It was a debate that raged on for the entire 2024 season. For most of the year, the MVP race was a two-person draw, with Lamar Jackson and Josh Allen the clear-cut candidates to take home the mantle. Eventually, Allen walked away with his first trophy while also beating Jackson in their playoff game.
However, by most statistics, the Baltimore Ravens superstar had the edge over Allen. As a result, the debate between the two continues to rage on about their positioning in the league. Ahead of the 2025 season, PFSN tries to answer who stands higher between the superstat quarterback duo in its list of Top 100 players.
Josh Allen vs. Lamar Jackson: The Debate Rages On
For both players, the cases were vastly different last season. While the Buffalo Bills lost some key players, including Stefon Diggs, the Ravens were shoring up on talent with the addition of Derrick Henry. As a result, Jackson won the stats argument in a landslide.
He tallied 4,172 yards and 41 touchdowns, compared to 3,731 and 28 for Allen. Even on the ground, Allen had impressive numbers of 531 yards and 12 touchdowns. However, Jackson was no slouch either, adding 915 yards and four touchdowns.
The lack of talent around Allen, though, is what ultimately won him the MVP trophy, as he reduced his turnover mistakes and led Buffalo to an AFC Championship Game appearance. And it also landed him in the fourth spot on PFSN’s Top 100 players list.
Acknowledging the relative lack of talent around him, they wrote, “Despite lacking an elite group of weapons, Allen consistently moved the ball downfield. His 8.7 average depth of target ranked 13th, and he finished third in EPA per dropback (+0.26).”
“Allen racked up 46 total touchdowns on the year, and his combination of arm strength, mobility, and improved decision-making made him one of the most dangerous offensive weapons in the NFL.”
The main characteristic that was so alluring about Allen’s progression was the maturity and the improved decision-making. Tagged with being reckless and trying to force the issue at times, he learned to take care of the football and reduced his turnovers considerably.
ONLY LAMAR. WOW.
📺: #BALvsCIN on CBS/Paramount+
📱: https://t.co/waVpO8ZBqG pic.twitter.com/KenO7criwG— NFL (@NFL) October 6, 2024
“Allen minimized mistakes last season, throwing just six interceptions in the regular season, the lowest total of his career. His leadership and playmaking ability were central to Buffalo’s offensive success and have expectations as high as ever in Upstate New York.”
But as good as Allen was, Jackson remains the cream of the crop, a year after winning his second MVP. Even though he fell short of the honor for the third time in his career, his numbers and the success Baltimore had cemented his position at the top of PFSN’s list as he came in first.
In particular, they noted his improvement as a passer. “Jackson’s growth as a passer stood out, as he ranked first in yards per attempt (8.8) and posted a league-best EPA per dropback of +0.30. He also finished first in our QB+ metric and had a very solid case to be considered the league’s MVP.”
Posting an all-time historic passer rating of 119.6, he became the idea dual-threat quarterback. “His 9.3 average depth of target (fourth in NFL) highlights his willingness to push the ball downfield and challenge defenses vertically, even without elite talent supporting him. His 915 rushing yards and four rushing touchdowns added another layer to his dominance, making him the engine of the Ravens’ offense.”
At this point, the difference between Allen and Jackson is like splitting hairs. The two are among the premier quarterbacks in the league, and their standing near the top is undeniable. For both of them, playoff success is a significant determining factor.
In the 2025 season, both of them will be looking to make the Super Bowl for the first time in their careers. And it is possible that, once again, their path to eternal success runs through each other.
