NFL MVP Race after Week 2: Mahomes stays ahead, Allen closing in, Stroud in top 3
Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs held on for a second straight narrow victory in a Week 2 that was full of big upsets, and last second game winners.
Week 2 served us up some shocking upsets that showed us any team can be taken down at any time by any opponent. Some top teams tumbled as their MVP candidates struggled which leaves things wide open in the early season race for the MVP. Here are the MVP odds after the second week of the NFL regular season, according to MGM Grand
Patrick Mahomes, QB Kansas City Chiefs, +300
The Chiefs needed a pass interference call and a 51 yard game winning field goal to keep their perfect record in tact just a couple weeks in to the season. It was far from a perfect game from the two time defending champions, but Patrick Mahomes some how keeps coming up with ways to win. He had a less than stellar day, passing for just 151 yards while throwing two TDs and 2 picks. His 151 yards were the second lowest of his career and lowest in a game in which he played all four quarters, but the Chiefs still won. Isaiah Pacheco will be out for the next month to a month and a half, which is going to make life difficult for the Chiefs, but will be an opportunity for Mahomes to carry this team until he returns.
Pass stats: 71.7% CMP, 442 YDS, 3 TDS, 3 INT, 91.9 RTG
Run stats: 6 CAR, 32 YDS, 0 TDS
Josh Allen, QB Buffalo Bills, +450
In the first week of the season it was Allen putting the Bills on his shoulders and carrying them to victory. On Thursday against the Dolphins, James Cook put on a show and basically gave Allen the night off. The running back dominated on the ground, scoring three TDs while Allen threw just 19 passes. He finished the game with 139 yards completing 13 of those passes and throwing for one TD. The Bills built up a big lead by halftime and cruised to a second win in two weeks. We thought Allen was going to have to be Mr. Everything for the Bills, but Buffalo’s game in Miami shows us he’s not going to have to be Super Man each and every week.
Pass stats: 73.2% CMP, 371 YDS, 3 TDS, 0 INTS, 124.2 RTG
Run stats: 11 CAR, 41 YDS, 2 TDS
C.J. Stroud, QB Houston Texans, +550
Stroud and the Texans are the only other team in the top five MVP odds leaders to survive Week 2 at 2-0 aside from Mahomes and the Chiefs. People were expecting big things from Houston this year after their surprise turnaround a season ago, and so far so good for Stroud. The Texans played a tough Bears defense and came out scoring on their first three drives as Stoud and Nico Collins shredded the Chicago secondary throughout the first half. They led the whole game, but the Bears were in striking distance the entire night. Maybe more important than what Stroud did, was what he didn’t do. He didn’t make any mistakes or force anything on the Bears defense that might have put their lead in jeopardy. Sometimes less is more, and although he’s young Stroud is mature enough to know that.
Pass stats: 69.1% CMP, 494 YDS, 3 TDS, 0 TDS, 104.7 RTG
Run stats: 5 CAR, 12 YDS, 0 TDS
Jalen Hurts, QB Philadelphia Eagles +1200
For the first time in almost a year we saw Jalen Hurts start to use his legs to move the Eagles down the field. A knee injury kept the Philly QB in the pocket more than he and the Eagles would have liked last season. On a 4th down play late in the 2nd quarter, Hurts tucked it and ran for a first down and a big gain of 23 that led to the first TD of the game. We saw him run for a few more big scrambles through out the game and finished the night with 85 yards on 13 carries. It seemed like the Eagles were on track to down the Falcons on Monday night. He had his team in a perfect spot to close out Atlanta and put a third down pass right on the money for Saquon Barkley who had a chance to end the game, but the RB dropped the short pass and the Eagles let Kirk Cousins march down the field and take the lead in the last minute.
Pass stats: 67.2% CMP, 461 YDS, 3 TDS, 3 INTS, 84.2 RTG
Run stats: 26 CAR, 118 YDS, 1 TD
Brock Purdy, QB San Francisco 49ers +2000
With no Christian McCaffery and Deebo Samuel injuring his calf during the game, it was up to Brock Purdy to try and lead the Niners over the Vikings stingy defense. The Niners QB threw for over 300 yards, but with the injury problems plaguing the 49ers, Purdy had trouble keeping drives alive on important 3rd and 4th downs. The Niners eventually lost to the Vikings in one of the more shocking results in Week 2, but what should be a bit more troubling for Purdy and the Niners are the list of injuries that continue to pile up on the offensive end.
Pass stats: 72.3% CMP, 550 YDS, 1 TD, 1 INT, 96.3 RTG
Run stats: 3 CAR, 23 YDS, 0 TDS