Honestly, the debate over the 2024 NFL MVP Josh Allen win still feels like it happened yesterday. If you're a Bills fan, it was the ultimate vindication. If you're a Ravens fan, you’re probably still staring at Lamar Jackson's 4,000-yard passing and 900-yard rushing season wondering how 27 first-place votes went the other way.
But here we are in January 2026, and the conversation hasn't slowed down. It's actually evolved.
Winning that first MVP trophy in February 2025 wasn't just about a single season of "hero ball." It was the moment the league finally admitted that Josh Allen is the most valuable "football character" in the game. That’s how Lindsay Jones at The Ringer put it, and it stuck. He didn't just play quarterback; he was the entire infrastructure of the Buffalo Bills.
The 2024 Season: A Statistical Masterclass in Efficiency
For years, the knock on Allen was the "sugar high." The arm talent was there, but the interceptions were a nightmare. Then 2024 happened. He threw for 3,731 yards and 28 touchdowns, which is solid, but the real story was the career-low six interceptions. He stopped beating himself.
He became a surgeon.
The Bills had traded Stefon Diggs. People thought they were in a "reset" year. Instead, Allen leaned on Keon Coleman, found a rhythm with Khalil Shakir, and basically told the rest of the AFC that he didn't need a superstar WR1 to win 13 games. He finished that MVP season with 41 total touchdowns and the fewest turnovers of his career. It was the first time in NFL history a player recorded five straight seasons with 40+ total touchdowns.
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Think about that. Not Mahomes. Not Brady. Not Manning. Josh Allen.
Breaking the "Superhero" Mold in 2025
Now, look at what’s happening right now in the 2025-2026 season. We just watched the Bills knock off the Jaguars 27-24 in the Wild Card round a few days ago. Allen went 28-of-35. That’s 80% completion. In a playoff game. On the road.
He also ran for two scores, making him the first QB ever to have three different playoff games with multiple rushing touchdowns. Colin Cowherd is out here calling him "Zeus" and saying he's more talented than Dan Marino or John Elway. Is it hyperbole? Maybe. But when you account for 90% of your team's yardage in a playoff win, the "superhero" tag starts to feel a little light.
Why People Still Argue About the MVP Hardware
The 2024 vote was one of the weirdest splits we've seen since the 80s. Lamar Jackson won the All-Pro first-team nod, but NFL MVP Josh Allen took home the actual trophy.
Voters basically decided that while Lamar played the "position" of quarterback better statistically, Allen was more "valuable" to his specific roster. It’s a nuanced take that doesn't always sit well with the analytics crowd.
- The "Value" Argument: Without Allen, the 2024 Bills are a 5-win team.
- The "Efficiency" Shift: He led the league in EPA per dropback and QBR.
- The Clout: Leading Buffalo to the #2 seed after losing his best receiver and several defensive starters.
Even in the current 2025 season, Allen's been under more pressure than ever. He was sacked a career-high 40 times this year. The offensive line has been shaky. Yet, he’s still dragging this team into the Divisional Round against the Broncos.
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The Reality of the "Dual Threat" Evolution
We often talk about dual-threat QBs like they're a new invention, but Allen is redefining the physical toll the position can take. He’s sitting at 79 career rushing touchdowns as of this week. That’s the most by any quarterback in history.
It’s not just scrambles, either. It’s those 4th-and-1 conversions where he just puts his head down and moves three 300-pound men against their will. We saw it against Cincinnati in Week 14 this past December—78 rushing yards and a touchdown to go along with 251 passing yards.
What’s Next for the Reigning MVP?
The Bills are heading to Denver for the Divisional Round. The Broncos led the league with 68 sacks this season. If Allen wants to get back to the Super Bowl and solidify that 2024 MVP legacy, he’s going to have to survive a pass rush that has been historically dominant.
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The "Godly" playoff numbers are there—310.6 total yards per game in the postseason is the highest in NFL history. But as we've seen with the MVP race this year, names like Drake Maye and Matt Stafford are starting to dominate the 2025 conversation.
If you want to keep up with Allen’s trajectory, you have to look past the box score. Watch the 3rd-and-long plays where he escapes a certain sack. Watch how he navigates a pocket that's collapsing in 2.5 seconds.
Actionable Next Steps for Fans and Analysts:
- Monitor Turnover Ratios: Allen’s MVP status was built on protecting the ball. If he keeps his current streak of 165 pass attempts without an interception through the playoffs, the Bills are almost impossible to beat.
- Watch the "Usage Rate": In the Wild Card win, Allen accounted for nearly 90% of Buffalo's offense. This is unsustainable for a Super Bowl run; keep an eye on whether James Cook or the rushing attack can alleviate that pressure against Denver.
- Track the All-Time Lists: Allen is only four touchdown tosses away from becoming the 12th player in history to reach 30 postseason passing TDs. Keep a tally during the Divisional game.
The 2024 NFL MVP Josh Allen proved he could be efficient. The 2025-2026 version is proving he can survive. Whether that leads to a ring is the only question left to answer.