For all intents and purposes, Josh Allen and reigning NFL MVP Lamar Jackson have both enjoyed otherworldly, MVP-caliber 2024 seasons. Both have succeeded and thrived under their own unique circumstances as two of the finest players in the game. Both would be more than worthy of winning this year’s MVP award. There isn’t really an “incorrect” choice in this race as much as it has a fortunate winner and unfortunate loser decided mostly on vibes and the smallest, razor-thin margins.
It’s that simple.
According to CBS’s Tony Romo, Allen’s and Jackson’s MVP race at the top is so tight that it’s a virtual tie to him. After the Buffalo Bills declined to give Allen an extra touchdown chance during Sunday’s blowout win over the New York Jets — opting to hand off to James Cook instead — Romo shared a fascinating follow-up thought on his general MVP assessment.
Romo thinks that Allen’s and Jackson’s MVP battle might likely boil down to voter fatigue. This means that voters would lean toward picking Allen, even though Jackson has been just as good, if not better because Allen has never won an MVP while Jackson has earned two of the last five.
It’s quite the outcome to suggest on national television:
Tony Romo on the MVP race between Lamar Jackson & Josh Allen:
"I think they're tied in my brain. I think that Josh Allen might get the edge, only because Lamar's had two. If Josh had two, you're gonna side with the guy who doesn't have one. That's just human nature in my… pic.twitter.com/b9POkiGVLM
— Bobby Trosset (@bobbybaltim0re) December 29, 2024
Romo makes a great point.
Put yourself in any of the voters’ shoes. Allen and Jackson have been objectively incredible this year. Both have been so special that it’s almost impossible to pick one over the other without injecting narrative and personal bias into the process. Because their teams’ records are similar and the play has been so comparable, it’s hard to pinpoint consistent logic that makes sense. In this scenario, the easiest tiebreaker becomes who’s never won it before over the person who has already shown they’re football’s premier player multiple times.
It’s not perfect. But I’d rather have this line of thinking decide an MVP instead of shrugging my shoulders and saying something like, “Oh, Player’s A’s numbers FEEL more notable to me; look at the context!”
What does that even mean? Why do we talk like this about sports? Does anything matter?
On an individual basis, this would understandably be a super frustrating outcome for Jackson and the Ravens. Still, it’s the name of the game. I find it difficult to imagine the Bills wouldn’t be just as upset about Allen losing out for similar arbitrary reasons.
Welcome to the cost of turning the NFL MVP discussion into something that resembles the annual NBA MVP conversation.
No one really “wins” here. Someone just finishes with more votes, depending on who you ask and depending on when they won it.
