The 20th-century prototype of a pocket passer looks archaic next to Lamar Jackson and Josh Allen. During the 2024 NFL regular season, both quarterbacks put on a masterclass that fueled one of the tightest Most Valuable Player races in recent memory. While Allen ultimately captured the award with 27 first-place votes, the raw box scores tell a much deeper story about how each superstar drives his offense.
Jackson piloted the Baltimore Ravens with surgical precision and blistering speed, finishing the year with 4,172 passing yards, 41 passing touchdowns, and just 4 interceptions. Allen anchored the Buffalo Bills with heavy usage as both a traditional thrower and a bruising runner, tallying 3,731 passing yards, 28 passing touchdowns, 6 interceptions, and 12 rushing scores. Examining how these numbers materialized reveals why this specific quarterback matchup remains the standard for modern dual-threat play.
Passing Efficiency and Volume
Comparing passing numbers across a 17-game slate requires looking beyond raw yardage. Volume often depends heavily on offensive scheme, receiver separation, and game scripts.
Jackson posted career-best efficiency metrics through the air. He completed 66.7 percent of his attempts and finished the season with a stellar 119.6 passer rating. His ability to limit turnovers stood out, throwing only 4 picks on 474 attempts. That 0.8 percent interception rate was among the lowest in the league among starting signal-callers.
Allen operated in a more high-variance environment. With Buffalo restructuring its wide receiver room before the season, Allen leaned on spreading the ball to a diverse cast while handling heavy third-down creation duties. He completed 63.6 percent of his passes for 3,731 yards and 28 touchdowns. While his interception count ticked up slightly to 6, his yards per attempt and aggressive downfield throwing kept the Bills' offense explosive.
- Completion Percentage: Jackson (66.7%) vs. Allen (63.6%)
- Passing Yards: Jackson (4,172) vs. Allen (3,731)
- Passing Touchdowns: Jackson (41) vs. Allen (28)
- Interceptions: Jackson (4) vs. Allen (6)
Rushing Production and Red-Zone Impact
The ground game remains where these two athletes diverge in style. Jackson relies on elite lateral agility and open-field speed, while Allen uses size and tackle-breaking power to punish defenders near the goal line.
Jackson scampered for 915 rushing yards in 2024, marking his sixth season surpassing the 700-yard rushing threshold. His rushing output helped him eclipse milestones for career quarterback rushing yards, constantly forcing linebackers and safeties to account for his zone-read threat. However, he managed just 4 rushing touchdowns as Baltimore often deployed running back Derrick Henry inside the 5-yard line.
Allen took a different path in the red zone. Although he rushed for 531 yards—fewer than half of Jackson's total—he punched in 12 rushing touchdowns. Buffalo frequently dialed up designed quarterback power runs or short-yardage keepers, making Allen one of the most lethal weapons in football when the field shrank.
Core Rushing Metrics
- Rushing Yards: Jackson (915) vs. Allen (531)
- Rushing Touchdowns: Jackson (4) vs. Allen (12)
- Yards Per Carry: Jackson averaged roughly 6.3 yards per attempt, while Allen hovered around 4.3 yards per attempt.
Head-to-Head Context and Team Success
The regular-season meeting between the Ravens and Bills in 2024 offered a direct canvas for their contrasting skill sets. Baltimore routed Buffalo 35-10 in a game where Jackson threw for 156 yards and two touchdowns while adding 54 yards on the ground. Allen struggled to find rhythm against Baltimore's disguised coverages, finishing with 180 passing yards and no touchdowns.
Despite that head-to-head blowout, voters favored Allen's weekly consistency under heavy roster transition and Buffalo's AFC East title run. Both teams finished near the top of the conference, but the statistical narrative split: Jackson won the efficiency and big-play rate battle, while Allen won the volume of total touchdowns (40 combined passing and rushing scores to Jackson's 45).
Common Misconceptions in Quarterback Evaluations
Many analysts attempt to reduce the Jackson-Allen debate to simple team wins or pure passing yards, ignoring contextual factors.
One frequent error is ignoring supporting casts. Jackson benefited immensely from playing alongside elite backfield mates like Derrick Henry, which forced defenses to commit extra defenders to stopping the run. Conversely, Allen carried a heavy offensive load following the departure of Stefon Diggs, making his efficiency drops justifiable given his elevated responsibility in the passing game.
Another mistake is treating all rushing yards equally. Jackson generates his yardage through explosive, long-distance scrambles that flip field position instantly. Allen generates high-leverage value by converting short-yardage third downs and goal-to-go situations, preserving drives that would otherwise stall.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who won the 2024 NFL MVP award between Jackson and Allen?
Josh Allen won the 2024 NFL MVP award, securing 27 of 49 first-place votes to edge out Lamar Jackson.
How many total touchdowns did each quarterback account for in 2024?
Lamar Jackson accounted for 45 total touchdowns (41 passing, 4 rushing). Josh Allen accounted for 40 total touchdowns (28 passing, 12 rushing).
What is the career head-to-head record between Lamar Jackson and Josh Allen?
In regular-season matchups, Jackson holds the advantage, though both players have split historical meetings and high-stakes games across their professional careers.
Why did Jackson have fewer rushing touchdowns than Allen in 2024?
Baltimore frequently utilized running back Derrick Henry in short-yardage and goal-line situations, whereas the Bills relied heavily on Allen's frame for quarterback sneaks and power runs.
