Sports
The NFL offseason is supposed to be a time when the previous year’s debates fade into the background, but Dez Bryant has no interest in letting one particular storyline go.
The former Dallas Cowboys wideout believes Lamar Jackson should have been crowned the 2024 MVP instead of Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen, and he made his feelings known in a social media post that immediately reignited one of the league’s most heated discussions.
“I literally just finished watching Lamar Jackson’s 2024 season highlights – they robbed my boy of the MVP last year,” Bryant wrote on X.
It was a sentiment shared by plenty of Baltimore Ravens fans at the end of last season. The vote between Jackson and Allen was one of the tightest in recent memory, separated by only 21 total points.
Allen secured 27 first-place votes for 383 points overall, while Jackson collected 23 first-place votes and finished with 362. It was the narrowest margin in an MVP race since Peyton Manning edged Steve McNair in 2003.
What added fuel to the controversy was the All-Pro voting. Jackson was named a first-team All-Pro quarterback, while Allen was placed on the second team, a detail Bryant and others point to as evidence that the Ravens star had a stronger case.
Jackson‘s 2024 campaign was defined by consistency and versatility. Baltimore leaned heavily on his ability to extend plays, and he delivered by keeping the Ravens among the AFC’s elite despite a host of offensive injuries.
His dual-threat presence not only opened up the passing game but also kept the Ravens‘ rushing attack one of the most feared in the league.
Allen, meanwhile, put up some of the most efficient numbers of his career. His ability to stretch the field with his arm while cutting down on turnovers helped Buffalo push deep into the postseason.
The Bills’ divisional-round win over Baltimore added another layer to the narrative, with Allen besting Jackson in their only head-to-head clash of the year.
For voters, the difference seemed to come down to Buffalo’s ability to string together wins late in the season, positioning Allen as the league’s most valuable player. But for Bryant, the voting result remains puzzling.
The human element of MVP debates
MVP races in the NFL often boil down to fine margins. Voter perception, team momentum, and playoff seeding can tilt a close contest.
Jackson has already won two MVPs in his career, but missing out on a third by such a narrow margin leaves lingering questions about how much weight narrative carries compared to on-field production.
Bryant‘s commentary is also a reminder that awards have lasting implications. Jackson‘s résumé could one day be measured against legends like Tom Brady, Peyton Manning, and Aaron Rodgers, all of whom collected multiple MVP trophies.
Falling short in a razor-thin vote alters how those career comparisons may be framed down the line.
The broader stakes
Jackson‘s focus will undoubtedly remain on team goals, particularly a return to the Super Bowl stage that has eluded Baltimore since 2012. Allen, similarly, faces the pressure of delivering Buffalo’s first-ever championship after years of near-misses.
Still, MVP talk cannot be separated from legacy. Every vote, every accolade, and every missed opportunity shapes how these quarterbacks are remembered.
For now, Allen has his first MVP trophy to go with Buffalo‘s deep playoff run, while Jackson must settle for first-team All-Pro honors and another chapter in his ongoing rivalry with Allen.
Bryant’s public defense of Jackson may not change the record books, but it has reminded fans that the 2024 MVP race was not simply a numbers contest, it was a clash of narratives, legacies, and perceptions.
This news was originally published on this post .
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