Rodgers Takes Over as the Favorite in NFL MVP Odds After Brady Shutout by Saints

• Tom Brady tumbles in NFL MVP odds following yet another frustrating loss to the New Orleans Saints
• Aaron Rodgers climbs to the top of the odds after leading the Green Bay Packers to a second straight NFC North title
• Read on for all the odds and trends in NFL MVP betting

In the wake of his dismal performance in the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ 9-0 loss to the New Orleans Saints on Sunday Night Football, Tom Brady has been toppled from his perch atop the odds to claim NFL MVP honors this season.

Pegged as the odds-on favorite to be named MVP for the fourth time in his career entering Week 15, Brady has tumbled to a +175 second favorite after being kept out of the end zone for just the third time since his arrival in Tampa Bay last season. Conversely, Aaron Rodgers’ three-touchdown performance in Green Bay’s 31-30 win in Baltimore has lifted the Packers’ pivot to the top of the NFL MVP odds, where he now sits as a +125 favorite.

NFL MVP Odds

Odds at DraftKings as of December 20, 2021

Saints Stymie Brady Once Again

Lagging behind the favorites with average odds of +1300 to open the schedule, Brady fueled his rise to the top of the odds board by dominating the passing stats, and establishing NFL bests in TDs thrown, passing yards, attempts, and completions.

However, Brady and the Bucs had no answer for a stingy Saints defence that has quickly emerged as the seven-time Super Bowl champion’s nemesis since his arrival in Tampa Bay.

Saints first to shut out Tom Brady since 2006 in statement win over Buccaneers https://t.co/FX11RPjK3o pic.twitter.com/LILx0Vx6qH

— New York Post (@nypost) December 20, 2021

With Sunday night’s defeat, Brady now sports a 0-4 straight up record against New Orleans in the regular season as a member of the Buccaneers, and has now failed to connect on a scoring pass in two ugly losses to the Saints on home turf during that stretch.

Bucs are 10-3 and this is their remaining schedule pic.twitter.com/aWJXF0i6vm

— Trevor Sikkema (@TampaBayTre) December 13, 2021

Sunday’s loss also delayed the Buccaneers’ march to their first NFL South title in 14 years. However, with a favorable schedule down the stretch, both Brady and the Buccaneers have ample opportunity to get back on track. The team looks forward to a pair of dates with the fast fading Carolina Panthers, as well as a meeting with his former divisional rivals, New York Jets.

Rodgers Flashing Vintage Form

Aaron Rodgers continued to make a strong case to repeat as NFL MVP with another stellar performance in Sunday’s 31-30 win over the Ravens. Despite battling a nagging toe injury, Rodgers connected on three scoring passes, and has now racked up 13 TDs while avoiding throwing a pick over his past four contests.

Limping into the locker room on his broken toe, victorious Aaron Rodgers says “get me my hat!” The NFC NORTH CHAMPS are getting some apparel tonight pic.twitter.com/4zOfbLy5F2

— Dave Schroeder (@SchroederWBAY) December 20, 2021

The win also assured Green Bay of a first-place finish in the NFC North for a second straight year, and leaves the team with sole possession of the top seed in the conference. However, Rodgers and the Pack face a tougher schedule down the stretch. While the Cleveland Browns will visit Green Bay on Saturday on just four days rest, they will be in desperation mode. And their final dates on the schedule against division rivals Minnesota and Detroit cannot be overlooked.

Mahomes, Taylor on the Rise

Rodgers was not the only NFL MVP candidate to make gains at the sportsbooks following solid Week 15 performances. A 410-yard, three-TD performance in last Thursday’s 34-28 win over the Los Angeles Chargers has given Patrick Mahomes a boost. Pegged as the preseason favorite in the NFL MVP odds, the Kansas City Chiefs pivot has been forced to play catch-up since tumbling to a +7250 bet in early November. However, Mahomes has played a key role in the Chiefs’ climb to the top of the AFC standings, while rebounding to a +1000 dark horse.

Patrick Mahomes: 3 passing TDs in the 4th quarter and overtime vs Chargers

t-Most in a game by any QB this season (Lamar Jackson) pic.twitter.com/UClz71y6lX

— PFF Fantasy Football (@PFF_Fantasy) December 17, 2021

Mahomes is joined at +1000 by Indianapolis Colts running back Jonathan Taylor and Los Angeles Rams passer Matthew Stafford. Taylor’s climb has been particularly meteoric. The second year rusher sported odds as long as +35000 as recently as early November. But he has joined the MVP conversation while tallying 19 combined scores over his past 11 appearances, and leads all rushers with 1,518 yards.

Jonathan Taylor is in a league of his own.

🔹 270 carries (1st)
🔹 1,518 rushing yards (1st)
🔹 1,854 scrimmage yards (1st)
🔹 17 rush TD (1st)
🔹 5.6 yards/carry (1st)
*ranks among RB@Colts | @JayT23 pic.twitter.com/ohgO0poZnM

— NFL on CBS 🏈 (@NFLonCBS) December 19, 2021

Things have not gone so well for Dak Prescott and Kyler Murray, who are now knotted at a distant +4000. Murray’s recent struggles continued with Arizona’s 30-12 loss in Detroit. Murray has now tossed for just three scores against five picks during the Cardinals’ worrisome 1-3 SU slide. Prescott has lifted the Dallas Cowboys to three straight wins, but has failed to dominate the way he did while tossing for 20 scores during the team’s 6-2 SU start.

The Pick: Tom Brady (+175)