Allen went clear in the MVP race with a superb run at the start of December. It began in the snow against San Francisco, when he became the first quarterback to score a passing, rushing and receiving touchdown in the same game.
The following week he became the first player to score three passing and three rushing touchdowns in the same game, then he became the first player with at least two passing and two rushing TDs in consecutive games.
Over Baltimore’s past four games, Jackson passed for 12 touchdowns, becoming the first player to reach 4,000 passing yards and 800 rushing yards in the same season.
A panel of 50 broadcasters/journalists then named Jackson as the first-team All-Pro quarterback, which does not bode well for Allen.
The last time the first-team All-Pro quarterback was not also MVP was 1987. The same panel selects the MVP, but Allen remains the slight favourite.
Votes are cast at the end of the regular season so Sunday’s game will have no bearing on the winner, which is announced during Super Bowl week.
While who had the best season is hard to call, Allen’s advocates argue he is more valuable to Buffalo than Jackson is to Baltimore.
The Bills traded their top receiver in the off-season while the Ravens signed one of the league’s best running backs in Derrick Henry.
Henry rushed for 1,921 yards – second to Saquon Barkley – and Baltimore’s receiving group is stronger than Buffalo’s, putting more onus on Allen to get the job done.
The Ravens also had six All-Pro selections compared with Buffalo’s one – Allen. As Bills receiver Khalil Shakir puts it, “we go as he goes”.
Jackson and Mahomes are the only active players to have won MVP. Is it time for Allen to join them?
