The 2025 NFL season has turned out to be a very competitive and wide-open season. Two MVP candidates, New England’s Drake Maye and Los Angeles’ Matthew Stafford, have both weathered the divisional rounds into their respective conference championships. The race for MVP is still on, though. We compared the stats between these two great quarterbacks and discussed our predictions on who will be the 2025 NFL MVP.
The stats show Stafford has 15 more passing touchdowns and 313 more yards than Maye. Stafford plays a much harder schedule than Maye does, but still performs at a higher level. Maye has a less competent receiving core while Stafford has arguably one the best wide receivers in the NFL in Puka Nacua. The Pats’ Stefon Diggs doesn’t even measure up to the Rams’ WR2, Davante Adams.
In addition, Maye also has almost 500 rushing yards and 4 rushing touchdowns while Stafford only has 1 rushing yard. Yes, but Maye has had 103 designed run snaps while Stafford has had only 29. Maye is 23 years old while Stafford is 37 years old, 14 years older.
Pressure-to-sack rate shows that Maye folds under pressure while Stafford thrives. Stafford’s average pressure-to-sack percent is 11.4% while Maye’s is 20.6%. More modern, faster QBs should, in theory, be sacked less. Maye had an average 40-yard dash time compared to Stafford’s 4.81 second which is significantly below the all time average. Good point PJ, but Stafford didn’t have to face up against veterans Myles Garrett, Maxx Crosby, and TJ Watt who rivaled Garrett for the best pass rusher in their draft class.
Maye has managed to lead the Patriots dynasty out of the dark with a 14-3 record, while Stafford, with all of his pieces, only put up a measly 12-5 record. The Patriots had a great secondary this year only allowing 189.6 passing yards per game while the Rams secondary allowed 220.6 yards per game. The Rams secondary has caused them multiple losses this season. For example, the Falcons game (L 24 – 27).
Furthermore, Stafford has played the seventh hardest schedule in the NFL this season. The Patriots played a “cake-walk” schedule, with their opponents averaging a 0.391 win percentage. On the other hand, the Rams’ opponents averaged a 0.526 win percentage. True, but in games against common opponents, the Patriots are an uncontested 6-0, while the Rams have a 4-2 record. Also, against common opponents, Maye handles Stafford in all categories besides completion percentage and passing touchdowns, where they are still very close.
Even without the weapons that Stafford has, Maye has almost a 10% higher completion percentage than Stafford (72% vs 63.5%). Stafford suffered an aggravated disc in his back at training camp. He was announced as week-to-week by head coach Sean McVay. He was showing durability after the long season, which gave him an excuse to make more incompletions.
Durability and resilience were themes of improvement for both QBs since training camp and last season. Maye barely played last year while Stafford retirement rumors were swirling all offseason due to a horrible back injury. However, both players have superseded those challenges and either would be a worthy recipient of this year’s NFL MVP. Who has your vote?
