Josh Allen delivered an MVP-caliber season despite not getting the recognition.
When playoff time rolls around in the NFL, there’s much talk about who will take home the Lombardi Trophy. What’s also talked about, is who will take home the end of the year awards, namely the NFL MVP honors. Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen may not be at the top of many voters’ lists but he deserves recognition.
The usual suspects, Patrick Mahomes and Aaron Rodgers, have been the top two candidates and debates have already started on who deserves it more. Tennessee Titans hulking running back Derrick Henry has become the “trendy” pick, especially after cracking the ever-elusive 2,000-yard rushing barrier.
It’s extremely rare that a running back takes home the award, as it’s become almost exclusively a quarterback’s prize in the modern era. When it comes to the other two passers, Rodgers leads the league in touchdowns with 48, with Mahomes in fourth with 38.
Much has been made of Rodgers’ and Mahomes’ numbers this season but Allen is right behind Mahomes in touchdown passes with 37. As far as passing yardage goes, Mahomes leads the three with 4,740. Rodger finished with 4,299 and Allen is right in the middle with 4,544. So while Allen doesn’t lead the trio in any of the two major passing categories, his numbers are quite comparable with the other two.
He may not be the NFL MVP winner but Josh Allen is worthy of more discussion.
Allen also rushed for eight touchdowns and is a threat with his legs to a point that the other two don’t compare. The other three quarterbacks to finish a season with at least 35 touchdowns and seven rushing touchdowns were Steve Young in 1994, Cam Newton in 2015 and Lamar Jackson last season. All three took home the MVP award.
There’s more to the MVP than just numbers. Deshaun Watson took home the passing title with 4,823 and he’s certainly not at the top of anyone’s ballots. Josh Allen is at the helm at arguably the hottest team in the NFL.
The Chiefs may have a better record but haven’t looked like themselves. The Packers have the same record as the Bills but, in fairness, the Bills are a Hail Mary in Arizona away from a 14-2 season, which would have been tied for the league-best and stood alone as the best in Bills franchise history, even during the 1990s run.
So, number aside, if Allen is the best player on arguably the best team, why shouldn’t he get NFL MVP votes? Members of the Bills Mafia may not have to worry about all of that though, because it may be seen as a long shot that Allen hoists the MVP trophy. But fair or not, he does have an excellent shot of hoisting the Lombardi Trophy and ending the long-suffering of Buffalo Bills fans.