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Josh Allen entered the 2024 NFL season as a favorite for the Most Valuable Player award. As the season progressed, the Buffalo Bills quarterback seemed to solidify his case for the league’s highest honor. However, Lamar Jackson, the reigning MVP, surged late in the year, sparking a heated debate over who should take home the trophy.

While Allen’s performance is undeniably worthy of recognition, Jackson’s campaign may edge him out, making Allen a potential MVP runner-up for the third time in his career. Jackson’s edge in All-Pro voting—earning 30 first-place votes compared to Allen’s 18—may hint at the final outcome.

If Jackson secures another MVP, he would join an elite group of players, including Peyton Manning, Tom Brady, and Aaron Rodgers, as the only quarterbacks with three or more MVP titles. Quarterbacks have dominated the award for the past 11 years, with recent winners including Patrick Mahomes, Rodgers, and Jackson. The MVP will be announced during the NFL Honors on February 6.

Why Josh Allen Deserves MVP Consideration

Josh Allen faced a unique challenge this season, operating without key receivers like Stefon Diggs and Gabe Davis. Despite these changes, Allen has led the Bills to an impressive 13-4 record, outperforming Jackson’s Baltimore Ravens (12-5). Buffalo also defeated both No. 1 seeds, Kansas City and Detroit, along the way.

Allen’s historic achievements this season include:

• Becoming the first player to throw 40+ touchdowns in five consecutive seasons.
• Recording three passing touchdowns and three rushing touchdowns in a single game.
• Scoring a passing, rushing, and receiving touchdown in the same contest—a feat no other quarterback has accomplished.

Under Allen’s leadership, the Bills averaged an AFC-best 30.1 points per game and tied an NFL record for the fewest turnovers in a season (8). Allen also demonstrated remarkable efficiency, being sacked at the lowest rate in the league.

Bills head coach Sean McDermott summed up Allen’s value: “Josh Allen is the MVP. What he has done for this team, this organization, and this community speaks volumes. It’s hard to see anyone doing more.”

Lamar Jackson’s Case for Back-to-Back MVP Titles

Lamar Jackson’s 2024 season may be even more impressive than his 2023 MVP campaign. This year, he:

• Set an NFL record for the fewest interceptions thrown (4) while passing for more than 40 touchdowns.
• Achieved the fourth-highest single-season passer rating in NFL history (119.6).
• Became the first player to lead the league in both yards per pass attempt (8.8) and yards per rush attempt (6.6) in the same season.

Jackson also made history by becoming the only player to surpass 4,000 passing yards and 900 rushing yards in a single season. In a critical Week 4 matchup, Jackson’s Ravens defeated Allen’s Bills 35-10, further solidifying his case.

Statistical Showdown: Josh Allen vs. Lamar Jackson (2024)

MVP History: Lamar Jackson and Josh Allen

• Lamar Jackson: A two-time MVP (2019, 2023), Jackson was a unanimous choice in 2019 and narrowly missed a second unanimous win in 2023, earning 49 of 50 first-place votes.
• Josh Allen: Allen has finished as the MVP runner-up twice, in 2020 (behind Aaron Rodgers) and in 2023 (to Lamar Jackson). This season could mark his third near-miss.

Who Should Win?

The race between Josh Allen and Lamar Jackson highlights two quarterbacks who have redefined excellence in the NFL. Allen’s leadership and record-breaking feats showcase his importance to the Bills, while Jackson’s efficiency and dual-threat ability underscore his dominance.

As the debate rages on, the MVP announcement will determine who truly defined the 2024 NFL season.