Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers is the heavy betting favorite to win the NFL MVP entering Week 17, and his biggest competition for the prestigious award isn’t going to play in the season’s final week.
The Kansas City Chiefs announced Wednesday that Chad Henne will start at quarterback in place of Patrick Mahomes in the season finale. The Chiefs are 14-1 and have the No. 1 seed in the AFC clinched, giving coach Andy Reid a chance to sit and protect Mahomes in Week 17.
The Packers are 12-3 and need a win over the Chicago Bears on Sunday to clinch the top spot in the NFC, ensuring Rodgers is going to play.
If Rodgers is truly the current favorite, he’ll have an opportunity to either pad his lead over Mahomes against the Bears or lose the MVP lead altogether.
Sunday is certainly a chance for Rodgers to add to his statistical argument. Already the NFL’s leader in touchdown passes and passer rating, Rodgers could grow his lead over Mahomes and easily set a new career-high in touchdown passes, and he has an outside shot at setting the new NFL record for passer rating in a season.
If Rodgers plays well against the Bears and the Packers clinch the No. 1 seed, there’s a good chance he’ll win his third MVP. Then again, if Rodgers struggles and the Packers lose, the door might swing wide open for Mahomes, who certainly has the combination of stats and wins to be the MVP.
| MVP breakdown | Rodgers | Mahomes |
| Completions/attempts | 353/502 | 390/588 |
| Completion percentage | 70.3 | 66.3 |
| Passing yards | 4,059 | 4,740* |
| Yards/attempt | 8.1 | 8.1 |
| Touchdown passes | 44* | 38 |
| Interceptions | 5 | 6 |
| Passer rating | 119.4* | 108.2 |
| Touchdown percentage | 8.8* | 6.5 |
| Interception percentage | 1.0 | 1.0 |
| Adjusted yards/attempt | 9.4* | 8.9 |
| QBR | 83.9* | 82.7 |
| Pro Football Focus grade | 94.5* | 91.4 |
| DVOA | 30.1% | 31.5%* |
| Team record | 12-3 | 14-1* |
*NFL leader