The year of Josh Allen is still going strong as the holidays approach. The Buffalo Bills quarterback is not only engaged to actress Hailee Steinfeld, but he is in the middle of perhaps his best individual season. He is officially in a two-horse race for the title of 2024 MVP.
Despite having Khalil Shakir as his No. 1 wide receiver after an offseason of turmoil, Allen is right alongside Baltimore Ravens star Lamar Jackson in the hunt for the MVP. Jackson is gunning for his third trophy, while Allen is trying to become the third player (and first quarterback) in Bills history to take home the award for himself.
Not only has Allen put up preposterous numbers this season, but he has done so at far less than 100% health due to an injury that would normally force most quarterbacks to miss a few games.
According to Ian Rapoport, Allen has been playing through a fractured left hand. While he is fully healed up now as the home stretch of the season comes into focus, Allen putting up the numbers he has while clearly dealing with a physical ailment should make his MVP case even stronger in the eyes of voters.
Bills QB Josh Allen has played through fractured left hand in 2024
Allen, who has led the Bills to an 11-3 record this season, has thrown for 3,395 yards and 25 touchdown passes against just five interceptions. After throwing 18 last season, new offensive coordinator Joe Brady seems to have fixed what was Allen's biggest issue up until that point.
As a runner, Allen has run for 484 yards and 11 touchdowns. If he can sustain this level of production for a few more seasons, he could eventually break Cam Newton's record for rushing touchdowns by a quarterback. Allen has 64, while Newton is on top with 75.
While the Bills have benefitted from a very weak division, the fact they have established themselves as a legitimate Super Bowl contender in a year where many in the media started to leave them for dead speaks to the type of player and leader Allen has become this season.
Allen needs to fend off a strong challenge from Jackson to win MVP, but it may be tough for the voters to deny the player who has led his team to a superior record with comparable stats, all while fighting through an injury that would sideline most ordinary players for months.