MVP Caliber Season
The start to the season that Josh Allen is having for the Buffalo Bills will have him and others thinking big things are on the way. So much in fact that the MVP chatter is already starting to build. The chatter has a legitimate case as he is off to a flying start.
After four games he is completing 71% of his passes for 1,326 yards, which ranks second in the NFL. His arm has accounted for 12 touchdowns and only one interception. It even feels like that interception should have an asterisk next to it as its hard to find anyone that agrees with the referee’s decision on that call.
His legs have chipped in with an additional three touchdowns and 83 rushing yards. Unfortunately, he has fumbled the ball twice but we’ve seen other quarterbacks do the same while winning the award.
If you project those numbers out over a 16 game season he will finish with 5,304 passing yards, 48 touchdowns, and four interceptions through the air. On the ground, the franchise quarterback will add another 332 yards, 12 touchdowns, and eight fumbles.
Those numbers are really eye-popping for a 16 game season and compare quite well to the last five MVPs, all of which were quarterbacks.
2019 – Lamar Jackson – 66%, 3,127 yards, 36 touchdowns, six interceptions. 1,206 Rush Yards, seven touchdowns, and eight fumbles
2018 – Patrick Mahomes – 66%, 5,097 Yards, 50 touchdowns, 12 INTs. 272 Rush Yards, two touchdowns and two fumbles.
2017 – Tom Brady – 66%, 4,577 Yards, 32 touchdowns, eight interceptions.
2016 – Matt Ryan – 70%, 4,944 Yards, 38 touchdowns, seven interceptions.
2015 – Cam Newton – 60%, 3,837 Yards, 35 touchdowns, 10 interceptions. 636 Rush Yards, 10 touchdowns and four fumbles.
Allen’s projections would land him with some of the best numbers in those categories and some in the middle, but maybe most noteworthy is nothing alone in last. That gives the Bills signal caller room to regress off a blistering start and still not be in the bottom when comparing to these recent MVPs.
With top talent weapons all around him and an offense coordinator seemingly calling all the right shots the opportunity is there for the Buffalo Bills to have their first NFL MVP since Thurman Thomas in 1991.