Allen's MVP Campaign Hurt Despite Bills' Win Over Patriots?
The NFL’s Most Valuable Player award is a narrative one as much as it is a statistical one. In Week 17, Buffalo Bills superstar Josh Allen fell even farther behind Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson on both accounts.
The Bills beat the New England Patriots in Week 17, but it wasn’t on the back of the quarterback that has taken them this far. On Sunday, Buffalo won 27-21. Allen completed just 15 of 30 passes for 169 yards and an interception. He scored two rushing touchdowns and added 44 yards on the ground, but was ultimately uninspiring. Four first-half turnovers won the day for the Bills.
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Moving forward, Buffalo will need to beat the Miami Dolphins in Week 18 to win the AFC East. That in itself would be a boost to Allen’s legitimacy as an MVP candidate. Even that may pale in comparison to what Jackson and the Ravens are doing.
A week after beating the consensus best team in the league – the San Francisco 49ers – on Christmas, Baltimore hosted Miami and blew them out of the water. Jackson completed 12 of 14 attempts for 255 passing yards, three passing touchdowns, and a perfect passer rating in the first half.
After his first 15 plays, his 1.02 expected points added per play was a 100th-percentile performance. He would finish the day at the 95th percentile.
The onslaught would continue into the second half. Jackson was eventually pulled for precautionary reasons, given the insurmountable lead. Baltimore won 56-19, and Jackson finished the day with 321 yards and five scores – dominating an elite football team.
The win helps out Buffalo, but nobody is more grateful for the win than Baltimore. In knocking off the (then) No. 2 seed Dolphins, the Ravens clinched the AFC’s top seed, a week off, and home-field advantage throughout the AFC playoffs.
Quarterbacking what will be at worst a top-two team in the NFL is likely more meaningful than Allen’s carry job, but it’s not like Jackson is some slouch in the production department either.
Entering Sunday, Jackson had 3,357 passing yards, 19 touchdowns, and seven interceptions to his name. On the ground, he added another 786 yards and five scores. Allen, meanwhile, had 4,191 total yards, 40 total touchdowns, and 15 interceptions.
Allen’s campaign is marred by interceptions that aren't as meaningful or indicative as his detractors will say. At the same time, he benefits from red-zone rushing usage (and tush pushes) that Baltimore doesn’t utilize, limiting Jackson’s touchdown numbers.
Ultimately, Jackson is under center for a better football team and playing better ball down the stretch. Allen put up a good fight after Buffalo’s chaotic start, but this is Jackson’s award. Sunday’s action only confirmed that sentiment.
