
National reactions: Bills' Josh Allen's MVP Award highlights word 'valuable'
Josh Allen has been named the 2024 NFL MVP.
Allen won the award at the NFL Honors ceremony on Thursday and to a degree, it was surprising.
Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson was selected as the AFC's first-team, All-Pro QB over Allen. In most cases, that means Jackson would be named the MVP too.
Not this time.
With Allen winning, debate ensued. Should it have been Jackson?
What's done is done and it's Allen's honor. But those who did vote for and support Allen have made their reasoning for selecting Allen clear. Many believed that Allen was the 'most valuable' player for his team, all things considered. That got him the votes.
A national media and NFL world reaction to Allen taking home the 2024 MVP Award can be found below:
Reminder that the statistical case for Josh Allen as MVP not only exists, it's fairly strong if you use the most comprehensive advanced metric:
1st in EPA per play
1st in Adjusted EPA per play
Plus, Allen had team success and the Bills were the No. 1 offense in the NFL https://t.co/zTnbTwvcXe
— Kevin Cole (@KevinCole___) February 7, 2025
.@danorlovsky7 explains why he voted for Josh Allen as the MVP and Lamar Jackson as the first-team All-Pro QB 👀 pic.twitter.com/cIAGHUH8rd
— Get Up (@GetUpESPN) February 7, 2025
'Josh Allen is a tough dude and he's been playing at a high level for a while now..
I think he'll get over the hump..
I went to the Super Bowl my second year and was never able to get back' ~ @DanMarino #PMSLive pic.twitter.com/IVYMMQYOyg
— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) February 7, 2025
World class dude https://t.co/uB2aEAVsFx
— Ryan Fitzpatrick (@FitzMagic_14) February 7, 2025
Josh Allen became the first player in 21 seasons to capture MVP without being named first-team All-Pro. Since MVP was first handed out in 1957, the only other players to win the award despite not being a first-team All-Pro were Broncos QB John Elway (1987) and Titans QB Steve…
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) February 7, 2025
Welcome to the club young man. You deserve it all brother 🏆 https://t.co/DtMi7PLODW
— Thurman Thomas (@thurmanthomas) February 7, 2025
CONGRATS TO JOSH ALLEN FOR WINNING MVP … as I've been saying he should for 6 weeks. Lamar had an all-time great year. But the Ravens had 9 Pro Bowlers. Other than Josh, the Bills had one. Case closed.
— Skip Bayless (@RealSkipBayless) February 7, 2025
Never watched NFL Honors.
But I had to watch this one.
And not ashamed to say I teared up watching @JoshAllenQB win that award.
The freaking man. He deserves this so much.
And I can't wait to see him hold the Lombardi and SB MVP trophy someday soon.
Go Bills. 🦬 pic.twitter.com/MDqcCnYrnc
— Ariel Helwani (@arielhelwani) February 7, 2025
It's the Most Valuable player.
Not the 'best player,' that's the All Pro.
Not the 'best damn dude award,' that's made up.
Not the 'most outstanding player,' that's the Heisman. #JoshAllen #LamarJackson pic.twitter.com/VwlZJfbojQ
— Emmanuel Acho (@EmmanuelAcho) February 7, 2025
A stunner: Josh Allen is the MVP. pic.twitter.com/Kcj2lpuL6d
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) February 7, 2025
Holy shit.. JOSH ALLEN WON THE MVP
— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) February 7, 2025
'[Josh Allen is] viewed as somebody who exceeded expectations. Lamar Jackson is viewed as somebody who lived up to expectations.'@stephenasmith has no problem with Josh Allen winning MVP over Lamar Jackson 😯 pic.twitter.com/cPYyy8GgTK
— First Take (@FirstTake) February 7, 2025
Oh hell yeah!!!
First player in NFL history to win MVP and most overrated in same season.
