The 2025-2026 NFL season has been one of the craziest seasons in NFL history. From crazy double digit comebacks in the fourth quarter to breakout seasons for some athletes. The race for the coveted MVP award is about as tight as you could get between two great quarterbacks in Matthew Stafford and Drake Maye. The rookie talent this season has also been elite, with players such as Tetairoa McMillian, Emeka Egbuka, Jaxson Dart, Abduhl Carter, and so many others.
In this season there have been 15+ point comebacks in the fourth quarter than in NFL history. Before this season the record for a team trailing by at least 15 points entering the fourth quarter was 0-135. In week seven the Denver Broncos highlighted the historic comeback season when they entered the fourth quarter down 19-0 against the New York Giants. However, early in the fourth quarter they found themselves down 26-8. In the last 6:38 of the game the Broncos rallied to score 25 points and hold the Giants to only 6 points. This mounted the greatest comeback in the fourth quarter in NFL history. However, they were not the only team that was able to accomplish this feat that seemed impossible. The Bills in week one came back from down 15 against the Ravens to win. In week five when the Titans faced off against the Cardinals, they found themselves down 15 entering the fourth quarter but pulled off the win shutting out the Cardinals in the fourth quarter. In week eight the Jets trailed by 15 against the Bengals entering the fourth quarter but managed to escape the game with a win. In week 10 the Texans had a remarkable comeback against the Jaguars facing a 19 point deficit entering the fourth. The Texans shut the Jaguars out in the fourth quarter while managing to score 26 points and a win by 7.
Many young athletes broke out this season, such as Jaxon Smith-Njigba better known as JSN and Drake Maye, a second year quarterback for the New England Patriots and in conversation for MVP.
“Jaxon Smith-Njigba had the best breakout season because he was just an average receiver the past few years but this year he played at the level of an elite receiver,” Jacob Quinney (9) said.
Smith-Njigba was picked number 20 overall in the 2023 NFL draft and was regarded as one of the best receivers of his class. However in his rookie season he was still feeling the effects of his hamstring injury from his final season of college football. Entering the 2024-25 season Smith-Njigba was stuck behind wide receivers D.K Metcalf and Tyler Lockett. However entering the 2025-26 season Metcalf and Lockett were not in Seattle anymore, this meant Smith-Njigba could step into the role of wide receiver number one. He had 119 receptions for just under 1800 yards and 10 touchdowns in the regular season. Drake Maye is a second year quarterback for the New England Patriots, he performed at such an elite level and he is in the MVP conversation. In Maye’s rookie year he started 12 of the 13 games he played in, throwing for 2276 yards, 15 touchdowns, and 10 interceptions while having a ridiculous completion rate of 66.8%. This year Maye has played all 17 games throwing for 4394 yards, 31 touchdowns and 8 interceptions with an elite completion rating of 72%. Both Smith-Njigba and Maye are going to go head to head on the largest stage in America at the Superbowl.
The MVP race is without a doubt one of the best of all time. The four front runners for most of the season were Christian McCaffrey, Josh Allen, Drake Maye, and Matthew Stafford. The two finalists competing for the most prestigious award in the NFL are Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford and New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye. Matthew Stafford was playing at a historic level. The only person that can keep Stafford away from his first MVP is Maye.
“Drake Maye is the MVP because he doesn’t have the supporting cast that Stafford has. Even though Stafford has better stats, he had Puka Nacua to throw the ball to,” Christian Martin (12) said.
Every season Stafford has gone above and beyond he has been outshined by someone on a better team. In 2011 Stafford threw for over 5000 yards and 41 touchdowns, he became the youngest player to do this. However, he was not even in the conversation for MVP, Aaron Rodgers who only threw for 4,643 yards and 45 touchdowns and ended up winning the MVP. Stafford was stuck on arguably the worst team in the NFL for 12 seasons. The team lived and died by his arm and his resilience because their defense was the worst in the league. Stafford was consistently playing at the level of the top quarterbacks in the NFL but never received recognition because he was on the Detroit Lions, who were considered the laughing stock of the league. Will Maye be able to outshine 37 year old Stafford to win the MVP or will Stafford finally get the recognition he deserves?
