Comparing the 2023 regular season outputs of Lamar Jackson and Josh Allen reveals a fascinating stylistic contrast between two elite dual-threat quarterbacks. While Jackson secured the Associated Press NFL Most Valuable Player award primarily through unmatched efficiency and orchestrating the Baltimore Ravens' top-seeded offense, Allen carried a massive workload for the Buffalo Bills, pacing the league in total offensive touchdowns. Looking past the surface narratives requires examining the exact metrics behind passing accuracy, rushing productivity, and turnover tendencies.
Evaluating how these MVP finalists diverged in 2023 highlights clear differences in offensive design and execution. Jackson prioritized ball security and rhythm, whereas Allen embraced high-volume production paired with higher risk.
Passing Efficiency and Volume
Passing volume heavily favored Allen during the 17-game slate, but efficiency metrics leaned sharply toward Jackson. Allen attempted 579 passes, completing 385 for 4,306 yards, 29 touchdowns, and 18 interceptions. His completion rate sat at a strong 66.5 percent, and he averaged 253.3 passing yards per game. However, those 18 interceptions and 24 sacks reflect a volatile passing approach where Allen often hunted big plays downfield against heavy coverage looks.
Jackson operated with cleaner efficiency across fewer attempts. In 16 regular-season games, Jackson completed 307 of 457 passes (67.2 percent) for 3,678 yards, 24 touchdowns, and just 7 interceptions. His passer rating reached 102.7, comfortably outpacing Allen's 92.2 mark. Jackson averaged 8.0 yards per pass attempt compared to Allen's 7.4, showcasing better decision-making when pushing the ball past the sticks.
Key Passing Takeaways
- Jackson minimized mistakes, throwing interceptions on only 1.5 percent of his pass attempts.
- Allen absorbed 24 sacks behind Buffalo's line, while Jackson took 37 sacks due to holding the ball longer to create outside the pocket.
- Red-zone passing efficiency favored Jackson, who consistently found open windows against compressed defenses.
Rushing Production and Ground Impact
Both players altered defensive game plans with their legs, but they did so through different run schemes. Allen functioned effectively as a short-yardage battering ram and goal-line weapon for Buffalo. He carried the ball 111 times for 524 yards—an average of 4.7 yards per carry—and punched in an incredible 15 rushing touchdowns. Those ground scores single-handedly anchored Buffalo's red-zone offense.
Jackson remained the most dangerous open-field runner at the quarterback position. He rushed 148 times for 821 yards (5.5 yards per carry) and scored 5 rushing touchdowns. While Jackson recorded fewer touchdowns on the ground than Allen, his ability to bounce outside, drain clock, and stress linebackers in the zone-read game dictated how coordinators defended Baltimore.
Ground Metrics Comparison
- Allen led all quarterbacks in rushing touchdowns, serving as Buffalo's primary weapon inside the five-yard line.
- Jackson out-gained Allen by nearly 300 rushing yards while maintaining a significantly higher yards-per-carry average (5.5 vs. 4.7).
- Fumbles presented a minor issue for both; Allen lost 4 fumbles while Jackson lost 6, common figures for quarterbacks who absorb heavy contact.
Advanced Analytics and Team Context
Raw statistics only tell part of the story without context regarding supporting casts and schedule difficulty. Jackson guided the Ravens to a 13-4 record while playing in the rugged AFC North and facing multiple top-tier defenses. According to advanced metrics from Pro Football Reference, Jackson generated higher expected points added (EPA) per dropback when accounting for pressure rates and third-down conversions.
Buffalo underwent a mid-season offensive coordinator change from Ken Dorsey to Joe Brady, shifting Allen into a more structured, high-percentage passing attack that leaned on shorter timing routes. This adjustment stabilized the Bills' season after a rocky 5-5 start, but Allen still finished the year with 22 total turnovers (18 interceptions plus 4 lost fumbles), placing heavy stress on his defense.
Common Evaluation Mistakes
Analysts comparing these two signal-callers often fall into specific analytical traps.
- Equating Touchdown Volume with Superiority: Giving full weight to Allen's 44 total touchdowns (passing and rushing) over Jackson's 29 total touchdowns ignores the interception and turnover differential. Ball security remains a critical component of quarterback value.
- Ignoring Scheme Differences: Evaluating Jackson's passing numbers without factoring in Baltimore's heavy use of multi-tight end sets and play-action misdirection misrepresents his role as a traditional pocket passer who excelled from standard dropbacks.
- Overvaluing Raw Rushing Yards: Treating Jackson's yardage total as more valuable than Allen's touchdowns overlooks how Buffalo utilized Allen in short-yardage conversion downs.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who had a higher completion percentage in 2023?
Lamar Jackson posted a higher completion percentage, converting 67.2 percent of his passes compared to Josh Allen's 66.5 percent.
Why did Josh Allen have more total touchdowns than Lamar Jackson?
Allen accounted for 44 total touchdowns (29 passing, 15 rushing) because Buffalo heavily relied on his physical running style inside the red zone and goal-line situations. Jackson finished with 29 total touchdowns (24 passing, 5 rushing) within a more run-balanced offense.
How did their interception numbers compare?
Allen threw 18 interceptions across 17 regular-season games, whereas Jackson threw 7 interceptions in 16 games, giving Jackson a superior interception percentage (1.5% to 3.1%).
Did strength of schedule impact their MVP cases?
Yes. Jackson faced a rigorous slate featuring multiple playoff-bound defenses within the AFC North and conference matchups, whereas Allen's Bills experienced more variance before their late-season surge. Detailed historical schedules are tracked by NFL Operations.
