Bills’ Josh Allen Reveals Humbling Take on MVP Meaning
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Diverging Reports Breakdown
QB Josh Allen shows early season MVP form with Bills off to 3-0 start
Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen calls Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson a “two-time NFL MVP” Allen is still playing second — and maybe third — fiddle among QBs when it comes to end of season accolades, with Patrick Mahomes and Aaron Rodgers also earning two MVP honors apiece since 2018. The Bills have scored an NFL-leading 112 points — Buffalo’s most through three weeks since scoring 113 over that span in 2011. Allen has completed 54 of 72 attempts for 634 yards, and yet to throw an interception following a season in which he had a career-worst 18.6 interceptions. The offense is humming despite offseason concerns of lacking a top receiving threat following Stefon Diggs being traded to Houston and Gabe Davis’ departure in free agency. The defense is still having difficulty allowing just 48 points, and the Bills’ six takeaways have resulted in touchdowns, including a pick-6 by Ja’Marcus Ingram in Week 2. The team is 3-0 for the first time since 2020.
And Allen made sure to refer to Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson as a “two-time NFL MVP,” following a 47-10 romp over Jacksonville on Monday night.
Whether intentional or not, Allen’s remark serves as a reminder following an outing in which “MVP!” chants came from the stands.
For all he’s accomplished in six-plus years in leading Buffalo to four straight AFC East titles and five consecutive playoff appearances, Allen is still playing second — and maybe third or fourth — fiddle among QBs when it comes to end of season accolades, with Patrick Mahomes and Aaron Rodgers also earning two MVP honors apiece since 2018.
Based on awards alone, Allen’s not even the most-decorated quarterback out of his draft class, which had him go No. 7 to Buffalo, and Jackson selected 32nd by Baltimore.
If lack of respect has been a motivating theme driving Allen’s career arc since his modest days at Reedley junior college in California, the 28-year-old has made a powerful statement in getting Buffalo off to its first 3-0 start since 2020.
After opening the season by losing a fumble in the red zone on Buffalo’s first possession in a 34-28 win over Arizona, Allen has led Buffalo to score 12 touchdowns and five field goals on his next 23 drives not ending with kneel-downs.
The Bills have scored an NFL-leading 112 points — Buffalo’s most through three weeks since scoring 113 over that span in 2011. Allen’s completed touchdown passes to six players. And the offense is humming despite offseason concerns of lacking a top receiving threat following Stefon Diggs being traded to Houston and Gabe Davis’ departure in free agency.
Allen’s ability to do more with apparently less was on full display in how he distributed the ball in leading Buffalo to score five touchdowns in the first half against Jacksonville.
After James Cook opened the scoring with a 6-yard TD run, Allen patiently bought time in the pocket before hitting tight end Dalton Kincaid, who ran across the length of the end zone to get open for a 6-yard catch.
And then there were his perfectly placed passes in hitting rookie Keon Coleman for a 24-yard touchdown and a 16-yarder to Ty Johnson in the left corner of the end zone.
Credit Joe Brady for his creativity in balancing the run and pass options in his first full season as coordinator. And coach Sean McDermott earns praise for being aggressive in placing faith in the offense to convert fourth downs on each of its opening touchdown drives against Jacksonville and a 31-10 win over Miami in Week 2.
And yet, it’s ultimately Allen who is efficiently running the operation. He’s completed 54 of 72 attempts for 634 yards, and yet to throw an interception following a season in which he had a career-worst 18.
“I’ve said it a thousand times and I’ll keep saying it — he’s a freak of nature,” receiver Khalil Shakir said. “He’s putting the ball to where only we can make the play on it. So, freak of nature, dog, all those things.”
Allen entered this season with a heavier burden in taking over a larger leadership role after Buffalo parted ways with six of eight captains. And he opened training camp with ESPN citing an unnamed NFL executive as calling the quarterback “overrated.”
Remember, too, Diggs’ last social media post before being traded were the words, “You sure?” in a message on X in response to someone suggesting he wasn’t essential to Allen’s success.
Allen has playfully shrugged off the negativity by saying the only thing that matters is being the best quarterback for the Bills.
So far, he’s been one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL.
What’s working
Converting turnovers into points. Buffalo’s six takeaways have resulted in touchdowns, including a pick-6 by Ja’Marcus Ingram in Week 2.
What needs help
Though allowing just 48 points, Buffalo’s defense is still having difficulty getting off the field in averaging 68 snaps per outing.
