Josh Allen won the MVP award against all odds.
The Bills’ star signal caller took home the hardware on the thinnest of margins on Thursday and in an award night surprise as Allen was not on the All-Pro first team, an honor that was bestowed upon MVP runner-up Lamar Jackson.
The same 50 voters decide on the two honors.
Allen becomes just the third player in NFL history to win the MVP award despite not being an All-Pro first-teamer and this is the first time that has happened in 21 years.
The only other two times in NFL history this occurred was by QB John Elway (1987) and Titans QB Steve McNair (2003).
Jackson received 30 first-team All-Pro votes while Allen received 18, which was announced on Jan, 10 and put him in the driver’s seat to win the award.
The same voters then turned around and gave Allen 27 first-place votes for MVP, while Jackson received 23.
Former NFL QB and Sirius XM host Jim Miller inexplicably gave Jackson a fourth-place MVP vote as the Ravens star finishes with 362 points, 21 points short of Allen’s 383.
“Lamar Jackson received 30 first place All-Pro votes to Josh Allen’s 18, per the AP, meaning Jackson is now the clear frontrunner for his third NFL MVP,” NFL reporter Tom Pelissero posted on his X account on January 10.
That would not come to fruition as Allen celebrated his big victory for the Bills.
It would appear that the news leaked in some capacity, as online trading futures trading market Polymarket saw Allen’s MVP likelihood move from 53 percent to 94 percent in the hours leading up to the awards ceremony.
Over $182 million in volume was bet on this market, pointing to some insider trading happening in this market.
Statistically, Jackson — who has won the award twice before — had Allen beat in passing yards, touchdowns, interceptions, and rushing yards.
Although the Bills did have slightly more team success, winning 13 games compared to 12 for the Ravens.
The Bills then eliminated the Ravens in the playoffs, though the award is strictly based on regular season accomplishments.
Jackson threw for 4,172 yards and 41 touchdowns with just four interceptions while running for 915 and four touchdowns.
Allen put up strong numbers in his own right, throwing for 3,731, 28 touchdowns, and six interceptions while running for 531 and 12 rushing touchdowns.
