As the countdown to the NFL Honors continues to dwindle, the debate over who should take home the league’s most prestigious honor the NFL MVP.
Players such as Los Angeles Rams’ defensive end Aaron Donald and Chicago Bears’ defensive end Khalil Mack have been featured heavily in the conversation, yet two names have been stuck at the top of the list for quite some time. Kansas City Chiefs’ quarterback Patrick Mahomes and New Orleans Saints’ quarterback Drew Brees is currently leading in the MVP race. Many people believe this race to be a very tight one. However, I don’t think this is indeed the case.
The two main statistics which have kept this race close are passing yards and passing touchdowns. Mahomes leads Brees by 824 yards and 16 touchdowns. Although Mahomes’ numbers are impressive, these are the only major categories in which Brees trails Mahomes.
Brees has thrown only five interceptions compared to Mahomes’ eleven. Brees has fumbled five times this season although while only losing one while Mahomes has nine total fumbles, losing 2 of those. While Brees has the edge when looking at turnovers this season, he also has a significant advantage in the efficiency ratings for a quarterback. Brees’ 74.4 completion percentage, 115.7 quarterback rating and a Pro Football Focus grade of 94.7 are the highest among quarterbacks in the NFL this season. It’s tough to argue against that level of efficiency.
Another topic that comes up in this debate is the ability to perform in big moments. Brees has led his team through 7 game winning drives this season compared to Mahomes’ 2. Brees and the Saints are also 6-1 against winning teams while Mahomes and the Chiefs and 3-4 in the same category. To add to this idea, the Saints currently have the best record in the NFL, so it should be obvious that the best quarterback on the best team should win the league’s best award.
To wrap this up, let’s think about what MVP stands for; Most Valuable Player. Brees and the Saints are practically synonymous. He is the most valuable player for not just the team but also the entire city of New Orleans. If you take Brees off of the New Orleans Saints, this season may have gone much differently than it did. If Mahomes were not on the Chiefs, I believe they would still find ways to win given the talent of the supporting cast in Kansas City.
When the NFL Honors show airs on Saturday, February 2, 2019, Drew Brees should be awarded the MVP award. That is the only fitting way to recognize the greatness that Brees has displayed throughout the 2018 season.
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