After another big game, should Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts be considered the frontrunner over Patrick Mahomes?
The Philadelphia Eagles were among the most active teams this past offseason, where they made move after move to help bolster the roster after making it to the playoff as a Wild Card team. Now, the Eagles hold the best record in the entire NFL, losing just one game this season. Credit can be given to quarterback Jalen Hurts.
This past Sunday, Hurts led the Eagles to a blowout 35-10 victory over the Tennessee Titans after throwing for 380 yards and three touchdowns, while running for a score. This wasn’t a Titans team sitting at the bottom of the standings. This was a team that sits in first-place in the AFC South.
Considering the Eagles are now 11-1 on the year after this win, should Hurts be considered the frontrunner to win the NFL MVP award over Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes?
Should Jalen Hurts be frontrunner for NFL MVP over Patrick Mahomes
The way that the season is going, the NFL MVP race between Hurts and Mahomes could come down to the wire.
Hurts is having a historic season with the Eagles, as he broke the record for the most offensive yards recorded in the team’s first 12 games of the season with 3,549 yards, per NFL.com. That record was previously held by Donovan McNabb in 2004 (3,539 yards).
This season, Hurts recorded 2,940 passing yards, 20 touchdowns, and three interceptions while running for 609 yards and nine touchdowns on 132 carries.
As for Mahomes, he leads all quarterbacks with 3,808 passing yards, 30 passing touchdowns, 317.3 yards gained per game, and a QBR of 78.5. Mahomes is getting attention since he is putting up these numbers without wide receiver Tyreek Hill, who the team traded to the Miami Dolphins this offseason.
Mahomes has shown the propensity to run the ball this season, as he has accumulated 283 yards and two touchdowns on the ground on 44 carries.
In reality, this will all come down to how both quarterbacks play in their final five games of the season.
Here are the Eagles’ remaining games this season:
- Week 14: at New York Giants (7-4-1)
- Week 15: at Chicago Bears (3-10)
- Week 16: at Dallas Cowboys (9-3)
- Week 17: vs. New Orleans Saints (4-8)
- Week 18: vs. New York Giants
The Chiefs are set to play the following opponents down the stretch:
- Week 14: at Denver Broncos (3-9)
- Week 15: at Houston Texans (1-10-1)
- Week 16: vs. Seattle Seahawks (7-5)
- Week 17: vs. Denver Broncos
- Week 18: at Las Vegas Raiders (5-7)
In terms of strength of schedule, Mahomes does have it easier. But, it’s important to note that while the Broncos are 3-9, their defense is difficult to put up points against.
Hurts is making a serious case to win the NFL MVP award. As long as he can keep it up, and if Mahomes struggles down the stretch, the award should be all his.