Tony Romo’s latest take on the MVP race has landed with a thud among Baltimore Ravens fans. After the Buffalo Bills’ dominant win over the New York Jets on Sunday, the CBS analyst offered a baffling rationale for why Josh Allen might edge out Lamar Jackson in the race. His reasoning? It boils down to “human nature.”
"It's really close, I mean honestly it's a coin flip in a lot of ways."@tonyromo on the MVP race between Josh Allen and Lamar Jackson. pic.twitter.com/YzYbhaI4j6
— NFL on CBS 🏈 (@NFLonCBS) December 29, 2024
“I think they're tied ,” Romo said. “I think that Josh Allen might get the edge only because Lamar's had two. If Josh had two, you're gonna side with the guy who doesn't have one, that's just human nature.”
While Romo’s sentiment might resonate with those rooting for Allen to finally grab an MVP trophy, it doesn’t hold up to scrutiny. Awards like MVP should be about who dominated the season—not about evening the scoreboard for past accolades. Unfortunately, Romo’s take exemplifies how narratives can muddy what should be a straightforward decision.
Romo also leaned on team records to justify his point, calling the race razor-thin. “I just think right now, I would go by the record. One has two less losses. One got the two seed. So that guy, if it’s this close, winning and losing gives you, barely, the edge,” he said.
While that might sound reasonable on the surface, the logic falls apart under closer examination. Yes, Buffalo’s 13-3 record gives them an edge over Baltimore’s 11-5 mark, but context matters. The Ravens have faced a much tougher divisional slate in the AFC North, where three teams remain in playoff contention heading into Week 18. Compare that to the AFC East, where Buffalo cruised to a 5-0 divisional record against underwhelming competition.
Baltimore’s AFC North gauntlet includes a surging Cincinnati Bengals team and a playoff-lock Pittsburgh Steelers squad. Going 3-2 in a division this competitive is far more impressive than dominating the New York Jets, Miami Dolphins, and New England Patriots. The idea that record alone should decide MVP ignores the vastly different challenges each quarterback has faced.
Tony Romo's MVP analysis feels like a reach
If this year’s MVP race is a coin flip, it’s a heavily weighted one, and the numbers tell the story. Lamar Jackson has put together a masterpiece of a season. He’s thrown for 3,955 yards, 39 touchdowns, and just four interceptions while completing nearly 68% of his passes. Compare that to Allen’s 3,731 yards, 28 touchdowns, and six interceptions, and it’s clear who’s had the edge in the air.
But it doesn’t stop there. On the ground, Jackson remains the league’s most dangerous dual-threat weapon, adding 852 rushing yards and four more touchdowns to his ledger. Allen’s mobility is impressive, with 531 rushing yards and 12 scores, but even those extra rushing TDs can’t mask the gap in total production.
In a head-to-head matchup earlier this season, Jackson’s Ravens decisively beat Allen’s Bills, with Lamar outshining his counterpart statistically and on the scoreboard. That game alone should be a massive feather in Jackson’s cap, yet Romo’s argument effectively ignores it in favor of voter fatigue.
Romo’s “human nature” rationale does more to expose the flaws in MVP voting than it does to make a real case for Allen. The idea that Jackson’s previous MVP wins should count against him feels more like a consolation prize argument for Allen than a legitimate endorsement of his season. Imagine holding LeBron James or Michael Jordan to this standard during their primes. It’s nonsensical.
Even Romo himself seemed to admit the inherent contradictions in his take. While he mentioned Allen’s record gives him an edge, he also conceded that Lamar having a player like Derrick Henry slightly skews perceptions. Jackson can't be punished because he still performs well with the team he's been given.
It's not like Allen doesn't have a good roster around him. The Bills go into Week 18 with the third-highest-ranked offensive line according to Pro Football Focus. Additionally, in regards to the Derrick Henry argument, Allen's running back isn't too shabby either, with 981 rushing yards and 15 rushing touchdowns, James Cook is having a great season. Stop it.
Ultimately, the MVP race isn’t about who hasn’t won before—it’s about who’s been the best. And while Romo can argue the race is a tie, the stats, the wins, and the signature performances all point to Jackson.
For Ravens fans, this isn’t just about an award. It’s about the constant need for Jackson to validate his greatness, even as he continues to redefine the quarterback position. Romo’s take is just the latest example of how narratives can cloud the conversation.
Honestly, the MVP conversation is tiresome. It's been discussed ad nauseam. At the end of the day, both players would trade any award for a shot at holding the Lombardi trophy. When these comments reach the ears of MVP voters, it’s crucial to challenge arguments that don’t hold up under scrutiny.