Lamar Jackson put together one of the greatest seasons in NFL history. He led the Baltimore Ravens to offensive heights the league has never seen before.
Lamar Jackson didn’t just put up MVP numbers—he led the Ravens to one of the most dominant offensive seasons in NFL history. Under his command, Baltimore became the first team ever to notch 40 passing touchdowns and 20 rushing touchdowns in a single season. Jackson’s dual-threat ability also helped the Ravens become the first team to eclipse 4,000 passing yards and 3,000 rushing yards in the same year, finishing with the third-most total offensive yards in league history.
But apparently, none of that was enough.
On Thursday night, the NFL announced Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen as the league’s MVP, leaving Jackson—who had the better stats, better efficiency, and a better record—on the outside looking in. It was a brutal, head-scratching decision that will have Ravens fans fuming for a long time.
This was Jackson’s award to lose. He threw for 4,172 yards, 41 touchdowns, and just four interceptions. He ran for 915 yards and added four more scores. He played better against playoff teams. He was better against top-10 defenses. He was, in every sense of the word, the most valuable player in the league. But the voters went with Allen instead.
Lamar Jackson deserved MVP over Josh Allen
Allen had a great season—no one is denying that. But 3,731 passing yards, 28 touchdowns, and six interceptions don’t stack up against what Jackson did. Allen had 531 rushing yards and 12 rushing touchdowns, sure, but that still doesn’t close the gap.
The argument is that Allen did more with less than Lamar, but how is that quantified? At the end of the day, Allen plays with 52 other NFL-caliber players (the same amount as Lamar). Just say you got bored with Jackson winning and wanted a fresh face.
The reality? Voter fatigue probably played a role. Jackson had already won two MVPs (including last year's), and some voters likely wanted to see a fresh face holding the trophy. Add in the usual media love for Buffalo, and suddenly, the best player in the league gets left empty-handed.
While it's a massive slight for Jackson, the truth is he didn't need the award or want it. Jackson and Baltimore have bigger goals anyway. With a full offseason ahead of them, anything is possible. This team is so close, and everyone can see it. It took Peyton Manning and John Elway time to win their first Super Bowls, too.
If history tells us anything, it’s this: A motivated Lamar Jackson is the scariest player in football. And after getting robbed of his third MVP? He’s about to remind everyone why he should have won it in the first place.