The careers of Lamar Jackson and Josh Allen are inextricably linked. Each taken within the first spherical of the 2018 NFL Draft, the 2 quarterbacks arrived within the NFL going through critical, albeit very totally different, questions on their professional prospects. Seven years later, they’re neck and neck within the league’s QB hierarchy. And the subsequent chapter of their playoff journeys will come in opposition to one another.
So, who will come out on high?
Allen’s Payments host Jackson’s Ravens in an AFC divisional-round showdown Sunday evening, the marquee matchup of the weekend. Buffalo and Baltimore breezed by way of the wild card, beating Denver and Pittsburgh by double digits, respectively.
Allen and Jackson, the MVP front-runners, are each by the way aiming for his or her second AFC championship recreation appearances. Of their lone earlier postseason matchup in opposition to one another, within the 2020 divisional spherical, Allen and Buffalo got here out on high.
FOX Sports activities writers Ben Arthur and Henry McKenna bought collectively to check and distinction the careers of each famous person quarterbacks by way of the lens of this season, their upcoming bout and their respective legacies.
Moderator: Henry, you had a narrative earlier this week examining the MVP cases of each QBs. It was actually insightful — aside from the half the place you did not decide a winner. We’re not letting you off the hook right here. Who’d get your vote?
McKenna: Nicely, shoot. I did, certainly, keep away from selecting an MVP — as a result of I would decide somebody and remorse not voting for the opposite. I would go along with Josh Allen. By a hair.
I’ve seen all of the numbers. Lamar Jackson has extra touchdowns, larger anticipated factors added (EPA) and fewer interceptions. Lamar has been extra precious on the stat sheet.
However if you entrench your self within the movie, there’s a lot to like about Allen’s season. It is not simply the outstanding throws or runs. It is the best way he persistently dragged a roster crammed with disappointing pass-catchers to the No. 2 seed within the AFC — whereas beating the king, Patrick Mahomes.
Arthur: I get the Josh Allen argument, and he is actually had some all-time video games and moments this season. However I feel we should always all be cautious of potential fatigue in relation to Lamar Jackson successful a potential third MVP.
Let’s take a look at the information: He is been considerably higher than he was final yr, when he received his second league MVP. He had a 41-4 passing touchdowns-to-interceptions ratio, which is the very best by a quarterback in a season with 30-plus passing touchdowns in NFL historical past. He additionally surpassed Michael Vick for probably the most profession speeding yards by a quarterback. Jackson is just not solely the gold commonplace in relation to being a dual-threat quarterback, however he additionally by some means takes vital steps ahead each season.
My vote (if I had one) would go to Jackson.
McKenna: See, there’s an fascinating query in there. Is Lamar the golden commonplace for dual-threat quarterbacking? I am genuinely undecided. As a result of you may contend that Allen is simply as harmful — and possibly much more harmful as a runner.
I introduced up the Payments’ win over the Chiefs. How did Allen shut the door on Kansas Metropolis? With a 26-yard run on a fourth-down conversion. Thoughts-blowingly clutch. And he did it together with his legs.
He is a bash brother. He throws his 250 kilos round in a means that may make defenders hesitant to hit him by the fourth quarter. And despite the fact that the Payments have clearly requested him to scale back his carry complete (which has lowered his yardage complete), he nonetheless places up TDs. He had 12 speeding touchdowns this yr (and he has 27 during the last two common seasons).
Arthur: Once I say gold commonplace, I imply uncooked stats. However I feel we will agree that each guys are PHENOMENAL at dual-threat quarterbacking. It actually simply comes all the way down to the fashion you like.
Allen (as you talked about, Henry), is extra of a bruiser. Jackson, at 205 kilos, is extra elusive and shifty. I am extra in favor of the latter — fewer hits on the quarterback — however I feel you may argue that Allen’s fashion instills extra worry within the protection, and doubtless galvanizes an offense to the next diploma.
There really is not a mistaken reply between them this season, as each QBs seem like peaking. However which ones do you assume in the end has the next ceiling?
Arthur: I would must go along with Jackson.
