Why Bills QB Josh Allen deserves the MVP over Ravens' Lamar Jackson

There's no denying that Lamar Jackson is closing out his best season statistically as a pro. Jackson leads the league in passer rating (121.6), tops all quarterbacks in rushing yards (852), is second in passing touchdowns (39) and has just four interceptions through 16 games. He is also sixth in the league in passing yards (3,955). 

All those numbers are better than what he put up during his MVP season last year. And they are better than the numbers of his closest competitor this season, Josh Allen.

That makes it tough to argue for Allen to win the award this season. However, there are other factors in favor of Allen winning his first MVP.

The Ravens are 7-3 against teams with winning records and still need a victory over the Cleveland Browns this weekend to claim the AFC North division title. Allen's Bills are 3-3 against teams with winning records, but they are the only team to beat the top team in the AFC, the Kansas City Chiefs, and the top team in the NFC, the Detroit Lions. 

At 13-3 overall, Allen's Bills have a better record than Jackson's Ravens (11-5). Buffalo clinched the AFC East division title in Week 13. Allen will start this Sunday against the New England Patriots to keep his active starting streak alive, but he'll play only a couple of series beyond that. 

That means Jackson has an opportunity to enhance his MVP résumé while Allen watches Mitch Trubisky run Buffalo's offense in the final week of the regular season. Jackson also owns the head-to-head matchup with Buffalo, with the Ravens easily handling the Bills 35-10 in Week 4.

A third MVP award would put Jackson into a different stratosphere. Jim Brown, Johnny Unitas, Peyton Manning, Tom Brady, Aaron Rodgers and Brett Favre have all won at least three