NFL MVP race: Can Philip Rivers make a late run?

How Rivers stacks up in the NFL MVP race

Rivers: 69.4% completions for 3,951 yards, 31 TDs, eight INTs and a passer rating of 112.4

Patrick Mahomes: 67.1% completions for 4,543 yards, 45 TDs, 11 INTs and a passer rating of 114.8

Drew Brees: 75.7% completions for 3,463 yards, 31 TDs, four INTs and a passer rating of 120.8 (Has played one less game than Rivers and Mahomes).

Among the three QBs in the NFL MVP race, Philip Rivers ranks second in completion percentage, second in passing yards, tied for second in passing TDs, second in INTs thrown and third in passer rating. Rivers also ranks tied for second in team record.

Rivers may not rank first in any of those statistical categories, but he’s right there with the two leaders in the NFL MVP race in every single one. In some categories he’s better than Patrick Mahomes, while in others he’s better than Drew Brees.

For both Mahomes and Brees, part of their case in the NFL MVP race has been the history they’re making this season. Mahomes has the TD passing record (55) within his sights. He set the NFL record for most TD passes thrown through the first three weeks of the season (13). He set the NFL record for most TD passes thrown through his first eight career games (22). On top of that, Mahomes is leading the number one offense in the league.

For Brees, he’s on pace to break his own record of completion percentage in a season (72%). He also set the all-time record for completions, passing Brett Favre earlier this season. On top of that, Brees became the all-time leader in passing yards this season by passing Peyton Manning.

Which NFL records has Philip Rivers broken this season? Let’s start with one he broke Thursday night against the Chiefs. In their comeback win over the Chiefs, Rivers led his team to becoming the first team ever to overcome a 14+ point deficit in the last five minutes of a game. Before Rivers led that comeback, teams were 0-88 in that situation.

That isn’t the only record Rivers has broken this season. Against the Arizona Cardinals a few weeks back, Rivers tied the NFL record for most consecutive completions (25). In that same game, Rivers set the record for best single game completion percentage (96.55%). Also in that same game, Rivers set the record for most consecutive completions to start a game (22).

While Mahomes and Brees have been getting all the attention in the NFL MVP race, Rivers has quietly been putting together an MVP campaign. Quietly until last night, that is.

Rivers may not be the sexy pick for MVP this season, but he worthy of winning the award. Mahomes might be the leader in the NFL MVP race right now, but don’t sleep on Rivers. With his team at 11-3 and with what he’s accomplished this season, he’s just as deserving as Mahomes or Brees to this point.

With two games left to play, the NFL MVP race is Mahomes’ to lose. If Mahomes and the Chiefs slip again against either the Seahawks or Raiders, the Chargers could not only take the AFC West crown, but the best record in the AFC and home field advantage in the AFC playoffs. If that happens, there’s a real chance Rivers could be the NFL MVP this season.