TL;DR
- * Quarterbacks have won the NFL MVP award for twelve consecutive seasons since 2013.
- * Patrick Mahomes and Josh Allen are top contenders for the 2025 MVP award.
- * Mahomes is the betting favorite, with both QBs showing strong passing and rushing stats.
- * Mahomes is responsible for a higher percentage of his team's yardage and scoring.
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:
MORE WEEK 9 NFL:
- NFL power rankings for Week 9
- NFL Week 9 picks, predictions
- NFL Week 9 picks against the spread
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 is a strong No. 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 having a career year with his willingness to run more and make more plays that way for his team.
Mahomes/Allen: Star support
Mahomes is second on his team in rushing behind now-injured Isiah Pacheco (41.1 yards per game). At wide receiver and tight end, he now has five healthy key targets: Travis Kelce, Rashee Rice, Xavier Worthy, Hollywood Brown and JuJu Smith-Schuster. The Chiefs' offensive line remains a transitional work in progress when not thinking about Trey Smith and Creed Humphrey inside.
Allen is supported by running back James Cook, who leads the NFL with 6.0 yards per attempt and 107.6 yards per game. He has less reliable receivers, down to Dalton Kincaid, Khalil Shakir and Keon Coleman. Overall, the Bills have a better offensive line from outside to inside.
The Chiefs have produced 3026 yards of offense with 214 points. Mahomes is responsible for 78.6 percent of the yardage and 58.9 percent of the scoring. The Bills have produced with 2,680 yards of offense with 207 points. Allen is responsible for 67.9 percent of the yardage and 49.3 percent of the scoring.
That's a significant disparity in how much a QB is doing to lift his team with arm and legs when considering similar output, Mahomes having played eight games to Allen's seven. Other than the lesser, deeper receiving corps, the other advantage Allen has is the fact the Chiefs' defense is playing at a higher level than the Bills'.
MORE: Why does Patrick Mahomes wiggle his fingers before the snap?
Mahomes-Allen MVP race heats up
Mahomes won't be reaching his passing levels from 2019 and 2022, the previous two years in which he won MVP. Allen, however, is having a more efficient and proficient season than his lone winning campaign of 2024. When comparing others to Allen last season, it is arguable that Lamar Jackson should have repeated and won his third MVP.
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. But the eye test says Mahomes is having a spectacular renaissance, back-loaded with healthy weapons and now adding a lot more to the running game.
Should Allen's Bills best Mahomes' Chiefs on the field during the regular season again and Allen outplays Mahomes, that can tilt things back to Allen for the time being. 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.