As players and celebrities posed for photos on the red carpet before Thursday’s NFL Honors event, no one had a bingo card with Lamar Jackson leaving empty handed. But the Bills’ Josh Allen had one electrifying play left in his hand-warmer.
In an outcome attributed more to science than math, Allen captured his first Associated Press NFL MVP award. And just as he did in a 27-25 win over Jackson and the Ravens during the divisional round of the playoffs, Allen overcame long odds.
Specifically, he won it without an accompanying first-team All-Pro selection. That had happened only twice in the prior 67 MVP announcements, Steve McNair won MVP in 2003 despite Peyton Manning voted as first-team All-Pro, and John Elway won MVP in 1987 despite Joe Montana voted as first-team All-Pro. But to no one’s surprise, Allen credited his teammates.
“I know this is an individual award and it says ‘Most Valuable Player’ on it,” Allen said Thursday, “but I think it’s derived from team success, and I love my team.”
His team, Buffalo, advanced to the AFC Championship Game despite having just one player – Allen was the second-team quarterback behind Jackson — voted to either the first- or second-team All-Pro teams. Allen was the first All-Pro without an All-Pro teammate since Peyton Manning in 2008, vindicating the narrative that Allen did more with less in 2024. He also had just one teammate, tackle Dion Dawkins, who joined him as a Pro Bowler. And even Allen understood that Jackson was the MVP favorite entering Thursday night.
“They all had great seasons and all could be standing here today,” he added, speaking directly to the other finalists, “and you guys would be deserving of it. You guys are true stewards of the game. I look up to you guys. I admire you guys.”
One person not exactly admired on Friday morning was the lone voter who listed Jackson fourth on the official ballot, which the Associated Press revealed in full transparency. But the reason Allen ultimately beat out Jackson was weighted voting; Allen received 27 first-place votes and Allen got only 23.
Allen obviously was deserving, though. He seemed to turn a corner in his career, reducing his interceptions from a career-high 18 in 2023 to a career-low six in 2024. He’d averaged 13 interceptions per year from 2018-23. But this past season, he became the first in league annals to reach 25 touchdown passes and 10 rushing touchdowns with fewer than 10 interceptions.
Jackson, however, was better in every major category and even put up better numbers than either of his prior two MVP seasons. His 119.6 passer rating ranked fourth in league history. Only Aaron Rodgers (122.5 in 2011, 121.5 in 2020) and Manning (121.1 in 2004) reached higher levels among qualified passers, and Rodgers and Manning claimed MVP honors in each of those three seasons.
Saquon Barkley captured Offensive Player of the Year honors, leaving Jackson without an individual award for an incredible season. But had he captured a third MVP, Jackson would’ve been the first three-time MVP winner without a Super Bowl victory.
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