Buffalo Bills News
The NFL MVP conversation seems to be at an all-time high. I don’t recall a time where it has been discussed more frequently and loudly than it is right now. Bills’ Josh Allen is right in the mix, and has been the frontrunner for weeks, with others clamoring for Ravens’ Lamar Jackson and Cincinnati’s Joe Burrow to be the one to bring home the hardware at the end of the season.
For Buffalo’s head coach Sean McDermott, it’s quite clear, and he made a definitive statement regarding his stance following Josh Allen’s record breaking performance against the Jets.
Titans WR Calvin Ridley: “It stings every time you lose. I don’t want to lose ever.”Titans WR Calvin Ridley: “It stings every time you lose. I don’t want to lose ever.”
“Josh Allen’s the MVP. I’ve been around this league long enough to know, to see MVPs every year, for many years, and what he has done on this team, in this organization, in this community — and no offense to anybody else — but I’ve got a hard time believing that someone’s done more. I really believe that,” McDermott said after the game.
The problem with the MVP discourse this season is that it’s starkly different from last year, when Jackson brought home the award despite Allen having better counting stats. This year, Allen’s counting stats are behind Jackson’s, and suddenly many voices want to give it to Jackson for the stats.
Well, which is it?
Last year, Allen should have won it. I will hang my hat on that and will argue it repeatedly. This year, despite not having quite the same stats as Jackson, I believe it’s Allen’s year again.
The type of plays that he consistently makes, the fact that he took a team that many expected to finish third in their division, the fact that he has elevated the passing attack despite losing his No. 1 wide receiver, Stefon Diggs, via free agency, the fact that he handed Patrick Mahomes the Chiefs’ only loss of the regular season, the fact that he went into Detroit and beat what will likely be the No. 1 seed in the NFC — and the fact of the matter is, he’s carrying the team. This team goes as Allen goes.
His 4th down run against Kansas City to score a touchdown and essentially ice the game was his MVP moment, and he’s been nothing but phenomenal since then.
Allen is the first player in NFL history to score 40+ touchdowns in five straight seasons. His three touchdown day against the Jets propelled the Bills to a team-record 61 touchdowns and 501 points in a season.”
Everyone knocked him for his turnovers last year, and all he’s done this year is cut his interceptions from 18 down to 6. Whatever questions people have had of him, he’s answered and more.
If we’re just comparing counting stats, give it to Jackson. Sure. But give Allen Lamar’s from last year in the process. If we’re willing to look beyond just the boxscore, there is no doubt in my mind that there isn’t a better player, a more valuable player to his team, than Josh Allen. And McDermott agrees.
Discover more from Spiritual Learners
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.