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The Kansas City Chiefs announced on Wednesday that quarterback Patrick Mahomes will sit out the team’s regular season finale against the Los Angeles Chargers. Chad Henne will get the start as the Chiefs rest up some of their starters for the 2021 NFL Playoffs.
Mahomes sitting means we are seeing a shift in the MVP race. He will not be adding to his regular season profile. This season, the superstar quarterback completed 66.3 percent of his passes for 4,470 yards (league-high), 38 touchdowns, and six interceptions. He also rushed for a career-high 308 yards and two touchdowns.
Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers is now listed as the favorite (-400) to win the NFL MVP, according to DraftKings Sportsbook. A week ago, Mahomes was listed as the odds on favorite at -400. Meanwhile, Rodgers was sitting in second place at +400 odds to win the league’s MVP.
Mahomes has had some ups and downs in the back half of the season, and sitting out the finale will not allow him to make up for a less than stellar performance against the Falcons last week. Mahomes now sits at +350 to win the award. He’s followed by Bills quarterback Josh Allen (+1300), Packers wide receiver Davante Adams (+10000), Titans running back Derrick Henry (+10000), Bucs quarterback Tom Brady (+25000), and Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson (+25000).
In regards to Rodgers, the 37-year-old quarterback has been playing on a different stratosphere this season. He is completing 70.3 percent of his passes for 4,059 yards, 44 touchdowns (league-leading), and five interceptions. The Packers need a win or losses by the Saints and/or Seahawks to clinch the No. 1 seed and home field advantage. That means we can expect to see Rodgers playing against the Chicago Bears.