During a riveting discussion on ESPN, analyst Ryan Clark sounded a note of caution, saying Lamar Jackson, the dynamic Baltimore Ravens quarterback, is the best player in the NFL this season and deserves the MVP award.
However, Clark expressed concerns that “MVP fatigue” could play a significant role in voting, drawing parallels to NBA history, when Charles Barkley won the MVP award in 1993 over a Michael Jordan who seemed more deserving. Many remember that Barkley, leading the Phoenix Suns with an average of 25.6 points and 5.1 assists, was ahead of Jordan, who posted impressive statistics with 32.6 points and 5.5 assists per game.
“That narrative could very well be repeated in NFL MVP voting this year,” Clark shared after Cincinnati’s thrilling 19-17 victory over Pittsburgh last Saturday night. “When I suggested that Josh Allen could potentially win the MVP like Barkley, Buffalo fans almost exploded. It is widely acknowledged that Michael Jordan was the supreme force in basketball,” Clark said. “In my opinion, Lamar Jackson is out of this world this season. The numbers back this up, but opinions persist from last year when people claimed ‘Lamar’s stats weren’t the best.’ They list Dak Prescott, Brock Purdy and CMC as contenders.”
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This season, Jackson shone with 4,172 passing yards, 41 touchdowns, in addition to 915 rushing yards and four rushing touchdowns following the Ravens’ 35-10 victory over the Cleveland Browns. In comparison, Allen has accumulated 3,731 passing yards, with 28 touchdowns, and 531 rushing yards, with 12 rushing touchdowns.
Clark noted that the Buffalo Bills have exceeded initial expectations this year, which strengthens Allen’s chances for the MVP. “This price tends to be driven by narrative, and the story going into the preseason was that the Bills would struggle due to significant losses. However, if the team pulls together, we need to consider the crucial moments for the MVP. For Josh Allen, those key moments include his three-touchdown performance (both passing and rushing) against the Los Angeles Rams, and that crucial run on fourth down against the Kansas City Chiefs showing raw power, leadership and instinct. Additionally, his dominant performance against the Detroit Lions—who were, at that point, the best team in the league—should not go unnoticed.
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Clark concluded with a nuanced perspective: “Let me be clear, in my opinion, Lamar Jackson is indeed the best player leading a top team, enjoying one of the best statistical seasons in the league, perfectly positioned to a run to the playoffs. That said, Josh Allen has undoubtedly put in an MVP-worthy performance and, if the storytelling lines up and these key MVP moments stand out, voters might just lean his way, especially if they start to feel fatigue with Lamar Jackson’s previous accolades, similar to what we saw with Michael Jordan.”
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