Why he could win: The Patriots have been one of the best stories in the NFL this season, largely because Maye has grown up in a hurry. The second-year quarterback entered his Week 14 bye as the league’s leader in passer rating (111.9), completion percentage (71.5) and passing yards (3,412). Maye also has thrown 23 touchdown passes with just six interceptions as New England has produced an 11-2 record. There are other reasons to explain the Patriots’ success — including the hiring of Mike Vrabel as head coach and a vastly improved defense — but Maye’s maturation as a true franchise quarterback is what makes this season feel like the start of another special era within that franchise.
Why he couldn’t: New England’s last-place schedule is a common place to start when it comes to knocking this team’s success. It hasn’t given Maye that many signature moments to sell voters on his dominance. That said, the ones he has created — like in the Patriots’ Week 5 win over Buffalo — certainly resonate. The first guy on the list also has some strong credentials when it comes to winning this award.
Final verdict: Maye’s chances of winning this award come down to the next two weeks. He’ll face the Bills this coming Sunday and the Ravens the following week. If he plays well and beats Josh Allen and Lamar Jackson, the last two MVP winners, then he could win this award.