The Buffalo Bills came into the season with a ton of question marks surrounding them. So much so that 40-year-old Aaron Rodgers and the New York Jets were the favorites to win the division over them. However, thanks to a stout defense and a career year from Josh Allen, the Bills sit at 11-3, arguably their best year in the Josh Allen era, and have already wrapped up the AFC East title.
But Allen’s impressive, MVP-caliber season has more to it than meets the eye. In a shocking report, it was revealed that Allen’s heroics came despite a severe injury plaguing him this entire year.
NFL Insider Discloses Surprise Josh Allen Injury
Allen has been dominant in the past few weeks, but his overall numbers co-align with some of his previous seasons. It’s his impact, however, that has gone far beyond what the numbers suggest.
The only star player on the squad (before the Amari Cooper trade) and its key component by a country mile, Allen has been extraordinary while taking care of his Achilles heel: turnovers. But what makes the season even more impressive is the injury he’s been dealing with since Week 1.
Late in the game, Allen rushed for a touchdown against the Arizona Cardinals, flying high. A shove from two different players made him fall hard on his left hand. However, he didn’t acknowledge it beyond a small look at it.
During the postgame press conference as well, Allen gave no indication that something significant was afoot. While he did show up on the injury report for 11 straight weeks, Allen was a full participant for each practice, including the week right after his injury. As a result, not many paid much attention to it.
But, as NFL insider Ian Rapoport reported, Allen was playing through a broken hand this entire time, one that has now completely healed. It further adds to his unbelievable season and might even help sway some voters for the MVP.
How impressive has #Bills QB Josh Allen’s MVP-caliber season been? Sources say he’s also been playing through a broken hand.
My story: https://t.co/MIoM8doExuhttps://t.co/MIoM8doExu
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) December 22, 2024
Will Allen Win This Year’s MVP Award?
Since Allen became a legitimate NFL superstar, his main problem has been with turnovers. Since becoming a starter, Allen had the most interceptions of all players, but this year has brought about a remarkable change.
Not only are the interceptions down, they’re nearly non-existent. Allen’s TD:INT ratio of 5 to 1 marks the best of his career by a mile, with his previous best coming in 2020. Further, his passer rating of 103.5 is also the second-best of his career and much higher than his career average of 93.6.
For a team that lost many big-name players in the offseason, the Bills have had a triumphant season. Their 11-3 record is good for second in the conference and has them still in play for a shot at the No. 1 seed. That level of success, along with Allen’s game-by-game brilliance have made him the MVP favorite currently.
In fact, he’s the overwhelming choice at -900. Lamar Jackson, a two-time MVP winner in his own right, sits at +550 in a distant second.
While Allen was already running away with the award, this latest scoop from Rapoport is just going to add to his aura and the impressiveness of the season that he’s had so far.
