NFL MVP Odds: Patrick Mahomes Regains Top Spot Ahead Of Drew Brees

The NFL MVP race has been a battle between two explosive quarterbacks with 16 years of age between them for the past several weeks. Drew Brees of the New Orleans Saints (11-2) was the front-runner for a while, but a gutsy performance against one of the NFL’s top defenses put Patrick Mahomes of the Kansas City Chiefs (11-2) back on top this week, as far as oddsmakers are concerned.

Mahomes is now a minus-money favorite for the first time in weeks, according to OddsShark. He has -150 odds to win the prestigious award in his first season as an NFL starter, reminiscent of Dan Marino winning it in his first full year as a starter in 1984. Mahomes has thrown for 4,300 yards, 42 touchdowns and 11 interceptions on the season.

Brees is a close runner-up with +110 odds. He had been a minus-money favorite as recently as last week, but a pair of underwhelming performances dropped his chances a bit. He was a non-factor in a nationally televised loss to the Dallas Cowboys (8-5) two weeks ago, and needed a second-half surge to beat the ailing Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday.

Brees has thrown for 3,463 yards, 31 touchdowns and four interceptions on the season, completing a staggering 75.7 percent of his passes.

Mahomes was the presumptive favorite for much of the season, but a five-turnover performance against the Los Angeles Rams (11-2) and a bye week gave Brees a chance to move his way up the ladder. Mahomes retook the top spot after throwing for 377 yards and two touchdowns in a come-from-behind win over the Baltimore Ravens (7-6) on Sunday.

Betting odds to win NFL MVP (OddsShark)

Patrick Mahomes -150

Drew Brees +110

Philip Rivers +1600

Aaron Donald +5000