For Patrick Mahomes, even a week off can’t escape the noise. The Kansas City Chiefs superstar — once the undisputed favorite for the NFL MVP award — has seen his odds tumble dramatically during the team’s bye week, raising eyebrows across the football world.
According to multiple sportsbooks, Mahomes’ MVP chances fell out of the top three for the first time in years, overtaken by red-hot quarterbacks like C.J. Stroud, Josh Allen, and Lamar Jackson. The drop comes despite Mahomes putting up another solid season statistically — 2,430 passing yards, 18 touchdowns, and just 6 interceptions — numbers most QBs would dream of. But by Mahomes’ lofty standards, critics say it’s “not enough.”
NFL analyst Colin Cowherd didn’t hold back, saying,
“Mahomes is still elite — but the Chiefs don’t look terrifying anymore. He’s human this year, and voters notice that.”
The timing couldn’t be worse for Kansas City. Coming off an uneven stretch of offensive performances, including rare struggles from Mahomes himself, the Chiefs’ bye week was meant to offer a reset. Instead, it’s become a week of uncomfortable headlines about whether the two-time MVP is slipping out of the conversation entirely.
Social media has been buzzing since the odds update dropped. Chiefs fans defended their quarterback fiercely, flooding X (formerly Twitter) with hashtags like #StillTheKing and #MahomesEra, while rivals couldn’t resist piling on. One viral post read, “Even when he doesn’t play, Mahomes takes an L.”
Still, inside the Chiefs’ facility, confidence remains high. Teammates say Mahomes has taken the criticism personally — and is already preparing to answer it the only way he knows how: on the field.
“If people want to doubt him,” said tight end Travis Kelce, “they better be ready for what’s coming next.”
For now, the MVP race has turned into a fight — and Mahomes, as history has shown, is at his most dangerous when doubted.
If the Chiefs return from the bye with fire, this week’s bad news might just be the spark that reignites another Mahomes run for the ages.
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