Josh Allen or Lamar Jackson? Debating the MVP front-runners ahead of Ravens-Bills

The careers of Lamar Jackson and Josh Allen are inextricably linked. Both taken in the first round of the 2018 NFL Draft, the two quarterbacks arrived in the NFL facing serious, albeit very different, questions about their pro prospects. Seven years later, they're neck and neck in the league's QB hierarchy. And the next chapter in their playoff journeys will come against each other.

So, who will come out on top?

Allen's Bills host Jackson's Ravens in an AFC divisional-round showdown Sunday night, the marquee matchup of the weekend. Buffalo and Baltimore breezed through the wild card, beating Denver and Pittsburgh by double digits, respectively.

Allen and Jackson, the MVP front-runners, are both incidentally aiming for their second AFC championship game appearances. In their lone previous postseason matchup against each other, in the 2020 divisional round, Allen and Buffalo came out on top.

FOX Sports writers Ben Arthur and Henry McKenna got together to compare and contrast the careers of both superstar quarterbacks through the lens of this season, their upcoming bout and their respective legacies.

Moderator: Henry, you had a story earlier this week examining the MVP cases of both QBs. It was really insightful — except for the part where you didn't pick a winner. We're not letting you off the hook here. Who'd get your vote?

McKenna: Well, shoot. I did, indeed, avoid picking an MVP — because I'd pick someone and regret not voting for the other. I'd go with Josh Allen. By a hair.

I've seen all the numbers. Lamar Jackson has more touchdowns, higher expected points added (EPA) and fewer interceptions. Lamar has been more valuable on the stat sheet.

But when you entrench yourself in the film, there's so much to love about