As the NFL begins its annual postseason march to the Super Bowl, multiple playoff teams have a chance to lift the Lombardi Trophy. Anyone from Kansas City (14-2) to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (10-7) has a realistic chance for immortality.
As far as the NFL’s Most Valuable Player Award goes, however, there are only two names that really matter: Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen and Baltimore Ravens passer Lamar Jackson. With all due respect to Eagles running back Saquan Barkley, he’s had a terrific season, but he’s a distant third. Plus, in recent years, it’s been nearly impossible for anyone besides a QB to win the award.
Although voting is taking place before the playoffs begin this weekend, the NFL MVP winner won’t be announced until Thursday, Feb. 6 – just days before the Super Bowl in New Orleans. So, a candidate’s playoff stats won’t matter in the tally, only the numbers they put up over the 17-game regular season schedule.
Both candidates are certainly worthy, and Jackson already has two such awards on his mantle. If Allen were to win, it would be his first Most Valuable Player Award. In terms of voting, this could end up being one of the closest MVP races in league history.
Jackson, 28, was the Ravens’ first-round selection (32nd overall) in the 2018 NFL Draft, and he’s basically been the team’s franchise player since day one. Though he has yet to win a Super Bowl, the former Heisman Trophy winner posted more video game numbers again this season.
The Ravens superstar threw for 4,172 yards with 41 touchdowns and just four interceptions. On the ground, he tallied 915 yards and added four touchdowns. However, he had a quarterback rating of just 77.5, and he didn’t look quite like he did during his monstrous MVP campaign of 2023.
Still, Jackson is – year in and year out – one of the top five QBs in the NFL and a surefire Hall of Famer when his career ends. He led Baltimore to a 12-5 record, and they will host the Steelers on Saturday night as the playoffs kick off.
Josh Allen has been considered an elite quarterback for a few years now, but it’s been this season that he’s taken a big step to the upper echelon. That should come as no surprise. He’s played at a high level since he entered the league as the seventh overall pick in the 2018 Draft.
The former University of Wyoming QB is a three-time Pro Bowler and a dual threat on offense. Much like Jackson, he can beat you in the air or on the ground. In the same vein, his creativity in the clutch has snatched many victories from the jaws of defeat.
That’s perhaps what sets Allen apart this season more than any other before it. It’s almost as if his coming-of-age party arrived in 2024, and he’s never been more polished and poised. Comparing the stats and their team’s records, Allen had a better year than Jackson did. He may not have the same eye-popping numbers as his contemporary, but the Bills QB was much more efficient.
Allen had 3,731 passing yards with 28 TDs and 6 INTs while posting a 77.2 QBR. He also displayed his own prowess on the ground, scrambling for 12 touchdowns in 2024. On top of that, the most important figure of all might be his team’s record. His Bills are the number two seed in the AFC Playoff bracket, after posting a 13-4 record. An AFC Championship showdown with the Chiefs seems almost inevitable for Buffalo at this point.
Because of Buffalo’s lofty perch, and the fact that the two QBs aren’t that far apart in terms of their numbers, the vote needs to go to Josh Allen. It just feels like this should be his year to step up and stand among the elite. At the same time, considering the age and talent of both athletes, this may end up being a debate we have for many years ahead.
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