Stunningly, Baltimore Ravens QB Lamar Jackson loses to QB Josh Allen for NFL MVP.
After leading one of the NFL’s most historical offenses in history, setting the fourth-best passer rating in NFL history and producing higher numbers this season than he did last season when he won the 2023 AP NFL Most Valuable Player award, quarterback Lamar Jackson places second to Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen in 2024. Below are the reactions from the Baltimore Beatdown staff.
Absurd. Preposterous. Ludicrous. Nonsensical. And yet, it’s not unthinkable because someway, somehow, Lamar Jackson’s greatness continues to be underappreciated. Yes, a two-time NFL MVP is underappreciated.
In what amounted to his greatest season ever, leading a team to a historical season, improving upon all metrics from his MVP season last year, the voters managed to get it wrong.
Jackson was First Team All-Pro with the same voters over Josh Allen. He was better in all metrics, save for TEAM record and QB sneaks. And yet, the voters gave Allen the nod.
Lamar Jackson was a better quarterback.
Lamar Jackson was a greater player.
Lamar Jackson’s impact was greater than Allen’s.
Lamar Jackson beat Josh Allen in the regular season head-to-head.
Lamar Jackson was better.
But the same voters who put Jackson above Allen on January 10 decided to put Allen above Jackson for NFL MVP.
The stats don’t lie. The production doesn’t lie. The competition doesn’t lie. The eye test doesn’t lie. But yet, here we bear witness to the absurdity. — Kyle Phoenix
Awards shows get it wrong all the time – just look at Shakespeare in Love over Saving Private Ryan for Best Picture in 1999 or Macklemore’s The Heist over Kendrick Lamar’s Good Kid, M.A.A.D. City for Best Rap Album in 2013. So it’s no surprise that Josh Allen took home MVP over Lamar Jackson, despite history being on the latter’s side.
Is Allen a deserving winner and one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL? Sure! But was he the league’s most valuable player in 2024? Absolutely not. Consider:
– Jackson’s 119.6 passer rating in 2024 is the fourth-highest single-season mark in NFL history.
– He also became the first player in NFL history to:
– Eclipse 4,000 passing yards and 900 rushing yards
– Lead the NFL in yards per passing and rushing attempt
Translation: Allen was great, but Jackson was historic. And voter fatigue is no excuse. If anyone is tired of casting their ballot, I’m sure I know someone who’s willing to take on that burden. — Nikhil Mehta
Last year, Lamar Jackson was one vote away from receiving this honor the second time unanimously despite not posting the most gaudy stats because of how he played in the biggest games and the incredible plays he put on tape each week. In 2024, Jackson not only had the best tape of any quarterback in the league but posted the stats to support being a unanimous selection for the second time in his career. He led the league in total touchdowns with 45 as he had the greatest single-season of any dual-threat quarterback in NFL history. He continued to make tremendous strides as a passer in the second year of the Todd Monken offense and dazzled far more with his arm than his legs as a runner.
The only reason Jackson was egregiously snubbed for this year’s award despite being named First Team All Pro was that the voters wanted to give Josh Allen a consolation prize just in case he didn’t make it to the Super Bowl. Even though he was unjustly denied an honor he so rightfully earned with his sensational play during the regular season, Jackson still cemented his first-ballot Hall of Fame candidacy. There is a strong chance he finally breaks through and delivers on his draft day promise of bringing a Super Bowl back to Baltimore sooner rather than later with the way he continues to elevate his game each year. — Joshua Reed
This is nothing other MVP voter fatigues. Don’t get me wrong, Josh Allen played fantastic this season and during most years would be the absolute favorite to win this. But Jackson followed up his MVP season in 2023 with the best year of his career. He lead a top 5 offense of all time, revitalized a 30 year old running back to one of the best seasons of his career after his worst in 2023, and had the first 4,000 yard passing, 800 yard rushing season ever. He ended with a top 5 passer rating of all time. Literally historic. It’s been multiple decades since the All-Pro QB lost the MVP award to another QB, it would be unprecedented. All in all, it doesn’t mean much, it’s not what the team nor the fans truly care about right now. But it’s still wrong. — Zach Canter
In a season that started in disappointment, it has ended just the same. Starting 0-2 many fans still remained optimistic about what this season could still bring, and that prayer was answered in the form of numerous Lamar Jackson all-time great performances.
Despite defensive troubles and special teams woes, the one thing that remained consistent was Lamar Jackson. Jackson led the league in passer rating, TD-INT ratio, QB Ru/Yds, and was among the top few in every other relevant category. With the media keeping a close eye on everything Jackson did this season, looking for every excuse in the book to not give him the award, he rose to the challenge and outperformed all expectations.
Josh Allen had a superb season, but there is no argument that can be made to justify giving him the award over Jackson, and this is a clear cut case of voter fatigue.
While this hurts, Baltimore ultimately has its eye on a much bigger prize, the Lombardi Trophy, and there are no amount of MVP’s that can make up a championship. — Zach Siegel