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THE HIDDEN REASON DRAKE MAYE IS OFFICIALLY FAVORED TO WIN THE NFL MVP

Drake Maye is the new MVP favourite after a 157.0 rating performance. Plus, the NFL fines Jets’ Jermaine Johnson for an illegal hit.

The hidden reason Drake Maye is officially favored to win the NFL MVP
Jermaine Johnson was fined $17,389 for an illegal hit on star Drake Maye.

For the first time since Tom Brady’s last year in 2019, the Patriots are back on top of the AFC East.

They didn’t just win last weekend—they steamrolled the Jets, 42-10. And when the Bills lost a close one to the Eagles, 13-12, New England clinched the division.

Now, the Patriots have a real shot at grabbing the AFC’s No. 1 seed. All they need is a win over the Dolphins on Sunday and for the Broncos to lose to the Chargers. If Denver pulls off a win in Week 18, though, it won’t matter what the Patriots do—they’ll drop to No. 2.

While the Pats are gearing up for Miami, the Jets, who are basically just playing out the string, got some bad news thanks to New England.

Drake Maye took a nasty hit last week, and it cost Jets defensive end Jermaine Johnson. The NFL fined Johnson $17,389 for hitting Maye in the head and neck. Two other Jets—Jordan Clark and Isaiah Davis—picked up smaller fines for taunting and using the helmet.

Maye, for his part, had a monster game against the Jets. He threw for 256 yards, five touchdowns, and no picks, with a nearly perfect 157.0 passer rating. Honestly, the only blemish was that hit, which could’ve been a lot worse.

Here’s what happened: Late in the second quarter, on third-and-6, Maye dropped back and fired one to Stefon Diggs. The pass hit the turf, but the Patriots caught a break with a roughing-the-passer penalty. Both Jowon Briggs and Jermaine Johnson got to Maye, but it was Johnson’s hit to the face that drew the flag and the fine.

Now, after that kind of performance, Maye’s the front-runner for NFL MVP. Matthew Stafford, meanwhile, struggled against Atlanta—269 yards, two touchdowns, and three interceptions—and now Maye sits at the top of the MVP odds, according to DraftKings. Stafford is second, but it’s a big gap. Christian McCaffrey and Trevor Lawrence are way behind.

Some people are arguing that Stafford deserves it, especially with the Patriots’ softer schedule. Bill Simmons, though, isn’t buying that at all. He broke it down on The Ringer, and he’s pretty fired up.

“You look at the advanced metrics, and it’s just obvious for Maye. I know I sound like a Boston homer, but come on. The Patriots have the top offense by EPA, and Maye is leading or near the top in every category. He’s making wild throws under pressure, scrambling for his life half the time.

“He’s dropping dimes all over the field—honestly, I’ve seen him make a dozen throws this season that are as good as anything in Patriots history. Stafford has Puka Nacua—maybe the best receiver in the league—making five-yard catches and turning them into sixty. Plus, Stafford’s had Davante Adams for most of the year, a better line, indoor games, and Sean McVay calling plays.

“But here’s what blows my mind: the Rams are the freaking six seed. The MVP almost always goes to a guy on a top-two seed.”

KENDRICK BOURNE REVEALS THE STRICT DISCIPLINE THAT SPARKED THE PATRIOTS' TURNAROUND

Kendrick Bourne speaks out! Discover why he thinks Mike Vrabel is the right fit and why he’s eyeing a 2026 return to the 49ers.

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Kendrick Bourne’s path through the NFL has zigzagged all over – some highs, plenty of lows, and now, another fresh start. He took a shot with the Patriots in 2025 after building his reputation with the 49ers. But honestly, that New England chapter ended before it even got going. Bourne didn’t just slip out the back door. He left with a lot to say about what he saw brewing in New England as Mike Vrabel took charge.

Once Vrabel arrived, you didn’t need to listen for rumours about a culture shift; it was obvious. Bourne noticed right away. He’s already got his eyes set on home, back with the 49ers, but even from a distance, he could see the Patriots were heading somewhere new long before their record showed it.

Talking about his exit from New England, Bourne didn’t sugarcoat anything. Losing the job itself wasn’t the hardest part. What stung was watching Vrabel put his stamp on the team, laying down the kind of structure and discipline Bourne knew would eventually pay off. He was blunt; things just felt different under Vrabel compared to before.

He put it like this: “After going through OTAs and camp with Vrabes, you just knew. Nothing against Mayo, but he just wasn’t ready. With Vrabes, the structure was totally different in how we studied, how we met, and just the whole vibe. Honestly, I was sad about it.”

This wasn’t just a guy being bitter. Bourne respected what was happening in New England and genuinely wished he could have been part of it, especially with a Super Bowl push on the horizon. He even admitted he’d wanted to be in that locker room when the Patriots finally made it back to the big stage.

Now he’s back with the 49ers, hoping to stick around. At 30, Bourne wants a new contract in San Francisco. He had a solid 2025, racked up 551 yards, picked up a contract bonus, and gave the offence a spark. The 49ers needed reliable hands, and Bourne delivered. He’s clear: he wants to stay, but only if the deal makes sense for him.

So now, the offseason gets interesting. Bourne knows where he fits best, but he’s still keeping an eye on what’s building in New England. That mix of looking back and chasing what’s next makes this part of his career one to pay attention to.

MRI SCARE: STEVE KERR ADMITS STEPH CURRY’S "NEBULOUS" KNEE MAY REQUIRE SECOND IMAGING

Warriors crisis! Discover why Steph Curry may need another MRI and how Jimmy Butler’s ACL tear shifts GSW to the play-in.

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Warriors star to undergo new MRI as knee pain lingers

The Warriors have been scrambling since Jimmy Butler went down with that ACL tear. He’s done for the year, and now Stephen Curry has to carry the offence on his own.

Right after the All-Star break, the Warriors are sitting in eighth place out West. That’s already shaky, and now Curry’s dealing with a knee injury too. The team calls it runner's knee; basically, he just needs time to heal. But then Steve Kerr gave an update that didn’t exactly inspire confidence.

Turns out, Curry might need another MRI. He tried to push through a full workout, but his knee just wasn’t right. Now, they’re waiting on imaging to figure out how long he’ll actually be out.

Meanwhile, Kristaps Porzingis still hasn’t suited up for Golden State. If Curry misses significant time, everyone else needs to step up in a big way. The Warriors already have one of the most average offences in the league, 15th at the break. No curry, and things get ugly fast. He’s already missed 16 games this season, and the team went 6-10 without him.

Losing Butler already knocked the Warriors out of serious contention. They’re pretty much locked into the play-in. Unless Curry suddenly goes supernova, it’s hard to see them catching the Thunder or making any real noise out West.

So, what’s next? The front office tried to swing big at the deadline, going after Giannis Antetokounmpo, though who knows if the Bucks ever really considered it. Giannis stayed put, but you can bet the Warriors will chase him again this summer.

If that doesn’t work, they’ll turn to other stars. They know the championship window is closing with Curry still on the roster. He’s still elite, but time’s ticking.

LeBron James even comes up as a possibility. If he declines his player option and hits free agency, maybe he’d team up with Curry for one last run at a ring.

Most likely, though, Golden State will look at trades instead of free agents to try to reload. Curry’s health isn’t what it used to be, and the Warriors know they have to make the most of whatever prime he’s got left.

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