herbert, and Allen, fans can expect an exciting finish to the 2025 campaign.
https://clutchpoints.com/nfl/nfl-stories/clutchpoints-week-17-nfl-mvp-power-rankings-drake-maye-bounces-back
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