The NFL’s MVP race is heating up and two frontrunners have emerged.
There are those supporting Baltimore Ravens quarterback and two-time MVP Lamar Jackson, and others who are throwing their weight behind Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen.
CBS’ lead NFL analyst Tony Romo believes it’s too close to call, at least when looking purely at the stats.
“I think they’re tied [for MVP]. I think that Josh Allen might get the edge only because Lamar’s had two. If Josh had two, you’re gonna side with the guy who doesn’t have one, that’s just human nature.” – Tony Romo pic.twitter.com/YvOMDsBwCq
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) December 29, 2024
Where Romo thinks there could be some separation is what each quarterback already has in the trophy case.
“I think that Josh Allen might get the edge only because Lamar’s had two. If Josh had two, you’re gonna side with the guy who doesn’t have one, that’s just human nature,” Romo said.
There’s definitely an underdog factor to Allen’s narrative. It’s only natural for MVP voters — most of whom are the same media members that vote on the award year after year — to want someone different to win the award if the choice is between two players that are close statistically. Look no further than the LeBron James MVP fatigue of the 2010s in the NBA.
But when Romo was pushed by his play-by-play partner Jim Nantz on who he felt was most deserving, the former Cowboys quarterback relented, saying that Allen should have the slightest edge because his team has won more games.
“I just think right now, I would go by the record. One has two less losses, one got the two seed. So that guy, if it’s this close, winning and losing gives you, barely, the edge.”
– Tony Romo expands on his MVP race opinions pic.twitter.com/zzE3Gdervm
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) December 29, 2024
“I just think right now, I would go by the record. One has two less losses. One got the two seed. So that guy, if it’s this close, winning and losing gives you, barely, the edge,” Romo said. “The problem is, head-to-head, Lamar beat him. Now I do think Lamar having a Derrick Henry effects the game. But you can’t take anything away from either of these guys. They both have played their best season of their career. I am fine with either.”
For as hotly debated as this topic has been in the past couple of weeks, Romo largely stayed above the fray. He acknowledged that both quarterbacks have had career seasons while also discussing the reality that Allen’s lack of a previous MVP award may give him an advantage. That’s about as balanced of a take that he could possibly give.
And considering Romo will likely be calling one or both of these teams at some point in the playoffs, that’s probably a wise decision on his part.
[Awful Announcing on X]