Stock up
Shakir has quickly established himself as Allen’s favorite and most reliable option. The third-year player has caught all 14 passes thrown his direction for 168 yards and two TDs.
Stock down
Coleman, but only for so long. The rookie learned a lesson for being late to a meeting by spending the first quarter on the sideline against Jacksonville. He made up for it with his first career TD in the second quarter.
Injuries
Backup RT Tylan Grable is out indefinitely after sustaining a groin injury. … McDermott has already ruled out starting LB Terrel Bernard (pectoral) and CB Taron Johnson (right forearm) from playing on Sunday.
Key numbers
8 — Buffalo’s run of wins going back to last season, marking the NFL’s longest active streak.
Next steps
A third straight prime-time outing, and Buffalo opening a stretch of three straight road games.
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Lamar Jackson’s intense two-word message shows how badly Ravens QB and MVP wants to win Super Bowl
Lamar Jackson is one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL and could soon win his third MVP award. But Action Jackson entered the 2024 playoffs still seeking his first Super Bowl trophy. Jackson and his Ravens travel to Buffalo on Sunday to face Josh Allen and the Bills in an AFC Divisional Round matchup. NFL Network analyst Marc Ross, the season-long debate between Jackson and Allen is already over, he told talkSPORT. “Just look at their stats side-by-side and Lamar is beating him in everything,” Ross said of Allen. “He’s done things that no one has ever done in history,” he said of Jackson. “I think it should be a slam dunk for Lamar. … I think he’s the greatest runner of all time too”
Lamar Jackson knows exactly what is at stake.
The Baltimore Ravens leader is one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL and could soon win his third MVP award, placing him among the greatest players in the sport’s history.
4 Lamar Jackson has found a new level of playoff intensity
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But Action Jackson entered the 2024 playoffs still seeking his first Super Bowl trophy, which has created a new level of focus and concentration from the three-time All-Pro.
As Baltimore eliminated the Pittsburgh Steelers with a 28-14 home win last weekend, Jackson kept one eye on his next playoff game and the other on a trophy that would end all of the lingering questions surrounding his greatness.
“One down, three to go,” said Jackson, referring to the number of games that Baltimore still must win to hoist the Lombardi Trophy.
Then a QB with 45 combined passing and rushing touchdowns in 2024 put the rest of the league on notice with an intense two-word message.
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“I’m hungry,” Jackson said on HBO’s Hard Knocks.
Fans loved seeing an up-close look at Jackson’s intensity.
“Keep pushing, Lamar,” one fan tweeted.
“He wants that chip” a second fan posted.
“Love to hear it,” a third fan wrote.
4 Action Jackson wants more this year Credit: x@nfl
4 He could soon win his third MVP award Credit: Getty
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4 But beating Josh Allen in the playoffs is more important to Jackson and the Ravens
“Go get em, Legend,” a fourth fan said.
Jackson and his Ravens travel to Buffalo on Sunday to face Josh Allen and the Bills in an AFC Divisional Round matchup.
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It’s also a matchup between the top two NFL MVP candidates.
But for NFL Network analyst Marc Ross, the season-long debate between Jackson and Allen is already over.
“Just look at their stats side-by-side and Lamar is beating him in everything,” Ross exclusively told talkSPORT.
“But then the historical things that Lamar has done. I mean, he’s not competing against Josh Allen. He’s done things that no one has ever done in history.
“And by the way, he’s the greatest runner of all time too. … I think it should be a slam dunk for Lamar.
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“And the biggest thing, you listen to all the players. Whenever there’s a thing about the players, they’ll say Lamar — just listen to those guys.”
Jackson has dominated the regular season in recent years, but the playoffs have been an annual problem.
He holds a 70-24 record in the regular season and has been awarded with two MVPs and four Pro Bowl selections.
But Jackson is 3-4 in the playoffs and acknowledged that he pressed too much in past postseasons.
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“When it comes to the postseason stakes, Lamar Jackson really has to meditate on and think about it,” Kyle Goon, sports columnist for The Baltimore Banner, exclusively told talkSPORT.
“Because it just feels like when he gets to some of these playoff games he’s trying to win it all by himself and you can’t win playoff games that way.
“Trying to be a superhero in the game and just trying to overextend his considerable abilities.
“When you contrast it to what Patrick Mahomes does, kind of just enough to get the job done, makes the key plays when called upon.”
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