NFL.com reporter Kevin Patra summarized the final results: Stafford finished with 366 points and 24 first‑place votes, while Maye was close behind with 361 points and 23 first‑place votes. The remaining three first‑place votes went to Josh Allen and Justin Herbert, signaling a meaningful, if minority, acknowledgement of Allen’s value in a year many pegged as Stafford vs. Maye.
Allen’s two first‑place votes—alongside Herbert’s single first‑place vote—illustrate how a narrow shift in opinion could have altered the outcome. If a single voter had opted for Maye instead of Stafford, the race likely would have swung in the Bills quarterback’s favor.
The two‑man expectation heading into voting this year centered on Stafford and Maye, making Stafford’s victory a notable departure from the anticipated storyline. The margin of victory underscores how closely MVP voting can hinge on a handful of ballots.
Overall, Stafford’s win reflects a dramatic, tightly contested MVP race and the impact of limited first‑place votes on a season’s final awards. The voting distribution also served as a reminder of Allen’s lingering recognition despite not contending for the award.
