TL;DR
- Quarterbacks have won the NFL MVP award for twelve consecutive seasons since 2013.
- Patrick Mahomes and Josh Allen are leading contenders for the 2025 MVP award.
- Mahomes's Chiefs and Allen's Bills boast top rushing offenses and significant QB contributions.
- Mahomes's increased productivity and Allen's career-best season fuel their MVP race.
The NFL's Most Valuable Player award is also known as the "the NFL's best, most impactful quarterback" award. For twelve straight seasons, starting in 2013, MVP awards have been given to quarterbacks.
In that period, Patrick Mahomes (2), Lamar Jackson (2), and Aaron Rodgers (3) have each secured MVP honors more than once, collectively representing over fifty percent of the total wins. Josh Allen, who won last year, is aiming to become part of that select group in 2025.
Mahomes is the betting favorite to win his third MVP for the 5-3 Chiefs, which would place him seventh in NFL history to achieve this feat. The former players mentioned are all enshrined in the Hall of Fame (Jim Brown, Johnny Unitas, Brett Favre, Peyton Manning) or are certain to be inducted shortly (Rodgers, Brady).
Allen, on the other hand, is aiming for a second consecutive win for the Bills. Only Brown, Joe Montana, Favre, Manning, and Rodgers have achieved this feat multiple times previously, which would place Allen in a distinct category of elite company.
The Chiefs, led by Mahomes, are set to face the Bills, quarterbacked by Allen, in Buffalo during Week 9 on Sunday at 4:25 p.m. ET, CBS), let's examine who's been "most valuable" for his team in 2025:
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Mahomes versus Allen: Passing statistics
| Statistic | Mahomes | Allen |
| Passing yards per game | 262.4 | 222.9 |
| Passing YPA | 7.4 | 7.9 |
| Completion percentage | 67.0 | 68.0 |
| Touchdown passes | 17 | 12 |
| Interceptions | 4 | 4 |
| Passer rating | 103.1 | 103.6 |
Mahomes's increased productivity stems from necessity. The Chiefs' passing frequency sits at 56.8 percent, placing them in the league's mid-tier. The Bills' passing success rate stands at 49.5 percent, ranking them last. Thirty-two teams compete in the NFL.
Related, Buffalo holds the No. The NFL's top rushing offense, gaining an average of 164.4 yards per contest. Kansas City holds a solid second position. 9, 126.5 yards per contest. The two quarterbacks have both made significant contributions to their teams' rushing game.
Mahomes and Allen: A comparison of their rushing statistics
| Statistic | Mahomes | Allen |
| Rushing yards per game | 35 | 37.3 |
| Rushing YPA | 6.1 | 5.3 |
| Rushing TDs | 4 | 5 |
It may come as a surprise that Mahomes and Allen's statistics are so similar in a category where Allen usually excels. Mahomes is experiencing a career-best season, demonstrating increased willingness to run and create plays through his mobility for his team.
Mahomes's team versus Allen's team: The supporting players
Mahomes ranks second on his team in rushing, trailing Isiah Pacheco, who is now injured and did not play (41.1 yards per game). He now possesses five healthy, crucial targets at wide receiver and tight end: Travis Kelce, Rashee Rice, Xavier Worthy, Hollywood Brown, and JuJu Smith-Schuster. Aside from Trey Smith and Creed Humphrey on the interior, the Chiefs' offensive line is still a work in progress during this transitional period.
Allen's support comes from running back James Cook, who tops the NFL in yards per attempt with 6.0 and yards per game with 107.6. He has less reliable receivers, down to Dalton Kincaid, Khalil Shakir and Keon Coleman. The Bills' offensive line is superior across the board, from the tackles to the guards.
The Chiefs' offense has accumulated 3026 yards and scored 214 points. Mahomes accounts for 78.6 percent of the total yards gained and 58.9 percent of all touchdowns scored. The Bills' offense has accumulated 2,680 yards and scored 207 points. Allen accounts for 67.9 percent of the team's total yardage and 49.3 percent of their scoring.
Considering similar output, Mahomes' eight games versus Allen's seven highlight a substantial difference in how much each QB contributes to his team's success through both passing and running. Beyond the smaller, more profound receiving group, another benefit for Allen is that the Chiefs' defense is performing at a superior level compared to the Bills'.
Mahomes or Allen: MVP race
Mahomes isn't expected to match his 2019 and 2022 passing achievements, the previous two years in which he won MVP. Allen's current season is proving more effective and skilled than his single victorious season in 2024. It's debatable that Lamar Jackson deserved to win his third MVP award last season, especially when comparing him to other players.
There's been buzz around Patriots breakout QB Drake Maye and the Colts' Jonathan Taylor is trying to return a running back to MVP status for the first time since 2012. However, the visual evidence suggests Mahomes is experiencing a remarkable resurgence, bolstered by healthy offensive players and an increased contribution from his running game.
If Allen's Bills defeat Mahomes' Chiefs once more in the regular season and Allen performs better than Mahomes, it could temporarily shift the advantage back to Allen. But should Mahomes stay stellar and win with help from the defense and better passing and running stats, he has a chance to run away with his third MVP award in the second half.