The 2022 NFL MVP

 Welcome to the MVP Chase, where I look for, or chase, the best objective criteria in determining greatness without personal bias.

Today's Topic: the AP NFL MVP Award

Photo credit: Torsten Bolten

I had forgotten that the Associated Press had decided to extend the NFL MVP ballot from one name to five.

The new system probably wouldn't have made much difference at the top of the list, where Patrick Mahomes was (correctly) awarded his second Most Valuable Player award.

Mahomes had my vote based on the criteria I set before the season began.

I decided that the MVP should go to the player who had the most games with a 100.0 passer rating or 100 yards from scrimmage in wins and ties.

Mahomes had ten such games. Jalen Hurts and Justin Jefferson each had nine.

If I had been given an AP ballot, I would have filled it out like this:

1. Patrick Mahomes, QB, Chiefs (10 MVP Points)

2. Justin Jefferson, WR, Vikings (9 MVP Points)

3. Jalen Hurts, QB, Eagles (9 MVP Points)

4. Joe Burrow, QB, Bengals (8 MVP Points)

5. Geno Smith, QB, Seahawks (7 MVP Points)

I put Jefferson ahead of Hurts because Jefferson had 100-yard games in 9 of the 12 Viking wins, 8 of them one-score games. (In another one-score win, he had 98 yards.) Hurts had 8 100.0 passer rating games and one 100-yard rushing game in 9 of 14 Eagle wins. Eight of those wins were decided by two scores or more; Hurts was usually less efficient in the close games. In other words, the Vikings seemed to need Jefferson to be great more often than the Eagles needed Hurts to be great.

Similarly, I gave Smith the nod for the fifth-place vote over Bills QB Josh Allen, who also had 7 MVP points. Smith had a 100.0 passer rating in 7 of 9 Seahawk wins; Allen hit the mark in 7 of 13 games. The Seahawks needed Smith to be great more often.

In any case, the man at the top is not a controversial choice.

Congratulations Patrick Mahomes!

James Leroy Wilson writes The MVP Chase, Daily Miracles, The Daily Bible Chapter, and JL Cells. Thanks for your subscriptions and support! You may contact James for your writing, editing, and research needs: jamesleroywilson-at-gmail.com.