Henry McKenna
NFL reporter
“He’s one in every of, if not essentially the most dynamic quarterbacks within the league.”
Guess who stated that. And guess who the speaker was speaking about.
I’ll offer you a touch: both it was Josh Allen speaking about Lamar Jackson – or Jackson was speaking about Allen. But that clue did not say a lot, did it?
All proper, all proper. I’ll let you know.
It was Allen speaking about Jackson after the Buffalo Bills’ blowout win over the Denver Broncos. The two QBs will meet once more Sunday in Buffalo, when the Bills host the Baltimore Ravens within the divisional spherical.
Once once more, these two quarterbacks will battle for shared actual property.
And just one will depart.
It’s an important second of their rivalry.
Throughout the season, Allen and Jackson competed for playoff seeding and MVP honors. When it involves the most effective quarterback within the NFL Right now, there’s a simple case for Allen and Lamar. When voting for MVP, there is a easy case for each QB.
But the reality is, there is no such thing as a fallacious reply. Allen and Jackson are so related.
In each sense, that is what makes this rivalry so fierce.
The MVP debate, when it is this shut, heats up rapidly. But maybe the immense similarities between Allen and Jackson are a part of what makes the 2 fan bases intensely opposed to one another. The Ravens contingent thinks they’ve the most effective dual-threat quarterback. But Allen is Jackson’s equal in that class. The Bills camp will imply having the most effective playmaker and essentially the most electrifying athlete in soccer. But yeah…Lamar actually qualifies.
People might be fast to level out their variations. But by some means it comes again to what makes them related.
Lamar stands 6-foot-1 and weighs 215 kilos and is as troublesome to deal with as anybody within the NFL as a consequence of his pace. Allen stands 6-foot-1 and weighs 250 kilos, and is as troublesome to deal with as any participant within the NFL as a consequence of his measurement.
Lamar Jackson named First-Team All-Pro. Should he win MVP?
This 12 months, each quarterbacks took a developmental leap in distinctive methods as passers.
For Allen, it was about studying persistence, situational consciousness and management. This manifested itself in a scarcity of turnovers and turnover-worthy performs. His interception share dropped from 3.1% in 2023 to 1.2% in 2024. And the outcome? More victories. More consistency.
For Jackson, it was about choosing his spots as a passer to generate extra passing touchdowns. His landing share elevated from 5.3% in 2023 to eight.6% in 2024. And the outcome? More victories. More consistency.
Here’s one thing else Allen and Jackson have in widespread: They each have the identical drawback: Patrick Mahomes.
Allen’s document towards Mahomes is healthier total, however neither Allen nor Jackson has ever crushed Mahomes within the playoffs. Really, that is all that issues.
That’s what the AFC division playoff matchup is about.
Who will get a ticket to Kansas City for a shot at Mahomes and a Super Bowl berth?
This in fact assumes the Chiefs can beat the Houston Texans. And it can probably be an in depth sport, given how nicely the Texans performed within the wild card spherical. But you’d should assume that Mahomes, who has by no means misplaced an AFC championship sport in all his years as a starter, might get the W at dwelling towards the Texans.
And if he does, Mahomes could have one in every of these two playmakers to fret about.
But first we are going to see Spider-Man combat Spider-Man.
We will see Captain America preventing Captain America.
Bills LT Dion Dawkins talks Josh Allen’s impression on and off the sector
Throughout their careers, the Allen-Jackson rivalry was shut, with Allen profitable their solely playoff sport however Jackson holding a 2-1 lead within the common season. And if you wish to depend the draft — each alumni of the 2018 draft class — you’ll be able to depend Allen’s place within the draft, seventh total, as a win over Lamar, thirty second total. Sunday’s match would be the fifth direct conflict. Here’s how far again it goes: the NFL Combine in February 2018.
While quarterbacks do not at all times develop in a linear trend, these two have by no means performed higher than they’re taking part in proper now.
They’re human spotlight reels, sure. But it has at all times been like this. There is a large distinction between these two QBs and Kyler Murray, whose highlights are mind-blowing however whose weaknesses are equally mind-blowing.
Allen and Jackson add worth to their groups on each snap.
With Allen, it may be extra apparent, at the very least narratively. This offseason, the Bills parted methods with beginning receivers Stefon Diggs and Gabe Davis, together with their beginning heart. Aside from, maybe, left deal with, these are an important positions for a quarterback. And on protection, Buffalo moved on from safeties Jordan Poyer and Micah Hyde (who truly returned late within the season to the follow squad), cornerbacks Tre’Davious White and Dane Jackson and edge rusher Leonard Floyd.
But because of Allen’s superhuman 12 months, the Bills had been capable of pull off a teardown within the offseason and nonetheless get the No. 1 seed. 2 of the AFC.
Allen completed the 12 months with 133.3 anticipated factors added, in accordance with Next Gen Stats. That places his season into context whenever you have a look at his counting stats: 3,731 passing yards, 28 touchdowns, six interceptions; 531 speeding yards, 12 speeding touchdowns.
Jackson’s worth is much less clear from a story perspective. But it’s clear from a statistical viewpoint. Next Gen Stats has his EPA at 144. And then there are the counting stats: 4,172 passing yards, 41 touchdowns, 4 interceptions; 915 speeding yards, 4 speeding touchdowns. He’s a lot better than Allen.
The narrative, nevertheless, is that Jackson’s progress got here quickly after Derrick Henry’s arrival. But maybe that additionally ignores the rebuilding of the offensive line, with three new starters to begin the season, with the arrival of Roger Rosengarten, a rookie proper deal with, and guards Daniel Faalele and Andrew Vorhees. Baltimore’s protection additionally didn’t impress out of the gate.
But have a look at me, I’m moving into the identical debate that has plagued followers and media alike for the previous few months. It’s unimaginable to choose the most effective participant, as a result of it is like making an attempt to argue that the colour blue is healthier than the colour inexperienced. It’s simply colours, man. How are you able to be higher?
Yet, there can solely be one.
That’s true in terms of the MVP race. That’s true for the Ravens-Bills matchup this weekend. That’s true for the Super Bowl winner.
Before becoming a member of FOX Sports as an NFL reporter and columnist, Henry McKenna spent seven years protecting the Patriots for USA TODAY Sports Media Group and Boston Globe Media. Follow him on Twitter at @henrycmckenna.
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