NFL MVP Race Heats Up After Week 13 Shakeup: Stafford Stumbles, Maye Looms, Prescott and Love Surge
Just a week ago, Matthew Stafford looked like he was cruising toward the MVP. Now?
Not so much. The Rams quarterback turned the ball over three times in a surprising loss to the Carolina Panthers, and just like that, the MVP race is wide open again.
Stafford’s rough outing didn’t just cost the Rams a game-it cost him serious ground in the MVP odds. His odds dropped from a commanding -210 to a much shakier +105.
Even with 32 touchdown passes and only four interceptions on the year, that kind of performance at this point in the season makes voters pause. The Rams also lost their grip on the NFC’s No. 1 seed, and with teams like the Bears and Packers closing in, Stafford’s margin for error is shrinking fast.
That opens the door for Patriots rookie quarterback Drake Maye, who’s set to take the field Monday night against the Giants. If he delivers in primetime and leads New England into their Week 14 bye with another win, he could easily leapfrog Stafford and become the new MVP favorite. The Patriots are in position to claim the AFC’s top seed, and Maye has been the driving force behind that surge.
But while Stafford and Maye have been the headline names in the MVP conversation, two more quarterbacks are rapidly climbing the ranks-and they’re not just window dressing.
Dak Prescott: From Longshot to Contender
Dak Prescott’s MVP stock has skyrocketed, and for good reason. The Cowboys just knocked off the Eagles and Chiefs in back-to-back weeks-two of the NFL’s toughest tests-and Prescott has been locked in throughout.
Just last week, he was sitting at +10000 in the MVP odds. Now?
He’s climbed all the way to +1100, landing him third in the race.
Prescott has thrown for 3,261 yards, 25 touchdowns, and just eight interceptions while completing nearly 70 percent of his passes. That’s elite-level production, and it’s come at the perfect time for a Cowboys team trying to claw its way into the NFC playoff picture. At 6-5-1, Dallas still has work to do, but if they run the table and sneak into the postseason, Prescott’s MVP case only gets stronger.
He’s also got the weapons. With CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens rounding into form, the Cowboys are building one of the most dangerous passing attacks in the league. If Dallas keeps winning, Dak’s name won’t just be in the conversation-it’ll be near the top of it.
Jordan Love: Quietly Climbing in Green Bay
Don’t look now, but Jordan Love has entered the MVP chat.
The Packers quarterback has been steady all season, and after Green Bay’s Thanksgiving win over the Lions, he’s officially in the top five in MVP odds. Love’s numbers-19 touchdowns, three interceptions, 2,794 yards, and a 67 percent completion rate-aren’t as flashy as the names above him, but they’re efficient. And more importantly, they’re winning games.
Green Bay sits at 8-3-1 and has a shot to take over the NFC North lead in Week 14 when they face the Bears. If Love leads the Packers to a win and they keep pushing toward the No. 1 seed in the conference, his MVP candidacy gets a serious boost. He jumped from +5500 to +1500 after the win over Detroit, and he’s trending in the right direction.
Mahomes Fading, Williams Rising
On the other end of the spectrum, Patrick Mahomes’ MVP hopes are fading fast. The Chiefs are 6-6 and fighting just to stay in the AFC wild card hunt.
Mahomes hasn’t been bad, but the team’s inconsistency has dragged him down in the MVP race. His odds have slipped from +2500 to +5000, and unless Kansas City goes on a tear to close the season, he’s likely out of the running.
Meanwhile, rookie Caleb Williams deserves a nod. The Bears are 9-3 after upsetting the Eagles in Philly, and they’ve won five straight.
Williams hasn’t posted gaudy stats, but he’s leading a team that’s peaking at the right time. At +6000, he’s still a longshot, but if Chicago finishes strong and locks up the NFC’s top seed, he could sneak into the conversation.
Looking Ahead
With five weeks left in the regular season, this MVP race is anything but settled. Stafford’s stumble has cracked the door open, and now it’s up to Maye, Prescott, Love-and maybe even someone else-to walk through it. The playoff picture is just as fluid, and as we’ve seen time and again, a late-season surge can change everything.
The next few weeks are going to be telling. Monday night’s Patriots-Giants game could shift the balance again. And with matchups that will decide division titles and playoff seeding still ahead, the MVP race is shaping up to be one of the most unpredictable in recent memory.
Buckle up. December football is here, and the stakes couldn’t be higher.