Colin Cowherd, a Fox Sports analyst, believes Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen should have won the AP NFL MVP award, but few media figures are as smitten with Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson as Cowherd.
Cowherd thinks Allen denied Jackson a third trophy because running back Derrick Henry eclipsed Baltimore’s quarterback. In an episode of the podcast “The Herd,” Cowherd stated that defenses facing the Ravens had to make decisions and compromises when Derrick Henry arrived in Baltimore. And Derrick Henry frequently seemed to be the team’s important player rather than Lamar Jackson.
“As much as Josh Allen got support from James Cook, he was the 16th leading rusher in the league,” Cowherd added, highlighting the impact Henry had. Getting the core? They lost Stefon Diggs, but he won 10 of his final 12 games, and I believe he had one selection after December 1st.
In essence, Cowherd distinguished between Jackson and Allen in a straightforward manner. One predicated on the fact that the latter has more resources than the former.
Cowherd’s remark, “When you face the Bills, the sole mission is to stop Josh Allen,” highlighted Allen’s talent for carrying his team. In contrast, some teams prioritized containing Derrick Henry when facing the Ravens this season.
Although this is a well-reasoned argument, some people find it difficult to accept that Jackson’s supporting cast diminished his award-worthy status. Especially when his exceptional numbers were sufficient to earn him a spot on the first team All-Pro quarterback roster, a distinction that has only ever been equaled by an MVP award.
An uncommon argument against Lamar Jackson was made by Colin Cowherd.
Cowherd’s decision to select against Jackson is also remarkable, as is the All-Pro starter’s failure to earn MVP. One of the most outspoken supporters of Jackson’s abilities has long been the podcast host.
Jackson is “probably the world’s best football talent,” according to Cowherd. Additionally, he has defended Jackson’s failure to win a Super Bowl.
It’s shocking that Cowherd supported Allen over Jackson for MVP because of remarks like those. According to AP votes, it was a tight and contentious judgment, but Cowherd is not the only media figure who believes Jackson just used the talent at his disposal to do what he should have.
Stephen A. Smith of ESPN holds a similar opinion. After the Bills lost important players, including All-Pro wide receiver Diggs, he told “First Take” that Allen is “regarded as somebody who exceeded expectations.”
The Ravens are “loaded” with elite players on both sides of the ball, so “Jackson is seen as somebody who lived up to expectations.”
Given that Henry was offensively complemented by wide receiver Zay Flowers, tight end Mark Andrews, and left tackle Ronnie Stanley, it’s an interesting point of view. On the defensive end, a star-studded defense was supported by safety Kyle Hamilton, edge-rusher Kyle Van Noy, defensive lineman Nnamdi Madubuike, middle linebacker Roquan Smith, and cornerback Marlon Humphrey.
Despite having All-Pros on either side of him, Jackson nevertheless decided the Ravens’ fate. Allen followed suit, but statistically he was unable to match Jackson.
The inability of Josh Allen to keep up with Lamar Jackson
This season, Allen’s body of work was impressive. The 28-year-old added 531 yards and 12 touchdowns on the ground in addition to throwing for 3,731 yards, 28 touchdowns, and just six interceptions.
Those figures are outstanding, but according to OptaSTATS, Jackson’s outperformed them in every significant category.
Given these statistics, it would be detrimental to Jackson’s development this season to claim that his supporting cast undermined his MVP argument. In terms of accuracy and big-play potential, he kept improving as a passer.
According to Pro Football Reference, Jackson set career highs with 2,087 completed air yards and a 78.7 on-target %. These numbers gauge Jackson’s progress and provide insight into why he was selected to the first team All-Pro over Allen.
The dispute surrounding the latter honor has been triggered by Jackson’s status as All-Pro but not MVP. Rob Parker, a voter for the MLB Hall of Fame, said on Fox Sports Radio that the voters are “cowards” because of this.
“The last 11 All-Pro first-team quarterbacks were named MVP,” Parker noted. There’s no reason to separate the infant. It is impossible to claim that one quarterback is an MVP and the other is an All-Pro first team quarterback. It is foul-smelling. It’s not credible. It doesn’t make sense.
The fact that the AP recognized Jackson and Allen only serves to highlight how both players improved football’s most crucial role. But in the end, Allen’s playoff victory over the Ravens was the honor that mattered, leaving Jackson fuming and still reeling from the Super Bowl setback.
