The 2024 NFL regular season has come to an end, and now we are all looking forward to the playoffs to see who will win the Super Bowl. Of course, we also will find out who will take home the most prestigious awards like NFL MVP for this season, and there is a heated argument right now between two players who are at the top of almost everyone’s leaderboard as most deserving. Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen and Baltimore Ravens QB Lamar Jackson are the clear frontrunners to take it home, and there is an argument that can be made for each of them to do so. It really all depends on how you view the MVP award.
To me, I view it as an award that should go to the best player in the league that made the biggest difference for his team. If you replaced this player with an average one at his position, would the team then falter without him? I always ask myself that before I would make a decision on who I think should win. You also have to consider voter fatigue, as if a player has won it multiple times already, they are less likely to win it in the future unless they are a clear cut obvious choice.
Right now at most sportsbooks, the MVP award is now off the board. Before it was pulled, Bills QB Josh Allen was a pretty heavy favorite at around -250 odds to win the award. If I had to guess right now, he is probably going to win it, but that doesn’t mean that I have to agree with it. All you have to do is look at the stats for each team and player, and I think you will discover who should take it home this year.
Josh Allen threw for 3,731 yards (14th in NFL) and 28 touchdowns (7th), while throwing for just six interceptions all season. He generated a QBR of 77.2 (2nd) on average this season. There is no question that he is one of the most deserving candidates to win the award, and I would be shocked if he doesn’t win it based on the closing odds at the books. Still, is he the most deserving of everyone in the league? Personally, I think there is some voter fatigue happening here with Lamar Jackson, who has already won the award twice and just won it last season.
Jackson actually had a better season this year than he did in his previous MVP campaigns, yet likely won’t win it here. He threw for 4,172 yards (6th) and 41 touchdowns (2nd), both numbers being far higher than Allen. He also threw only four interceptions, also less than Allen. He generated a 77.5 QBR (1st), also higher than Allen. In pretty much every category, Jackson was a better signal-caller than Allen was.
If you took either of these guys off their team, there is no question they would both be far worse. The QB position is the most important in the NFL for team success, and having a great one is key to any team being a consistent competitor for championships each season. However, personally, I feel Jackson would have been the bigger loss. The Ravens defense has been questionable at best this season, and without that offense led by Jackson, it might have been ugly in Baltimore.
While I think Jackson should win the MVP, Allen is very deserving as well and as I said, I think he is probably going to win it.
Here is how I would rank my top-5 to win the MVP this season: Lamar Jackson, Josh Allen, Joe Burrow, Jayden Daniels, Jordan Love.
While Burrow didn’t make the playoffs, there is no denying that the Bengals would have probably had the No. 1 overall pick if he wasn’t their QB. That team was horrendous outside of Burrow and his receivers, and he put up some insane stats this season for a team that had just nine wins.
Daniels was one of the best rookies we have seen at the position in a long time, and while he did have some down weeks, he consistently had his team in a position to win football games. When you add in that he was doing this for a Commanders team that really lacks high end talent, it was extremely impressive. I’ll be interested to see if he continues to have this success when OC Kliff Kingsbury eventually leaves for another head coaching opportunity.
Love is easily the most controversial pick here for me, especially considering Malik Wilis having success when he was out with injury. Still, Love elevates this team from very average to a real competitor for a Super Bowl. He threw 25 touchdowns to just 11 interceptions, and I think is quite underrated. However, I also will admit he can be inconsistent.
Related
