Fans are calling for the NFL to change their MVP voting to factor in playoff performances after Josh Allen and the Buffalo Bills took down Lamar Jackson and the Baltimore Ravens in the Divisional Round of the playoffs.
Jackson had two turnovers which proved to be costly, leading to a ton of backlash on social media. That said, fans have also taken to social media to ask the question, “Should the NFL MVP be a regular-season award or hold off voting until after the playoffs?” Of course, Allen and Jackson were the top two candidates for the award.
Fans Call for MVP Criteria Shift Amid Josh Allen/Lamar Jackson Divisional Round Clash
The Bills defeated the Ravens in nail-biting fashion as a dropped two-point conversion kept the game from potentially going to overtime.
That said, the Bills had control of the game for a while, with Allen doing a great job at protecting the ball.
Should the NFL MVP be a regular season award or hold off voting until after the playoffs?
— Silver&BlackCanuck (@CanuckSlvrBlk) January 20, 2025
Another fan said, “That settles is. The debate that never should have been one is over. Josh Allen is a better quarterback than Lamar Jackson, and he will be the MVP.”
That settles it. The debate that never should have been one is over. Josh Allen is a better quarterback than Lamar Jackson, and he will be the MVP. pic.twitter.com/4Z23XZP3zu
— Pete (@Pete_Martuneac) January 20, 2025
This wasn’t the only fan to think that this should settle the debate, as another said, “I know playoffs don’t count towards MVP voting, but this is why Allen should be the MVP. You swap QBs in this game, and Ravens probably win. 2 turnovers by Lamar really cost them.”
Also, I know playoffs don’t count towards MVP voting, but this is why Allen should be the MVP. You swap QBs in this game, and Ravens probably win. 2 turnovers by Lamar really cost them (although Andrews cost them more)
— El Big Man 🇲🇽🇮🇹 (@ElBig_Man) January 20, 2025
NFL legend-turned-broadcaster Tony Romo also received backlash for his stance on the topic, though he was in support of the idea that most fans have been talking about.
“Tony Romo talking about holding off MVP voting until after the Ravens Bills game next week as if Lamar didn’t beat them 35-10 in the regular season.”
Tony romo talking about holding off the mvp voting until the ravens bills game next week like Lamar didn’t beat them 35-10 in the regular season lmao
— John (@iam_johnw) January 12, 2025
While this is a topic that will be hard to find a consensus, it is worth noting how many people were discussing this after the game. That said, this was an odd case in which both of the top candidates got to face off head-to-head in the playoffs, making it an outlier.
It is frustrating in this case that it won’t be accounted for, but if it makes no difference in most cases, then it’s not worth changing the entire rule system. Furthermore, there are playoff awards for a reason, as they give players an opportunity to be celebrated for their postseason performance.