Everyone who follows the National Football League knew that in 20254 the Most Valuable Player award was going to come down to just 2 players: Lamar Jackson and Josh Allen.

Players like Saquon Barkley and Joe Burrow definitely deserved to be in the conversation, but Jackson and Allen had amazing seasons. In a narrow MVP race, Allen received 27 first-place votes, while Jackson garnered 23, resulting in Allen winning the 2024 NFL MVP award.

The odd thing to me is that someone on the voting committee didn’t even believe that Jackson was one of the top 3 players in the league in 2024, as Jackson received one 4th place vote.

Let’s take a look at their stats and then talk about it.

Josh Allen’s 2024 Season Statistics:

Passing:

Yards: 3,731
Touchdowns: 28
Interceptions: 6
Completion Percentage: 63.6%
Passer Rating: 101.4

Rushing:

Yards: 531
Touchdowns: 12

Lamar Jackson’s 2024 Season Statistics:

Passing:
Yards: 4,172
Touchdowns: 41
Interceptions: 4
Completion Percentage: 66.7%
Passer Rating: 119.6

Rushing:

Yards: 915
Touchdowns: 4

Jackson had more yards, more touchdowns, less interceptions, more rushing yards, a higher completion percentage, and a higher passer rating. In fact, Jackson led one of the most historic offenses, setting the fourth-best passer rating in NFL history and improving upon his 2023 MVP season. Allen had more rushing touchdowns.

Both quarterbacks showcased exceptional talent throughout the season, solidifying their positions as two of the league’s premier players, but in my opinion (and if you look at the stats) Jackson had a better season.

In fact, when it came to first team All-Pro voting, Jackson (from the same committee) got 30 first place votes to Allen’s 18 votes. It seems odd that 9 people changed their mind between the best quarterback in the league and then league MVP.

Again, it was the same group of people that voted for both. I’m not reading anything into this, I just find it odd.

Part of the reason that I believe Allen won over Jackson is that the addition of Derrick Henry made the Ravens offense much better and gave Jackson greater opportunity to throw the ball with success.

While Josh Allen has a good running back in Buffalo with James Cook, he doesn’t have Derrick Henry. Maybe voters took Henry into account in their MVP voting.

The effect of Lamar Jackson being injured and the effect of Josh Allen being injured are different in my opinion. If Allen goes down, the Bills are not a playoff team, if Jackson goes down the Ravens still have a chance, be it slight.

It’s been said for a while that Allen is a one man show in Buffalo, and that the offense runs through him. His loss would be felt much more that Jacksons.

It is always fun to debate who the best player in the NFL is, and both guys (and Joe Burrow) had great statistical seasons. I still don’t understand Jackson getting a 4th place vote, jut like I don’t understand how Ichiro didn’t get 100% on the Hall of Fame ballot.

So congratulations to Josh Allen for being named the most valuable player in the NFL in 2024. It will be fun to see if both these players build off 2024 next season.