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Who will be this year’s NFL MVP?

Baltimore quarterback Lamar Jackson and Kansas City quarterback Patrick Mahomes meet in a matchup of the last two NFL MVP winners in the season opener on Thursday night between the Ravens and Chiefs. It’s a rematch of last year’s AFC championship game, which Kansas City won 17-10 on Jan. 28, 2024.

Kansas City won a third Super Bowl with Mahomes at quarterback and is looking for the first three-peat in the Super Bowl era. Jackson is still trying to capture that first AFC championship and Super Bowl victory, and this matchup will set the tone for the AFC playoff race.

Patrick Mahomes vs. Lamar Jackson: Which QB has more MVPs?
Mahomes and Jackson are among just three active NFL players who have won the AP NFL MVP award. Aaron Rodgers – entering his second season with the New York Jets – won the NFL MVP award four times with the Green Bay Packers (2011, 2014, 2020-21).

Mahomes is a two-time NFL MVP. He won the award in 2018 and 2022. Mahomes passed for 4,183 yards, 27 TDs, and a career-high 14 interceptions in the regular season. The Chiefs entered the postseason with an 11-6 record, but Mahomes led Kansas City to a 25-22 victory against San Francisco in Super Bowl 54.

Jackson was the NFL MVP in 2019 before winning the award for a second time last season. Jackson passed for 3,678 yards, 24 TDs, and seven interceptions. He rushed for 821 yards and five TDs and led the Ravens to a 13-4 record.

Mahomes, Jackson, and Rodgers have combined for the past six NFL MVP awards since 2018.

Mahomes and Jackson have never finished 1-2 in the same season, and the other active quarterbacks to finish in the top two in that stretch other than Rodgers are Buffalo’s Josh Allen (2020) and Dallas’ Dak Prescott (2023).

Patrick Mahomes vs. Lamar Jackson: Past matchups
Jackson and Mahomes have met in five head-to-head matchups, and the Chiefs are 4-1 in those games.

Including playoffs, Jackson averaged 204.4 passing yards per game with a 55.6-percent completion percentage, five TDs, and three interceptions in those matchups. He also averages 71.4 rushing yards per game with three TDs.

Including playoffs, Mahomes averages 344 passing yards per game with a 72.7-percent completion percentage, 13 TDs, and two interceptions in those matchups. He’s also added 50 rushing yards and a TD.

A look at the matchups:

Chiefs 27, Ravens 24, OT (Dec. 9, 2018)
The Chiefs tied the game at 24 on a five-yard TD pass from Mahomes to Damien Williams in the final minute, and Harrison Butker kicked the game-winning 35-yard field goal in overtime. Mahomes finished with 377 passing yards, two TDs, and an interception. Jackson finished with 147 passing yards, two TDs, and 67 rushing yards.

Chiefs 33, Ravens 28 (Sept. 22, 2019)
The Chiefs enjoyed a 23-point second quarter at Arrowhead Stadium. Mahomes, who finished with 374 yards and three TDs, hit Mecole Hardman for an 83-yard TD pass. The Ravens scored 15 points in the fourth quarter, but it was not enough to complete the comeback. Jackson had 267 passing yards and 46 rushing yards in the loss.

Chiefs 34, Ravens 20 (Sept. 28, 2020)
Mahomes passed for 385 yards and four TDs at M&T Bank Stadium on Monday Night Football. Second-quarter TD passes to Hardman and Tyreek Hill helped the Chiefs build a 27-10 lead in the first half. Jackson had 97 passing yards with 83 rushing yards and a TD.

Ravens 36, Chiefs 35 (Sept. 19, 2021)
The Chiefs took a 35-24 lead with 6:50 left in the fourth quarter on a 46-yard TD pass from Mahomes to Travis Kelce, but Jackson rallied the Ravens with back-to-back touchdown runs on the next two possessions at M&T Bank Stadium. Jackson had 239 passing yards, 107 rushing yards, three total TDs, and two interceptions. Mahomes had 343 passing yards, three TDs, and an interception.

Chiefs 17, Ravens 10 (Jan. 29, 2024)
The Chiefs won a defensive struggle at M&T Bank Stadium in the AFC championship game. Jackson passed for 272 yards and rushed for 54 yards, but the Ravens committed three turnovers. Mahomes did not turn the ball over, and the Chiefs broke a 7-7 tie with 10 points in the third quarter. Mahomes finished with 241 yards passing, one TD, and no turnovers in leading Kansas City to Super Bowl 54.