“He is one in every of if not probably the most dynamic quarterbacks within the league.”
Guess who mentioned that. And guess who the speaker was speaking about.
I am going to offer you a touch: It was both Josh Allen speaking about Lamar Jackson — or Jackson speaking about Allen. However that clue did not give a lot away, did it?
Alright, alright. I am going to let you know.
It was Allen discussing Jackson following the Buffalo Bills‘ blowout win over the Denver Broncos. The 2 QBs will match up once more on Sunday in Buffalo when the Payments host the Baltimore Ravens within the divisional spherical.
But once more, these two quarterbacks will struggle over shared actual property.
And just one will stroll away.
It is a coming-to-a-head second for his or her rivalry.
All season, Allen and Jackson have been competing for playoff seeding and MVP honors. When discussing the most effective quarterback within the NFL proper now, there’s a simple case for Allen and Lamar. When voting for MVP, there’s a simple case for every QB.
However the reality is, there is not any unsuitable 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 tight, will get heated shortly. However maybe Allen and Jackson’s immense similarities are a part of what makes the 2 fan bases intensely oppositional to at least one one other. The Ravens’ contingent thinks it has the most effective dual-threat quarterback. However Allen is Jackson’s equal in that class. The Payments’ camp will need to say it has the most effective playmaker and probably the most electrical athlete in soccer. However yeah … Lamar actually qualifies.
Individuals will probably be fast to level out their variations. However one way or the other it comes again to what makes them related.
Lamar is 6-foot-2 and 215 kilos and is as tough to deal with as anybody within the NFL — due to his pace. Allen is 6-foot-5 and 250 kilos, and he’s as tough to deal with as any participant within the NFL — due to his dimension.
Lamar Jackson named First-Staff All-Professional. Ought to he win MVP?
This yr, each quarterbacks took a developmental leap in distinctive methods as passers.
For Allen, it was about studying persistence, situational consciousness and management. That has manifested in a scarcity of turnovers and turnover-worthy performs. His interception share is down from 3.1% in 2023 to 1.2% in 2024. And the end result? Extra wins. Extra consistency.
For Jackson, it was about selecting his spots as a passer to generate extra passing touchdowns. His landing share is up from 5.3% in 2023 to eight.6% in 2024. And the end result? Extra wins. Extra consistency.
This is one thing else Allen and Jackson have in frequent: They each have the identical downside — Patrick Mahomes.
Allen’s file towards Mahomes is healthier on the entire, however neither Allen nor Jackson have ever overwhelmed Mahomes within the playoffs. Actually, that is all that issues.
That is what this AFC divisional playoff matchup is about.
Who will get a ticket to Kansas Metropolis for a shot at Mahomes — and a Tremendous Bowl berth?
That is in fact assuming the Chiefs can beat the Houston Texans. And that’ll in all probability be an in depth recreation, given how nicely the Texans performed within the wild-card spherical. However you’d must assume Mahomes, who has by no means missed an AFC Championship Recreation in all his years as a starter, can get the W at house towards the Texans.
And if he does, Mahomes could have one in every of these two playmakers to fret about.
However first, we get to see Spider-Man struggle Spider-Man.
We get to see Captain America struggle Captain America.
Payments LT Dion Dawkins discusses Josh Allen’s affect on and off the sector
Over their careers, the Allen-Jackson rivalry is tight, with Allen successful their solely playoff contest however Jackson having a regular-season benefit of 2-1. And if you wish to rely the draft — each alumni of the 2018 draft class — you possibly can have a look at Allen’s draft slot, seventh total, as a win over Lamar, thirty second total. Sunday’s matchup will probably be their fifth head-to-head assembly. That is how far this goes again: the NFL Mix in February 2018.
Whereas quarterbacks do not all the time develop linearly, these two have by no means performed higher than they’re enjoying proper now.
They’re human spotlight reels, sure. However that has all the time been the case. There is a huge distinction between these two QBs and Kyler Murray, whose highlights are mind-blowing however whose lowlights are equally mind-blowing.
Allen and Jackson add worth to their groups on each snap.
With Allen, it could be extra apparent — at the very least from a story perspective. This offseason, the Bills parted methods with beginning receivers Stefon Diggs and Gabe Davis, together with their beginning middle. Exterior of, maybe, the left deal with, these are most necessary positions for a quarterback. And on protection, Buffalo moved on from safeties Jordan Poyer and Micah Hyde (who truly returned late within the season on the observe squad), cornerbacks Tre’Davious White and Dane Jackson and edge Leonard Floyd.
However due to Allen’s superhuman yr, the Payments managed to do a teardown over the offseason and nonetheless land the AFC’s No. 2 seed.
Allen completed the yr with 133.3 anticipated factors added, per Subsequent Gen Stats. That places his season into context when taking a look at his counting stats: 3,731 passing yards, 28 touchdowns, six interceptions; 531 dashing yards, 12 dashing touchdowns.
Jackson’s worth is much less clear from a story perspective. However it’s blatant statistically. Subsequent Gen Stats has his EPA at 144. After which there’s the counting stats: 4,172 passing yards, 41 touchdowns, 4 interceptions; 915 dashing yards, 4 dashing touchdowns. That is a complete lot higher than Allen.
The narrative, nonetheless, is that Jackson’s progress has come on the heels of Derrick Henry’s arrival. However maybe that additionally ignores the rebuilding offensive line, with three new starters to start the season, with the arrivals of Roger Rosengarten, a rookie proper deal with, and guards Daniel Faalele and Andrew Vorhees. Baltimore’s protection did not impress out of the gate both.
However have a look at me, moving into the identical debate that has plagued followers and media for the previous few months. It is not possible to select the higher participant, as a result of it is like making an attempt to make the case the colour blue is healthier than the colour inexperienced. They’re simply colours, man. How can one be higher?
And nonetheless, there can solely be one.
It is true in regards to the MVP race. It is true in regards to the Ravens and Payments’ matchup this weekend. It is true in regards to the Tremendous Bowl winner.
Previous to becoming a member of FOX Sports activities as an NFL reporter and columnist, Henry McKenna spent seven years overlaying the Patriots for USA TODAY Sports activities Media Group and Boston Globe Media. Comply with him on Twitter at @henrycmckenna.
Need nice tales delivered proper to your inbox? Create or log in to your FOX Sports account, and comply with leagues, groups and gamers to obtain a personalised e-newsletter each day!
Get extra from Nationwide Soccer League Comply with your favorites to get details about video games, information and extra
