Tommy,
When you disconnect the MAF your DME will light a CEL and revert to default fuel trims. If the car runs better you know you have a failing MAF that was sending faulty info to the DME. If the car runs no better or worse, your test was inconclusive.
This is a simple test anyone can do that will not harm your car as long as you don't have something else seriously wrong. The process of elimination works.
