The Ringer NFL Show Three Numbers That Explain the MVP Race, the Micah Parsons Injury, and Seahawks-Rams Stake
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Dec 16, 2025 
Seth Walder, ESPN's analytics guru, joins to dissect the latest NFL buzz. They examine the MVP race, debating if Matthew Stafford truly deserves the spotlight and exploring Drake Maye's potential as a dark horse candidate. The discussion pivots to Micah Parsons' injury, revealing its alarming effect on the Packers' pass rush. Finally, they analyze the pivotal Rams-Seahawks matchup, emphasizing its Super Bowl implications and how it could reshape playoff paths. Get ready for sharp insights and data-driven debate!
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Stafford's MVP Case Is Context-Dependent
- Matthew Stafford's MVP case is weakened by heavy team support despite strong counting stats.
- Seth Walder notes Stafford ranks fourth in QBR and benefits from elite receivers, blocking, and run game.
Drake Maye Offers A Stronger MVP Narrative
- Seth and Sheil both prefer Drake Maye over Stafford for MVP because Maye has fewer supporting advantages.
- Maye ranks third in QBR and would be tied for first without opponent adjustments, strengthening his narrative value.
Parsons Drives Massive Pass-Rush Impact
- Micah Parsons' presence massively improves Green Bay's pass rush win rate from 23.4% to 43.9%.
- Without Parsons, opponents pass more and Packers' pass defense metrics drop toward the league bottom.