MVP Favorites Josh Allen And Patrick Mahomes Set For Their 5th NFL Faceoff

Josh Allen and Patrick Mahomes entered the NFL as first round draft picks, although they still faced plenty of questions about how they would succeed at the professional level. After all, that comes with the position, as it’s difficult to predict who will become a top NFL quarterback.

No one is skeptical of Allen and Mahomes anymore.

On Sunday afternoon, they’ll meet for the fifth time in their careers when Allen and the Buffalo Bills (4-1) visit Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs (4-1) in the weekend’s marquee matchup.

Allen is the favorite to win the NFL’s Most Valuable Player award, according to BetMGM, DraftKings, FanDuel and PointsBet, per RotoWire. The odds range from +175 to +225. Mahomes is the second-favorite for MVP with odds from +300 to +450.

The Bills are the favorites to win the Super Bowl, according to those same four sportsbooks, per RotoWire, while the Chiefs are second. So, yes, Sunday’s matchup is highly anticipated, thanks in large part to two quarterbacks who were no sure-fire bets to thrive in the pros.

Allen, whom the Bills selected seventh overall in the 2018 draft, had the size (6-foor-5, 237 pounds) and athleticism (4.75 seconds in the 40-yard dash and a 33.5 inch vertical jump at the NFL Combine), but his numbers at the University of Wyoming weren’t impressive. In two years as a college starter, he completed just 56.1% of his passes with 44 touchdowns and 21 interceptions. He then struggled in his first two seasons in the NFL, completing 56.3% of his passes, before turning things around in 2020 and finishing second in the MVP race.

Mahomes, meanwhile, was much more impressive in college, completing 64.6% of his passes for 9,705 yards, 77 touchdowns and 25 interceptions in two seasons as a starter at Texas Tech. The Chiefs selected him 10th overall in the 2017 draft, but some wondered how he would transition from Texas Tech’s scheme to the NFL. Lance Zierlein, a draft analyst, compared Mahomes to Jay Cutler, a mediocre starter. Mahomes then served as a backup as a rookie before winning the MVP in his second season in 2018 and becoming a future Hall of Famer.

Here’s a look back at the four times Allen and Mahomes have faced each other:

Oct. 19, 2020 – Chiefs defeat Bills, 26-17, in Buffalo

The Chiefs, the reigning Super Bowl champions, were coming off a 40-32 upset loss to the Las Vegas Raiders in which Mahomes went just 22-of-43 and threw an interception. But Kansas City rebounded against the Bills as Mahomes improved his accuracy, completing 21 of his 26 attempts for 225 yards and two touchdowns.

Allen went just 14 of 27 for 122 yards, but he did throw two touchdowns, including an 8-yarder to Cole Beasley that made it 23-17 with 6:34 remaining. Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker then sealed the game with a 30-yard field with 1:56 left.

Jan. 24, 2021 – Chiefs defeat Bills, 38-24, in Kansas City in AFC Championship Game

The Bills had won 11 of their past 12 games and advanced to the AFC Championship for the first time in 27 years. Back then, Buffalo won four consecutive AFC titles before losing in the Super Bowl on each occasion. This time, the Bills didn’t advance that far, as the Chiefs overcame a 9-0 first quarter deficit and cruised to a 14-point victory.

Mahomes had left the previous week’s playoff game early and was placed in the concussion protocol before getting cleared to play two days before the Bills game. He completed 29 of 38 passes for three touchdowns, two of which went to tight end Travis Kelce, who had 13 catches for 118 yards. Allen, meanwhile, struggled, completing 28 of 48 passes for 287 yards, two touchdowns and an interception.

Two weeks later, the Chiefs lost, 31-9, to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the Super Bowl as Mahomes went just 26-of-49 and threw two interceptions and no touchdowns.

Oct. 10, 2021 – Bills defeat Chiefs, 38-20, in Kansas City

After losing to the Pittsburgh Steelers in the season opener, the Bills had an impressive four-game stretch in which they outscored their opponents, 156-41, culminating with an 18-point victory over the Chiefs.

Allen was the player of the game as he threw for 315 yards and three touchdowns and ran for 59 yards and nine-yard touchdown. The Chiefs actually led, 10-7, early in the second quarter on a Mahomes five-yard touchdown pass, but the Chiefs outscored them, 31-10, the rest of the way. Mahomes finished 33-of-54 for 272 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions.

Jan. 23, 2022 – Chiefs defeat Bills, 42-36, in overtime in Kansas City in AFC Divisional Round Game

This game is considered an all-time classic, one that will stick with NFL fans for a long time. During the final two minutes of regulation, the teams combined for 25 points.

First, Allen threw a 27-yard touchdown pass to Gabriel Davis and followed with a successful two-point conversion pass, giving the Bills a 29-26 lead with 1:54 left. On the next drive, Mahomes threw a 64-yard touchdown pass, making it 32-29 with 1:02 left. Allen followed with a 19-yard touchdown pass to Davis for a 36-33 lead with 13 seconds remaining. That was more than enough time for the Chiefs, as Mahomes completed two consecutive passes for 44 yards, putting Butker in position to make a 49-yard field goal with 3 seconds remaining, sending the game into overtime.

After the Chiefs won the coin toss, Mahomes led them on an eight-play, 75-yard drive, culminating with an eight-yard touchdown pass to Kelce. Mahomes completed all six of his passes on that drive for 69 yards, and he finished 33-of-44 for 378 yards and three touchdowns. Allen, meanwhile, was just as good, going 27-of-37 for 329 yards and four touchdowns.

A week later, the Chiefs played another memorable overtime game, but they lost, 27-24, to the Cincinnati Bengals in the AFC Championship.