NFL MVP has become a quarterback award, and for the 2024 regular season, the race is down to two QBs playing on wild-card playoff weekend: Lamar Jackson and Josh Allen.
While Saquon Barkley, Joe Burrow, and Ja'Marr Chase are left vying for the consolation prize of Offensive Player of the Year, Jackson and Allen stand alone as legitimate contenders for most valuable.
Jackson, who has won for the Ravens twice, including in 2023, is trying to join an exclusive all-time group of six players who have earned three or more MVPs. That will make him a lock for the Pro Football Hall of Fame following Jim Brown, Johnny Unitas, Brett Favre, Peyton Manning, Tom Brady, and Aaron Rodgers.
Jackson is also trying to join, Brown, Favre, Manning, Rodgers, and Joe Montana as the only players to repeat as MVP. Allen, however, is positioned to play spoiler with his first such award. also hoping to become the first Bills player to win it since Thurman Thomas in 1991.
Here's breaking down the numbers to see whether Jackson is worthier to make it three than Allen is to break through with one.
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Lamar Jackson vs. Josh Allen passing stats
| Statistic | Lamar Jackson | Josh Allen |
| Completion percentage | 66.7 | 63.6 |
| Passing yards | 4,172 | 3,731 |
| Yards per attempt | 8.8 | 7.7 |
| Passing touchdowns | 41 | 28 |
| Interceptions | 4 | 6 |
| Passer rating | 119.6 | 101.4 |
Both players started 17 games, but Jackson played in most of the Week 18 contest while Allen left after the first snap. Still, when weighing these numbers, Jackson was the better, more prolific, and efficient passer in 2024.
It's also notable that Jackson's positive marks are career highs, better than his MVP work in '19 and '23. Jackson also led the league in YPA and rating in 2023, while Burrow took home the TD and yardage crowns.
Although it's admirable Allen threw a career-low six interceptions, none of his other marks are career bests or 2024 league-bests. When looking at the side-by-side numbers without considering to whom they belong, Jackson should have the edge. But can Allen make up ground on the ground?
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Lamar Jackson vs. Josh Allen rushing stats
| Key QB statistic | Lamar Jackson | Josh Allen |
| Rushing yards | 915 | 531 |
| Rushing yards per attempt | 6.6 | 5.2 |
| Rushing touchdowns | 4 | 12 |
Jackson also leads here in two categories, so the only real difference is the fact Allen scored three times as often rushing than Jackson. But Jackson still accounted for 45 combined TDs to 40 for Allen.
Jackson's running back, Derrick Henry, with his 5.9 yards per carry with 16 rushing TDs is supposed to take away from his MVP case. That's forgetting that Allen's running back. James Cook, averaged 4.9 yards per attempt and also scored 16 TDs on the ground to tie Henry for the league lead. The difference is the Ravens chose to run Henry 325 times, while Cook was limited to 207 carries.
If running is supposed to be the difference-maker, it's not there for Allen. Then it comes down to what they did in big games, including against each other.
Lamar Jackson vs. Josh Allen records
Jackson led the Ravens to a 12-5 record and another AFC North title. Allen led the Bills to a 13-4 record and another AFC East title. Allen didn't play for real in Week 18, so let's say the difference is two wins. Is that really enough to make up the difference?
Allen did have the two highest-profile QB wins, taking down the Chiefs and Lions, now both the respective No. 1 seeds in each conference. Jackson did fall in massive games against the Chiefs and Eagles, the NFC No. 2 seed, but the Ravens also beat the Commanders, Buccaneers, Broncos, Chargers, Steelers, and Texans, or six of the 14 playoff teams. Oh, wait, make that seven. Jackson's Ravens also beat Allen's Bills to make it half of the playoff teams.
Recency bias be damned, but way back in a Week 4 game that counts like the rest of them, the Ravens beat the Bills, 35-10. Allen combined for 201 passing and rushing yards and didn't produce a TD for his team. Jackson? He went for 156 yards and two TDs through the air and 54 yards and two TDs on the ground.
Jackson has now gone three-for-three in saying he should be the easy MVP over Allen. One more breakdown to go.
Lamar Jackson vs. Josh Allen: Who's the more valuable MVP?
The only stats that matter in the end for deciding NFL MVP will be who gets the most tabulated votes in their favor by the Associated Press. There's a perception Allen has had more "Heisman moments" because his highs tend to be dramatic and he also has a good redemption story in terms of becoming a much more efficient QB again.
But Jackson has made his spectacular look steady, and everyone knows the hardest thing in the NFL is to do something great back-to-back. Jackson was better than he was last season, so the only true competition should be himself. Allen is bound to win based on odds and votes, but it will be a big mistake when knowing Jackson outweighed every QB with his all-around performance (again) in 2024.
