Associated Press voters saw through a constantly shifting narrative
Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen has been named The Associated Press 2024 NFL Most Valuable Player, marking the first MVP award for Allen in his professional career. Allen was named over other finalists in quarterbacks Lamar Jackson, Joe Burrow, and Jared Goff, as well as running back Saquon Barkley.
Allen put together perhaps his strongest season yet overall with 41 total touchdowns, completing 307-of-483 attempts for 3,731 yards with 28 passing touchdowns and just six interceptions, and finishing with a passer rating of 101.4. Allen also ran for 531 yards on 102 carries with 12 rushing scores (two fumbles lost); adding another receiving touchdown off a lateral from wide receiver Amari Cooper (stats courtesy of Pro Football Reference).
The precipitous drop in turnovers helped fuel a surgically efficient offensive attack all season — where the Bills scored 30 or more points in 12 regular season games, and 40 or more points in four games. Allen’s work within offensive coordinator Joe Brady’s system played a key role in Buffalo claiming its fifth-consecutive AFC East Division Title on December 1 in a Week 13 win over the San Francisco 49ers. It also opened AP voters’ eyes.
All told, Allen was named NFL AFC Offensive Player of the Week three different times this past season (Week 3, Week 13, Week 15), and received NFL AFC Player of the Month honors once (Week 4). For his efforts, Allen was voted to his third Pro Bowl, and named an Associated Press Second-Team All-Pro. He did all this while sitting out in seven quarters of regular-season action with a Bills victory all but written in history.
Among the immensely long string of stats and superlatives tied to Allen and the team and shared in an article with the Buffalo Bills’ official website, there are the following:
In Week 13 against the 49ers, the QB passed Hall of Fame quarterback Jim Kelly (244) for most total touchdowns in Bills history and became the first quarterback in NFL history to ever record a passing, rushing and receiving touchdown in the same game.
In Week 14 against Detroit, Allen became the first quarterback in NFL history to record three passing touchdowns and three rushing touchdowns in a single game. In Week 17 against the Jets, Allen tied Hall of Fame running back Thurman Thomas (65) for the most rushing touchdowns in franchise history.
He also became the first player in NFL history to record at least 25 passing touchdowns, 10 rushing touchdowns and one receiving touchdown in a season. Allen also became the fourth QB to record at least 13 wins, 40 offensive touchdowns and fewer than 10 interceptions in a single season. — (Content courtesy of Alec White and Maddy Glab)
The list of Allen’s accomplishments from 2024 is far too long to list every in-season record here (you should take the time to read through them all at the Bills’ official website). It’s all the more incredible when considering the fact that Josh Allen has done all of this after just seven seasons in the NFL.
Despite the success, you can bet that Josh Allen would trade all of it to play in the Super Bowl. Recent history has shown us that quite often the NFL MVP doesn’t make it to the Super Bowl in the same season.
Being named an NFL MVP is among the biggest honors any player can receive, and it’s a testament to the work that Josh Allen and his coaches have put in to place him among the league’s most elite players… and one of its biggest stars.
The Bills continue their newfound tradition of winning football thanks in large part to Josh Allen. His arrival has completely changed the fortunes of a fan base in Bills Mafia that knew little success in the 21st century.
With this award, it’s unlikely anyone will ever wear the number “17” again for the Buffalo Bills. That is, of course, once Josh Allen hangs up his jersey for the last time.
Photo by Michael Owens/Getty Images