John Clayton on why Seahawks’ Russell Wilson still has a shot to beat Patrick Mahomes for MVP
Nov 23, 2020, 12:14 PM
Russell WIlson has thrown more TD passes than Patrick Mahomes but has 10 interceptions. (Getty)
(Getty)
The Seahawks’ recent skid where they lost three of four games didn’t do quarterback Russell Wilson any favors in his quest to win his first NFL MVP award.
With Seahawks’ latest win, Russell Wilson now in a league of his own
Wilson committed a combined 10 turnovers – seven interceptions, three lost fumbles – in the three Seattle defeats, while Kansas City quarterback Patrick Mahomes has continued to be as good as ever. The reigning Super Bowl champion has 3,035 passing yards, 27 touchdowns, two interceptions and an 85.2 QB rating this season, while Wilson has 2,986 passing yards, 30 TDs, 10 interceptions and 72.7 rating.
So, that’s all she wrote, right?
Pro Football Hall of Fame writer John Clayton explained in his return to 710 ESPN Seattle’s Danny and Gallant on Monday that Wilson isn’t out of the MVP race yet.
John Clayton continues on 710 ESPN Seattle and 710Sports.com
“(Mahomes has) certainly got the lead. I don’t know if he’s going to be running away,” Clayton said. “I think he has a pretty decent edge right now because he’s on pace to maybe throw for close to 50 touchdown passes and you can see that (the Chiefs) are pretty much going to be the No. 1 or No. 2 seed, and that may not change the equation.
“Still, you can’t write off Russell because what’s going to happen now in the next four weeks is you got four games, three against NFC East teams and one against the New York Jets, that he can put up big numbers. This team then could shoot to 11-3 and be in a spot where maybe by the Rams game in Week 16 they can possibly clinch the division. That wouldn’t be out of the question depending on how things go with the Rams and Cardinals. I think Russell still has a chance but right now Patrick has the lead.”
The Seahawks’ record should only help Wilson’s case, as Clayton expects them to come out of the final stretch in great shape.
“I think it’s probably going to be 12-4 or 13-3, depending on how that Ram game goes,” he said, adding in how a game yet to be played at San Francisco should be a boost. “You know by Week 17, the 49ers are going to be out of it and right now they’ve got 28 guys on any kind of a reserve list. … It’s incredible to see the numbers. They’ve got more than half a team that’s not a part of the team.”
You can hear Clayton every day Monday through Saturday on 710 ESPN Seattle. On weekdays, he joins Danny and Gallant at 7:15 a.m. for the Morning Drive and Wyman and Bob at 4 p.m. for Cold Hard Facts, while The John Clayton Show airs from 8-11 a.m. Saturdays.
Listen to Clayton from Monday morning in the podcast at this link or in the player below.
Follow Brent Stecker on Twitter.
How big of a loss is TE Greg Olsen for the Seahawks’ offense?
