NFL MVP Odds: Mahomes Favorite As Drew Brees' Offensive Struggles Continue

The National Football League (NFL) regular season is reaching its closing stages with just two weeks remaining and all eyes are on the race for the Most Valuable Player (MVP) with odds shifting on who takes home the much-coveted prize.

The two names that have been up there since the 2018-19 season got underway are the Kansas City Chiefs’ Patrick Mahomes and New Orleans Saints’ Drew Brees. The regular contenders like Aaron Rodgers of the Green Bay Packers and Tom Brady of the New England Patriots were all on the list but have since fallen off contention.

Mahomes and Brees have maintained their push and are the leading candidates at the moment, according to bookmakers. The two quarterbacks – the former a first-time starter and the latter a veteran – have been trading places at the top of the list.

They have now been joined by Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers, who has continued to impress in recent weeks after leading his team to comeback victories against the Chiefs and the Pittsburg Steelers. At 37-year-old, he is also a veteran like the Saints quarterback but is an outside shot to land the MVP prize.

Brees has been leading the charge for most of the season, but according to Vegas Odds, Mahomes has now moved ahead despite his team's loss against the Chargers on Thursday night. The Chiefs quarterback could emulate Dan Marino, who also won the MVP crown in his first full season as a starter in 1984.

Mahomes has thrown 45 touchdown passes and has 4,543 yards and could end the regular season with 5,000 yards. He also has two rushing touchdowns along with 11 interceptions, but bookmakers put him as the clear favorite with two weeks remaining.

The 39-year-old Saints quarterback, on the other hand, has struggled in recent weeks. Brees has managed just two touchdowns in the last three weeks, despite his team winning two of their three games with the most recent touchdown shutout coming during their 12-9 win over the Carolina Panthers on Monday night.

The Saints offense, which averaged well above 40 points for consecutive weeks, have struggled to break the 30 point barrier in their last three games. And Brees’ struggles have seen him drop off in the MVP race and is currently -105 compared to -140 for Mahomes.

Rivers, meanwhile, remains well off the pace and Vegas Odds puts him as an outsider in the race for MVP with +1,600. The bookmaker also has a number of players tied at fourth place in the race – it includes Los Angeles Rams trio Jared Goff, Todd Gurley and Aaron Donald along with Indianapolis Colts’ Andrew Luck.