I feel his dual-threat fashion is extra sustainable over time (Jackson’s shiftiness tends to result in fewer hits) and his progress as a passer has been vital over the previous couple of years with Todd Monken calling performs. His passing touchdowns have elevated 4 years in a row. His yards per try has gone up 5 consecutive years. It looks like Jackson hasn’t hit his apex — even when that is loopy to say.
McKenna: Ben, I am with you there. We’ve not seen a man like Allen since Cam Newton. And my goodness, Newton’s manufacturing declined shortly. He performed solely 11 seasons and his manufacturing was elite for a fraction of that.
I am not saying that is precisely the place Allen’s profession is headed. However I feel there’s legit concern about attrition. It is type of exhausting to think about that these guys are nonetheless ascending, however you are proper, there’s extra potential to faucet in with Lamar.
OK, so with the Payments about to host the Ravens, which QB do you guys anticipate to play higher this weekend?
McKenna: Nicely, it will once more be within the eye of the beholder.
I feel the Payments will win due to Allen’s recreation administration. He won’t rack up probably the most yards and even probably the most touchdowns. However he’ll get the primary downs and touchdowns on the recreation’s most vital moments. Jackson may have a greater stat line. He may even play higher. However the Payments might be heading to the AFC title recreation.
Arthur: I’ll say Jackson performs higher and the Ravens get the win.
I am certain he is nicely conscious of the narrative about him; that he is only a regular-season performer, contemplating his 3-4 playoff report. I feel the AFC Championship Sport loss final season ought to be a motivator, too. I think about he’ll put a variety of stress on himself on this stage whereas competing in opposition to a quarterback of Josh Allen’s caliber — and succeed having a backfield mate like Derrick Henry at his aspect.
Which QB do you belief extra with the sport on the road?
Arthur: Allen is the straightforward reply for me. The Payments have continually fallen brief within the playoffs over the previous few years, however it hasn’t been due to Allen’s incapability to satisfy the second. We have seen the epic duels he is had with Mahomes, for instance.
Jackson, in the meantime, simply hasn’t performed to his commonplace within the postseason. I feel there is a good probability of that altering this yr with extra assist, however he simply does not have the résumé of proof but.
McKenna: I am with you, Ben. I like the best way Allen has carried out within the clutch this yr. I do know it is handy for me to carry up stats once I largely discounted them earlier. However I’ll do it anyway.
On third and fourth downs this yr, Allen has a complete EPA of 42.7 with .28 EPA per dropback. In the identical conditions, Lamar’s complete EPA is 30.1 with .21 EPA per dropback.
If his All-Professional first-team choice is any indication, Jackson is on observe for his third MVP award. However neither has received a Tremendous Bowl, in fact. Who do you expect might be considered the higher quarterback when it is all mentioned and completed?
McKenna: It is a actually powerful one. I have been headstrong on Allen’s probabilities to win all of it this yr. He is had barely extra success in opposition to Mahomes. And if both of those QBs are to construct “greatness,” they will must do it with a Tremendous Bowl. (Or many.)
However I can not shake our dialog concerning the size of every QB’s profession. About Lamar’s upside. It helps, too, that John Harbaugh has received a Tremendous Bowl and may even maintain off retiring till Lamar is finished. Meaning one thing. (Evaluate that to Allen and coach Sean McDermott, who has no Tremendous Bowls to his identify — and may sometime lose his job if he cannot ship.)
I am going to take Lamar.
Arthur: I’ll say Jackson, as nicely.
He already has three first-team All-Professional alternatives and is anticipated to get his third MVP, too. Allen does not have any of both — and as we have identified, Jackson appears to have extra long-term upside. I feel Allen goes to must edge Jackson considerably within the ring rely to be thought-about “higher” by the top of their careers, and it is exhausting to think about that given Mahomes’ presence within the AFC.
Ben Arthur is an NFL reporter for FOX Sports activities. He beforehand labored for The Tennessean/USA TODAY Community, the place he was the Titans beat author for a yr and a half. He lined the Seattle Seahawks for SeattlePI.com for 3 seasons (2018-20) previous to shifting to Tennessee. You may comply with Ben on Twitter at @benyarthur.
Previous to becoming a member of FOX Sports activities as an NFL reporter and columnist, Henry McKenna spent seven years overlaying the Patriots for USA TODAY Sports activities Media Group and Boston Globe Media. Observe him on Twitter at @henrycmckenna.
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