Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen has been officially declared the NFL’s Most Valuable Player for this season, an honor well earned for a player who spearheaded his team to remarkable heights this season. The NFL, which culminated the most awaited event of NFL Honors on Thursday, declared the award in the greatest tradition, as his peers, coaches, and fans celebrated his great achievements throughout the 2024 NFL season.
This is a career milestone for Allen, who, after years of hard work and evolution as a player, now proudly stands as the first-ever recipient of his MVP trophy.
Allen won with a hard-fought lead in this very competitive race, finishing just ahead of last year’s MVP winner, Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson. Allen scored 383 points and earned 27 first-place votes, whereas Jackson trailed in the second position with 362 points and 23 first-place votes.
The great competitive struggle here only expresses how tight this race for that MVP award had been, but Allen’s very strong performance for the entire course of this season made him become the most valuable player of that league.
The Close MVP Race: Allen vs. Jackson
Among the closest competitions for the title of MVP ever seen, in the past must have been Josh Allen and Lamar Jackson. With the difference not exceeding a few points, in which Allen settled for 383, and Jackson ended with 362, however, the results did not end at just counting. The season has proven beyond the number why both Josh and Lamar had one of the largest impacts on the two teams during that period.
His MVP win was particularly sweet because he is the third man in NFL history to win that award without earning a first-team All-Pro pick. That’s no small achievement in a league that’s riddled with stars. Allen, for one, may not have been on many people’s first team All-Pro list, but what he brought to the table for the Buffalo Bills spoke to his value for the team.
It is a proof of his development as a player and as a leader on the field that he can elevate his game and lead the Bills to a 13-4 record.
The MVP voting also had a few other notable players, with Jackson finishing second and running back Saquon Barkley of the Philadelphia Eagles third. Allen’s victory was a reflection of his overall dominance and consistency, as he managed to outshine these other great players despite the challenges he faced throughout the season.
A Historic Season: Allen’s Unstoppable Performance
Josh Allen’s 2024 campaign will be remembered as one of the greatest individual seasons in recent memory in the NFL. He concluded the season with 41 total touchdowns : 28 passing, 12 rushing, and 1 receiving.
This makes him the first in the history of the NFL to have recorded 25 or more passing touchdowns, 10 or more rushing touchdowns, and a receiving touchdown in a single season.
His ability to contribute In several ways demonstrated not only his versatility but also how important he was to the Bills’ offense.
Allen’s offensive production was not just about accumulating touchdowns; it was about his ability to perform in high-pressure situations and deliver when his team needed him the most.
Although this team has its most critical offseason players leaving either the door or old mates by signing somewhere else-for instance, with Stefon Diggs joining Houston Texans and signing Gabe Davis to the Jacksonville Jaguars-Allen replied strongly and reminded everyone why his team would be part of the leading pack still.
He added to his total of 41 touchdowns, and Allen became the first player in NFL history to have 40 or more offensive touchdowns in at least five career seasons.
Aaron Rodgers is the only other player to achieve this feat. The four-time MVP winner has set a high bar for quarterbacks in the league, and Allen’s ability to match this record speaks volumes about his skill and potential for future success.
Efficiency and Growth: A More Mature Josh Allen
One of the major improvements this season in Josh Allen’s game is his efficiency. For all these years, Allen has made it known by the strong arm and spectacular play, but some critics have spoken ill of the mistakes he tends to make at the wrong moment, and there’s also talk of inconsistent decision-making. All those were just part of 2024.
Allen had just six interceptions, which was his career low. He was also sacked just 14 times, which was 10 fewer than in any other season. Such improvement in decision-making and ball protection made the Bills one of the most efficient teams in the league.
The Bills ended the season with fewer than 15 sacks allowed and fewer than 15 giveaways; they were only eight. It marked the first time in Super Bowl history that a team accomplished the former and a first in the latter as well.
Allen also mirrored his development as a quarterback through passing yards and touchdowns. He ranked 14th in the league in passing yards with 3,731 yards, and he was tied for seventh in touchdown passes with 28.
Of course, the numbers are not as sensational as some of the other quarterbacks in the league, but Allen’s knack of bringing his team out of crucial games with a win was much more important than individual stats. He did not just post great numbers, but he was winning for his team and was displaying maturity in leading on the field.
Success of Buffalo: Breaking Records and Setting New Standards
Josh Allen led the Buffalo Bills to what was perhaps the best season for the franchise in recent times.
With 13-4 and a week ago still tied atop the division with New England, Buffalo completed its regular season clinching their first AFC East title since 2009, just with five weeks to spare, and only one team ever before has managed this: in 2009 the Indianapolis Colts. Such success is thanks in great part to Allen, as well as to the Bills ability to win on such a rough schedule.
Apart from winning the division title, the Bills established many other records this season. The team scored 30 or more points in 12 games, which is a record shared by only one other team in NFL history. That team was the 2013 Denver Broncos, who scored 30+ points in 13 games. This was purely a result of Allen’s improved play and his ability to make plays both in the air and on the ground.
Perhaps the big loss that he and his Bills squad suffered was the playoff game against Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC Championship Game; but individual success had not been blunted.
His MVP award marked the end of his season as a representative of an extraordinary season for him, epitomizing leadership that pushed the Bills into the apex of the AFC East.
The Road Ahead: Josh Allen’s Super Bowl Dreams
Josh Allen has now earned his first MVP award, and he is now one of the top quarterbacks in the NFL. But for Allen, this is just the beginning. The MVP trophy is a recognition of his hard work and dedication, but his ultimate goal is to lead the Buffalo Bills to a Super Bowl title.
In the future, Allen will look to develop further as a player and on the field to take full advantage of his winning form. He will continue to lead his team in games and gain a larger role on the field as well, but this is one season he will not forget and should help propel him toward a potential MVP for many seasons.
The 2024 season was only a teaser of what Allen could bring, and things look bright for the young quarterback and the Buffalo Bills.
Conclusion
Josh Allen’s 2024 AP NFL MVP award is a testament to the incredible skill, leadership and growth he has shown as a player. He led a historic season with improved efficiency in driving his team forward through difficult situations, earning him this prestigious honor. As he looks further towards winning his first Super Bowl title, Josh Allen’s victory for the MVP award will be the starting point to yet another potentially more successful run of his NFL life.
