Bills' McDermott: 'Josh Allen is the MVP'
Buffalo Bills head coach Sean McDermott has no doubt that his quarterback, Josh Allen, should be named NFL MVP this season.
"They have this saying about stats. Look, Josh Allen is the MVP. I've been around the league long enough to know," McDermott said after Sunday's 40-14 win over the New York Jets, according to Dan Fetes of Buffalo Plus.
Allen has indeed put together an MVP-caliber 2024, and the Bills superstar is the favorite to win the award for the first time in his career. He finished second and third for the league's most prestigious individual award earlier in his career.
There were questions about Buffalo's roster before the season, but Allen's spectacular play has helped the Bills win 13 games and secure the 2-seed in the AFC. Owner of some of the year's most unbelievable plays, Allen has accounted for 40 touchdowns in 2024 (28 passing) to go along with 4,262 total yards. He ranks first in EPA/play.
"No offense to anybody else, but I have a hard time believing anyone else has done more," McDermott said.
Allen finished the victory over the Jets with 16 completions on 27 attempts for 182 yards and two TDs while rushing for 17 yards and one score.
"Josh Allen continues to show why he's the MVP," McDermott added postgame, according to Jenna Cottrell of Buffalo Plus.
Allen's biggest rival in this race is presumably Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson, who's accounted for more yards (4,807) and total touchdowns (43). The 11-5 Ravens have two more losses than the 13-3 Bills in 2024, but Baltimore and Jackson blew out Allen and Buffalo in September. Jackson is the reigning NFL MVP and a two-time winner.
Joe Burrow leads the NFL in most significant passing categories but seemingly isn't in MVP contention with the Cincinnati Bengals currently out of the AFC playoff picture.
It's hard to imagine a non-QB winning the MVP, but Philadephia Eagles running back Saquon Barkley could receive some consideration if he breaks the single-season rushing record. Barkley is only 100 yards shy of Eric Dickerson's record after finishing Sunday with 2,005 rushing yards this season. He's only the ninth player in NFL history to reach the 2,000-yard rushing mark in a single campaign.