In a year of hotly contested campaigns, the NFL MVP race has given fans and pundits a lot to discuss.
The race between Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen and Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson has sparked a flurry of discussions on social media and sports talk shows in recent weeks. Allen is currently the favorite with -300 odds to win the award, while Jackson has the second-best odds at +225.
Allen and Jackson make strong if slightly different arguments for the award, with no clear consensus on whose case is stronger.
For Allen, a fifth consecutive division title, a 13-3 record and the only victory against Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs headline his campaign. Statistically, Allen’s 3,731 passing yards and 28 touchdown passes, along with 531 rushing yards with 12 rushing touchdowns, anchor his MVP-caliber season, even though he doesn’t lead the league in any specific category.
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But Jackson makes a much different argument as the most statistically efficient player in the league this year. Jackson leads the league in touchdown percentage and passing yards per attempt, while also leading the entire league (quarterbacks and running backs) in rushing yards per carry. But Jackson’s statistical performance is hampered, compared to Allen’s, by the fact that the Ravens only have 11 wins and have yet to clinch their division with a week left.
Jackson’s Ravens also defeated Allen’s Bills, 35-10, in their meeting this season.
These factors have earned Jackson the approval of multiple voters in the media, some of whom have publicly expressed their support for the Ravens star.
NFL insider Dianna Russini made it clear she plans to vote for Jackson during an episode of the “Scoop City” podcast on Tuesday, citing superior statistical performance.
“I’m leaning toward Lamar,” Russini said. “I don’t think Josh Allen did anything this weekend to make me say, ‘Okay, he stole this.'”
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Meanwhile, FOX Sports NFL analyst and MVP voter Emmanuel Acho argued for Allen during an episode of FS1’s “The Facility,” citing the fact that Buffalo has an inferior overall roster, especially on defense , compared to the Ravens. The Bills rank 20th in total defense this year, while the Ravens rank 14th. Jackson also has the benefit of leaning on the league’s multi-time leading rusher, Derrick Henry, as a co-star, while Allen lacks major superstars on offense.
“Simply put, Josh Allen has to do as much, if not more, with less,” Acho said. “I was re-watching the Ravens game last night, and there were times, if not most of the time, where I asked myself, ‘Who’s the best player on the Ravens’ offense?’ I mean, make no mistake, Derrick Henry ran for over 120 yards in that game. I’m sitting there watching this game and I’m saying the Ravens offense has two Hall of Famers in it only in Josh Allen.”
Meanwhile, Tony Romo, NFL broadcaster on CBS and former Cowboys quarterback, made an argument that NFL fans mocked and repeated in the debate. Romo argued that Allen should have a better chance of winning the award since he hasn’t won it yet, while Jackson already has two MVPs.
“I think they’re tied in my brain. I think Josh Allen might get the advantage just because Lamar had two. If Josh had two, you’d side with the guy who doesn’t have one. That’s just human nature in my opinion,” Romo said while broadcasting the Bills’ victory over the New York Jets on Sunday.
ESPN First Take host and former Super Bowl champion Ryan Clark has been one of Jackson’s most vocal defenders in this year’s MVP race. Clark argued that if Allen were chosen MVP instead of Jackson, it would be only because voters have already awarded Jackson the MVP twice. He compared it to cases in the NBA where Michael Jordan
Both players have one more game to polish their respective MVP cases. However, Jackson may be the only player to do so this Sunday.
With the Bills having already clinched their division title and secured the second seed in the NFL playoffs, head coach Sean McDermott has said Allen will not play the entire game against the New England Patriots on Sunday. McDermott told reporters that Allen will start the game to maintain his current streak of starting games for the team, but will come off the field at some point early.
Jackson will need to lead his team to a victory against the Cleveland Browns on Sunday to secure the AFC North title for Baltimore.
If Jackson puts together another dominant performance while Allen remains on the bench for most of Sunday, the current betting odds could change and change the race.
