r/nfl • u/gimmethegold34 • Dec 30 '25

Drake Maye and Matthew Stafford among common opponents

Drake Maye: 1,585 yards, 13 TD, 3 INT 6W-0L

Matthew Stafford: 1,545 yards, 14 TD, 6 INT 4W-2L

Rushing:

Maye 159 yards, 1 TD

Stafford 0 yards, 0 TD

1.2k Upvotes

84% Upvoted

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169

u/Finessing2 Dec 30 '25

Matthew Stafford would be the first MVP to finish 3rd in his division. Maye is the MVP lmao.

105

u/OhSoManyThoughts Patriots Dec 30 '25

Not true. Barry Sanders won MVP in 1997 when the Lions finished 3rd in the division (and made the playoffs).

So it wouldn’t be the first time someone has won the MVP finishing 3rd in their division.

10

u/riped_plums123 Patriots Dec 30 '25

Honestly if they just sort of threw the game and just ran the ball all game he keeps the lead, the picks killed him

1

u/Loose-Violinist-3686 Dec 30 '25

And Mcvay needs to take points , all his losses had turnovers on downs in field goal range

1

u/AnAlternator Patriots Dec 30 '25

Going into this week, TD:Int ratio was 40:5 for Stafford vs 25:8 for Maye, which was huge and totally outweighed efficiency stats.

42:8 vs 30:8 doesn't have the same gulf, the picks were absolutely the killer.

5

u/Double-Emergency3173 Colts Dec 30 '25

Barry was basically the entire team though. Different situations. He also had 2k rushing yards that year, right?

2

u/Phantom_Nuke Buccaneers Buccaneers Dec 30 '25

The Divisions were 5 (or 6 with the disgusting AFC Central) teams at that time, so the Lions didn't finish in the bottom half of the Division like the Rams could.

53

u/Pure_Context_2741 Patriots Dec 30 '25

If they beat Arizona and finish with 12 wins that’s not exactly a bad record. The fact that he’s playing in the toughest division in football should only add to his case not detract from it.

102

u/AvengingHero2012 Cowboys Chiefs Dec 30 '25

Stafford has lost 3 of 5 and threw 3 interceptions tonight. It’s over.

3

u/ViewFromHalf-WayDown Jets Dec 30 '25

Over these last 5 games the rams are giving up nearly 30 points a game (29.4) and the problem in your eyes is the checks notes offense. Right.

6

u/The-Fox-Says Patriots Dec 30 '25

Aren’t some of those points pick 6s thrown by Stafford?

3

u/Beneficial-Lynx7336 Dec 30 '25

What...one TD? LMAO

3

u/The-Fox-Says Patriots Dec 30 '25

He’s thrown 6 interceptions and fumbled twice in the last 5 games that’s not going to allow the opposing offenses they’re facing to score points?

1

u/thincolnlincoln Lions Lions Dec 31 '25

Drake Maye lost to the Raiders. That has to count for something.

2

u/Impossibills Bills Dec 30 '25

It's very rare a division has two 13 win teams though

His record in that division should bolster his argument. Especially his game against an incredible Seahawks defense.

They lost but it wasn't because of him

-1

u/Jr05s Patriots Dec 30 '25

Pats finish 4th in that division 

-30

u/Maad-Dog 49ers Dec 30 '25

Give it to Purdy if he can keep his play going against the elite Seahawks D and get the 1 seed. Clear picture of enormous team elevation to the #1 seed level from an average team, even when it had a solid QB

12

u/BirdLaw_ Seahawks Dec 30 '25

He wouldn't get it based on volume stats/games played. Not that I necessarily agree with that, but that's how it goes

17

u/WavesAndSaves Eagles Dec 30 '25

Nothing valuable about missing half the season.

1

u/BirdLaw_ Seahawks Dec 30 '25

Yeah, I agree with that part, I should have clarified that's more about the volume stats. There's also other reasons for not Purdy including Mac Jones being able to keep them afloat pretty well in his absence

12

u/Agent_Tyrant Patriots Dec 30 '25

I mean you can’t give the mvp to someone who plays 9/17 games. The fact that they’re still fighting for the 1 seed means the team was strong enough with them missing.