My guy, Josh Allen #BillsMafia https://t.co/9xcFoZ0nCJ
— Adam Schein (@AdamSchein) February 7, 2025
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
31 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Charles Barkley Makes Prediction on Thunder-Pacers NBA Finals
Charles Barkley Makes Prediction on Thunder-Pacers NBA Finals originally appeared on Athlon Sports. Game 4 of the NBA Finals on Friday was another relatively close contest between the Indiana Pacers and Oklahoma City Thunder. It went back and forth, but down the stretch, Oklahoma City flexed its defensive muscles and tied the series with a 111-104 victory. Advertisement There was a sense that it was in trouble after losing Game 3 by nine points. Instead, it is essentially a new best-of-three series in which the Thunder have home-court advantage with Game 5 and Game 7 (if necessary) taking place at Paycom Center. There seems to be a sense among plenty that the series is up for grabs at this point. But Turner Sports personality Charles Barkley feels it is a foregone conclusion that the Thunder will claim the NBA championship. "I think they're (the Thunder) in trouble because when you have a team on the ropes, you gotta finish them off," Barkley said after Game 4. "... Now they're back to their original starting lineup, which will be better next game. ... We're back to the thing that got us to the NBA Finals. ... We (Pacers) can dominate them on the boards like we did." "... I think this series is a wrap." On Friday, Thunder superstar Shai Gilgeous-Alexander validated why he was named the league MVP for this season. He scored 35 points, with 15 of them coming in the fourth quarter, and his team's defense held the fast-breaking Pacers to just 44 points in the second half. Advertisement Meanwhile, Tyrese Haliburton of the Pacers, who has come up with lots of heroics throughout the playoffs, had 18 points and five turnovers. Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2) shoots the ball against Indiana Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton (0) during the first half during game three of the 2025 NBA Terada-Imagn Images One key, as Barkley alluded to, in this game was rebounding. The Thunder were plus-10 on the boards, allowing them to score 23 second-chance points, and they also made nine more free throws. They got plenty of help, especially from Jalen Williams, who had 27 points, and super sub Alex Caruso, who scored 20 points on just nine shot attempts. Game 5 will be back in Oklahoma City on Monday, and it could very well determine this season's world champions. Related: Caitlin Clark's Outfit Choice at NBA Game Catches Attention This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 14, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
31 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Tyrese Haliburton Sends Message Ahead of Game 5 of Thunder-Pacers NBA Finals
Tyrese Haliburton Sends Message Ahead of Game 5 of Thunder-Pacers NBA Finals originally appeared on Athlon Sports. The Oklahoma City Thunder are enjoying perhaps their best season in the organization's young history. In their only previous trip to the NBA Finals, they won just one game before falling to LeBron James and the Miami Heat. This time, they sit just two wins away from an NBA Championship. Advertisement The Thunder made light work of the Minnesota Timberwolves, defeating them 4-1 to reach their first NBA Finals since 2012. However, the Pacers might've shocked the Thunder out of the gate, taking the first game in Oklahoma City. Indiana Pacers guard Tyrese HaliburtonAlonzo Adams-Imagn Images Tyrese Haliburton sends message ahead of Game 5 of Thunder-Pacers NBA Finals The Thunder countered with a win of their own to tie the series at one heading to Indiana. The Pacers responded with a win to retake the series lead, albeit briefly, as the Thunder took Game 4 and headed back to Oklahoma City. "I feel great, it's the best part about playoff series is when you get the chance to respond," Indiana Pacers point guard Tyrese Haliburton said. "I think that's the great thing about sports. You're going to have good games, you're going to have bad games, but there's nothing like the game to respond. Advertisement "I look forward to doing that with this group, coming out and competing. We have to be ready for a really big challenge that lies ahead with this team and in this environment, so I'm really looking forward to doing that with my teammates and seeing how we respond." While some players shy away in big moments, Haliburton has continued to answer the call when the team needs him the most. Many are surprised to see the series tied after two games, as the Thunder were overwhelming favorites going into the series. The Thunder used a 12-1 run down the stretch and 15 points from Shai Gilgeous-Alexander in the fourth quarter to help defeat the Pacers. If it wasn't for the MVP doing MVP things, the Thunder could've been staring down the barrel of elimination ahead of Game 5. This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 15, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
31 minutes ago
- Yahoo
How Thunder's Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Sparked Game 4 NBA Finals Win over Pacers With Clutch Rally
How Thunder's Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Sparked Game 4 NBA Finals Win over Pacers With Clutch Rally originally appeared on Athlon Sports. To his opponent's dismay, the sequences seemed painfully familiar. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander punished his defender with a step-back jumper, a 3-pointer and a few trips to the free-throw line. Advertisement To his team's relief, Gilgeous-Alexander performed his usual job description both to redeem his own struggles and to salvage the Oklahoma City Thunder's NBA title hopes. The Thunder secured a 111-104 road win over the Indiana Pacers in Game 4 of the NBA Finals on Friday, an outcome that appeared in doubt until Gilgeous-Alexander showcased another highlight reel that explains why he won his first regular-season MVP award. Gilgeous-Alexander scored 15 of his 35 points in the final 4:38 of the game. He showed poise through the Pacers' defensive physicality. He took advantage of the Pacers' frustration with the officiating. He rejuvenated the Thunder's spirits by tying the series at 2-2 and ensuring a Game 6 on Thursday. Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander defends a layup attempt by Indiana Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton during Game 4 of the NBA Finals at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on the Thunder didn't face elimination. With potentially facing a 3-1 series deficit, though, Gilgeous-Alexander helped the Thunder maintain their composure enough to ensure Indiana could not secure an NBA title in Game 5 on Monday. Advertisement 'I just tried to be aggressive. I knew what it would have looked like if we lost tonight,' Gilgeous-Alexander told reporters. 'I didn't want to go out not swinging. I didn't want to go out not doing everything I could do in my power, in my control to try to win the game. The guys deserve that as much from me. The coaching staff deserves that much from me. I just tried to be aggressive, but also let the game come to me, not try to force anything too crazy. I guess it paid off.' Oklahoma City has become familiar with Gilgeous-Alexander's heroics all season. He led the NBA in scoring. He became the primary reason the Thunder finished with the NBA's best record (68-14). He remains the main factor for the Thunder appearing in their first NBA Finals since 2012. Nonetheless, Gilgeous-Alexander's latest performance took on a different context. Through the first three games, both the Thunder and Gilgeous-Alexander surprisingly looked relatively vulnerable. The Pacers have shown they deserve to be in their first Finals in 25 years because of Tyrese Haliburton's rising stardom, a strong supporting cast and a proven head coach in Rick Carlisle. Gilgeous-Alexander has finally met a defensive nemesis in Andrew Nembhard, whose connection with the Canadian national team has resulted in a more competitive and physical matchup than normally expected. Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander shoots the ball as Pacers guard Andrew Nembhard defends during Game 4 of the NBA Finals at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on June Terada-Imagn Images 'There's a variety of ways to attack any defense, any coverage,' Gilgeous-Alexander told reporters. 'I think the trick is keeping them off balance and sprinkling a good amount of everything in there, trying not to be predictable, especially when you play them six, seven times in a row. I'm trying to keep them off balance as best as possible.' Advertisement Gilgeous-Alexander eventually fulfilled that role. Therefore, his key shots carried more significance. When Gilgeous-Alexander drew a foul by performing a pump fake on Nembhard and made two foul shots to cut Indiana's lead to 101-99 with 3:34 left, he went to the free-throw line for only the second time in the game. When Gilgeous-Alexander made a 3 to reduce the Pacers' cushion to one point with 2:58 left, he made his first outside shot after missing his first three attempts. When Gilgeous-Alexander hit a baseline jumper that gave the Thunder a 104-103 edge with 2:23 remaining, he gave OKC its first lead since 1:53 left in the second quarter. 'It's unbelievable,' Thunder coach Mark Daigneault told reporters. 'He really didn't have it going a lot of the night. He was laboring. We had a hard time shaking him free. For him to be able to flip the switch like that and get the rhythm he got just speaks to how great of a player he is.' The Pacers and their fans didn't react kindly to the Thunder's late-game comeback. Nembhard contested that Gilgeous-Alexander barely drew any contact on his pump fake before his first trip to the free-throw line. Before making his baseline jumper, Gilgeous-Alexander pushed off on Nembhard before stepping back. Thunder forward Lu Dort, who has become one of the NBA's best defenders for how he absorbs screens and studies opposing team's best players, got away with shoving Haliburton both during a free-throw in the first half and during a chase for a loose ball in the fourth. Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander rises to dunk the ball as Pacers guard Ben Sheppard looks on during Game 4 of the NBA Finals at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on June Ruszkowski-Imagn Images All fair points, but coaches instruct their teams to play well enough to overcome a few calls. Though the Thunder received a few favorable whistles, Gilgeous-Alexander's play alone played a major factor. Advertisement Though Gilgeous-Alexander recorded zero assists, he positively impacted his teammates in various ways. His two-man game with Jalen Williams partly led to his scoring 27 points. When Thunder center Chet Holmgren took a rough fall, Gilgeous-Alexander pleaded for him to get up and told him that 'we need you.' When Gilgeous-Alexander drew double teams, Thunder guard Alex Caruso (20 points) often took advantage of the distracted defenses. 'You wouldn't know if it was a preseason game or it's Game 4 of the NBA Finals down 2-1 with him. That's why we have such a good mentality as a group,' Caruso told reporters. 'That's why we are able to find success in adversity. No matter what's going on, you look at him and he's the same. Underneath that stoic personality or look on the court is a deep, deep-rooted competitiveness. That is sprinkled throughout the whole team.' All of which sets up Gilgeous-Alexander with an opportunity to help the Thunder reclaim the series lead and home-court advantage and in Game 5. 'I relish those moments, love the moments, good or bad,' Gilgeous-Alexander told reporters. 'When I was a kid shooting in my driveway, I'd count down the clock for those moments. Now I get to live it. It's a blessing, it's fun, and I relish it.' Advertisement Mark Medina is an NBA contributor to Athlon Sports. Follow him on X, Blue Sky, Instagram, Facebook and Threads. Related: Pacers' Tyrese Haliburton Breaks Eye-Opening Streak in NBA Finals Game 4 Related: Charles Barkley Makes Prediction on Thunder-Pacers NBA Finals Related: OKC Thunder Even Up Series After Indiana Pacers Collapse This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 14, 2025, where it first appeared.