All 32 National Football League teams have played 12 games and have four to play, and there are two true candidates in contention for the coveted MVP award- and they’re both quarterbacks. Kansas City’s Patrick Mahomes and New Orleans’ Drew Brees have both taken over this trophy race and centered it solely on them going into the last quarter of the regular season.

Patrick Mahomes, Kansas City Chiefs QB

Week 13 vs. Oakland Raiders: 23-38, 295 yards and 4 touchdowns

    Without former Chiefs running back Kareem Hunt, Mahomes helped with the running game by contributing 52 yards on nine rushing attempts. Despite playing divisional opponents four times dating back to his first career start last season against the Denver Broncos, Mahomes hadn’t lined up against the Chiefs most hated rival, the Oakland Raiders. Mahomes out-dueled Oakland quarterback Derek Carr to defeat them, 40-33. The Chiefs have scored 40 points five times this season and are the highest scoring team in the league with 37 points per game. The Chiefs take on the Baltimore Ravens and rookie sensation, quarterback Lamar Jackson, as they hope to keep their three-game winning streak alive.

Drew Brees, New Orleans Saints QB

Week 13 vs. Dallas Cowboys: 18-28, 127 yards and 1 touchdown, 1 interception

    The Saints had their worst offensive performance of the year on Nov. 29 against the Dallas Cowboys. Brees threw an interception late in the game to cap off their abysmal 10-point performance, their lowest point total of the season by 11 points. With that display, Brees is the runner-up, especially after Mahomes’ four touchdown performance. The Saints hope to bounce back as they travel to Tampa Bay to take on the Buccaneers in a week one rematch that ended in the Buccaneers winning a shootout under backup quarterback, Ryan Fitzpatrick, 48-40 in week one.

Edited by Garrett Jones | gcjh23@mail.missouri.edu