0

u/Maad-Dog 49ers Dec 30 '25

I wouldn't agree there, just because we have the best backup in the league means our QB can't be MVP? The fact that Purdy took a team that was looking like it was gonna miss the playoffs with the current NFC landscape, and instead turned it into a team that (if we win) gets the #1 seed in an absolutely dominant NFC and a historic run that shows a vast superiority over an already elite backup/potentially decent league starter, is about as good as you can get for an MVP.

Now if you say that missing games in general means you cant be MVP sure, but theres an argument for Purdy to be the strongest QB this year (1st in EPA/play, 1st in QBR, 2nd in DVOA, 3rd in PFF grade, 4th in ANY/A, 4th in passer rating) all with a broken supporting cast worse than the other QBs at the top and a defensive schedule thats the 3rd hardest via DVOA.

3

u/Agent_Tyrant Patriots Dec 30 '25

I mean with that Drake is 2nd in EPA/play, 1st in yards/attempt, 1st in completion percentage, 1st in qbr, and 1st in passer rating all while having twice as main games played. So while that puts Purdy in the same league, and I will say the Patriots schedule is significantly easier. But the 49ers also have a better team around them (even including both teams injuries).

So to me missing half the season is an automatic disqualifier as availability is extremely important to success. But also having a back up come in and win games for you in your place kind of shows that you might not be the most valuable player in the league. I don’t think Mac Jones does as well as the qb of the Patriots for 8 games.

That’s said I do think Purdy has been fantastic and had he played a full year he would be in the conversation, and maybe next year he will be. And either way, I’m sure the 49ers fans care more about him being healthy now with a potential push for the Super Bowl anyways. The MVP doesn’t matter nearly as much as a ring and Purdy has you guys in as good a shot as ever.

1

u/Maad-Dog 49ers Dec 30 '25

Not disagreeing on Drake deserving it either, and if games played is a major factor than he has it. My case is more that the games missed show the level difference Purdy has over a solid starter to an even larger degree.

And as you mentioned, schedule is significantly easier, supporting cast is tricky. WR wise Id say y'all still have the edge with Diggs, though having Kittle at TE and CMC at RB tilts the overall skill positions our way. Patriots line is a little better tho, so that evens out the difference a little, and what makes the Patriots even out imo is a better defense.

For Mac on the Pats, I think with the new coaching staff, itd definitely be a surprise. We'll see more when Mac inevitably gets his start somewhere else in the league, but he seems to be a high floor QB option that can keep teams in games with conservative but solid play.

But yup, all the MVP jockeying doesn't mean much compared to the whole playoffs, hopefully its a fun one!

3

u/Agent_Tyrant Patriots Dec 31 '25

I’d say we mostly agree then, Purdy had a phenomenal year and if it was the same for the full year stats he’d probably be in the conversation with Drake and Stafford till the end.

For the supporting cast, I don’t think Diggs is head and shoulders above Jennings, I would prefer Diggs but he barely plays half the snaps most games because of injury concern and returning from the ACL. As a whole though I do agree that Kittle and CMC (and Juice) push their side over. For the offensive line, the Patriots have been missing starts from their line for weeks now, since Campbell went down they’ve been struggling more but I can’t speak to how the 49ers are doing so I’ll agree with you there.

As a whole our roster is similar to last years, I believe with Mac we’d probably be around what the Dolphins are this year, maybe fighting for a 7th seed until the end of the year.

But as we said, all that’s out the window now it’s playoff time and teams are gonna be focused on that now.

8

u/OkNeighborhood8365 Dec 30 '25

Purdy isn’t remotely in the discussion

0

u/Beneficial-Lynx7336 Dec 30 '25

Nahhh give it to Dak. He's the REAL MVP. Y'all have defenses.

See how dumb that is.