Despite Being the Favorite, Skip Bayless Doesn’t Think Matthew Stafford Deserves the MVP Award over Drake Maye

Los Angeles Rams QB Matthew Stafford led the league in passing yards and touchdowns when the season concluded on Sunday.

Despite Being the Favorite, Skip Bayless Doesn’t Think Matthew Stafford Deserves the MVP Award over Drake Maye

Drake Maye, Matthew Stafford; Skip Bayless (In circle) (Images via SI/BR/Deadline)

The National Football League regular season has come to an end, with Wildcard Week just a few days from now. The eyes are now staring resolutely at the exciting postseason to find out who will be crowned the Most Valuable Player of the season.

The odds are now much in favor of the Los Angeles Rams’ veteran quarterback, Matthew Stafford. The father of four and a former Super Bowl champion has been unstoppable this season, championing the team to a 12-5 record and a fifth seed in the playoff bracket.

The 37-year-old Georgia alum finished the regular season as the league’s leading passer. Stafford has thrown for 4,707 yards and 46 touchdowns in seventeen games. This included a five-touchdown game against the Jacksonville Jaguars in London and three other four-touchdown games.

The sole game where Stafford really let down was the Week 17 affair against the Atlanta Falcons, whose staunch defense forced Stafford to drop three interceptions. The fans really love him as an uncomplicated quarterback with stellar performances. The numbers and the Rams’ impressive season are not reason enough for some to put the MVP tag on Stafford.

There’s a reason behind these specific voices. It’s usually the season Drake Maye had. The New England Patriots’ predicted Tom Brady replacement has made waves by uprooting the Buffalo Bills’ five-year hold on the AFC East. The Patriots were neck-to-neck with the Denver Broncos for the AFC conference seed. They held the same record as the Broncos, same conference record, and missed the seed on account of the common teams’ tiebreaker.

Bayless’s account is a bit different. The MNF disaster against the Falcons and the losses to the Seahawks two weeks ago were highlighted by Bayless as reasons why Stafford won’t be the MVP. The Los Angeles Rams could have taken the NFC West and a home advantage in the postseason with a win against the Hawks in Week 16 and the Falcons in Week 17. Stafford threw for 457 yards and three touchdowns, but the Rams fell short to the Hawks in overtime.

Bayless later added on to his thoughts in a sit-down on The Arena: Sitdown. Bayless claimed that Stafford would win the MVP, but it should be Maye, not the veteran quarterback.

Matthew Stafford is the runaway betting favorite, and he will win the MVP. And he should not win this. Drake Maye should win this.

Matthew Stafford’s experience in the league might just make him the MVP

In a recent statement on the NFL on Fox, Terry Bradshaw admitted that the NFL’s MVP debate may ultimately favor experience, and that reality could work in Matthew Stafford’s favor. Bradshaw suggested that Stafford’s longevity and late-career excellence create a compelling narrative for voters.

Matthew Stafford
Matthew Stafford (Image via Getty Images)

After 17 seasons in the league, Stafford delivered arguably the best year of his career in 2025. The former four-time winning quarterback had a similar stance to the statements made by Bayless: the disappointing outing against Atlanta, especially as Drake Maye surged with a five-touchdown performance the same week. Bradshaw said:

17 years in the league of being a great quarterback and having your best year this year. I think they want Matthew [Stafford] to have it. He had it until last week. The other guy in New England hadn’t had a bad game.

However, Stafford’s strong Week 18 rebound against Arizona reinforced his case as the league’s premier pure passer this season. Bradshaw emphasized that while Maye has been remarkably consistent and dynamic, particularly with his mobility and efficiency, the league often values timing and legacy in MVP conversations.

At 37, Stafford may not have many opportunities left to claim the award, whereas Maye appears to be at the beginning of a long, decorated career. Remember Timothee Chalamet or Leonardo DiCaprio with regards to Oscars, yes, this would be that, but NFL.

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