https://www.nfl.com/news/nfl-execs-vote-on-awards-who-s-mvp-coach-of-the-year
NFL execs vote on awards: Who's MVP? Coach of the Year?
Published: Dec 23, 2020 at 12:35 PM
Tom Pelissero
NFL.com
My annual early awards survey this year was completed this week by high-ranking executives from 22 NFL teams, including nine general managers. All 22 individuals participated on the condition of anonymity for competitive reasons and to provide an honest assessment.
Who are the big winners in six notable categories? Here's a rundown, with help from statistics compiled by NFL Media researcher Brandon Mendoza:
Most Valuable Player: Patrick Mahomes, QB, Kansas City Chiefs
It's a two-man race in many executives' minds, but the final tally wasn't close: The Chiefs' Patrick Mahomes received 13 votes, beating out the Packers' Aaron Rodgers (six votes). "You can't stop him," an executive for an NFC team said of Mahomes, who won the MVP award two years ago. "He is the hardest player to stop in the league. Rodgers is right there. But this guy (Mahomes) -- he makes the unique look routine. He's unbelievable." Mahomes' 2020 campaign is just the fifth instance in NFL history of a QB posting at least 13 wins, 35 touchdown passes and fewer than 10 interceptions in a season; the other players to accomplish the feat (Tom Brady in 2007 and 2010, Rodgers in 2011 and Lamar Jackson last season) won the MVP award after those historic performances. Rodgers leads the NFL with 40 touchdown passes and a 118.0 passer rating, but Mahomes leads the league in passing yards (4,462) for the 13-1 Chiefs, who have played a tougher schedule based on opponent win percentage, particularly on the road. Mahomes arguably has better weapons overall, but multiple executives pointed out Rodgers' offensive line is better. And as one exec for an AFC team put it in giving Mahomes the nod: "He's just probably capable of a little more freaky s---." Bills quarterback Josh Allen received two votes. Titans running back Derrick Henry got one. The Chiefs have now faced a top-five defense on nine occasions with Patrick Mahomes as their starter, per @EliasSports. In those games, they are 9-0 and averaging 29.0 points per game. Pretty decent.