For months, an intense NFL MVP debate raged between New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye and Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford.
While Maye had superior stats in most categories, won more games and did more with less, Stafford led the league in touchdowns and passing yards while playing a much harder schedule.
The 2025 NFL MVP results were announced before the Super Bowl, and as expected, they were incredibly close. Stafford edged Maye by one first-place vote, taking home his first career MVP award at age 37 and solidifying his Hall of Fame case.
While many Patriots fans were upset at the outcome, the NFL Playoffs proved that the voters made the correct call after all.
Stafford flourished during the postseason, leading all quarterbacks with 936 passing yards and six touchdowns with one interception in three games. Meanwhile, Maye was a complete dud, setting an NFL playoff record with 21 sacks taken and committing eight turnovers in four games.
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Look no further than their disparate performances against the Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks.
In the NFC Championship Game against the Seahawks, which the Rams lost 31-27 on the road, Stafford completed 22 of 35 pass attempts for 374 yards and three touchdowns. He only took one sack and did not commit any turnovers.
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Stafford dominated them in both of their regular-season matchups, too. In his three games against them this season, he threw for 961 yards and eight touchdowns with no picks.
Meanwhile, Maye was a total disaster against Seattle in the Super Bowl two weeks later, which New England lost 29-13 at a neutral site. While he padded his stats during garbage time, he was completely ineffective for the first three quarters. He finished 27 of 43 for 295 yards and two touchdowns while making numerous mistakes, including six sacks, three turnovers and 10 off-target throws.
Maye fared better than Stafford against common opponents during the regular season, but that certainly wasn’t the case during the playoffs. Stafford shredded the Seahawks’ defense and nearly beat them, while Maye looked completely overmatched against them.
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If the last few weeks proved anything, it’s that Stafford is a better quarterback than Maye and deserved the MVP over him.
Featured image via Ron Chenoy/Imagn Images
