(L) Lamar Jackson and (R) Josh Allen (Image via IMAGO)
Josh Allen had much to talk about Lamar Jackson before the two MVP favorites lock horns this Sunday. According to the Buffalo Bills quarterback, Jackson ushered in a change in quarterback play since he entered the league.
Considered to be one of the, if not the best-scrambling QBs to ever play the game, Jackson set examples that one can also dominate using their feet. He won two league MVP’s (one Unanimous MVP) by using his methods and continues to do so in every game.
The pro bowler who led the Bills to a statement win against the Jacksonville Jaguars and is among the five teams currently with a 3-0 record (Chiefs, Steelers, Vikings, Seahawks, the other four) claimed Jackson is a special player and is an inspiration to lot of people in the USA.
Josh Allen PRAISES Lamar Jackson
“He's an inspiration to a lot of people in this country…he's changed the way that guys play the game but make no mistake, he can throw the snot out of the football. Got a lot of respect for him, a lot of love for him” pic.twitter.com/WnQQ1SxCd9
He’s [Lamar Jackson] an inspiration to a lot of people in this country. The way that he plays the game, the doubters that he had when coming out, asking to switch positions early on to show his resiliency and work ethic, and the attitude to win 2 MVPs… But make no mistake, he can throw the snot out of the football.
While football gurus may not view Allen in the same bracket as a dual-threat quarterback, even he has shown swift use of his legs when required.
A brief history of Josh Allen and Lamar Jackson’s rivalry
Both Allen and Jackson were drafted in 2018. According to the pre-draft report, the experts projected Jackson as a top-3 pick, but several teams passed on him, and he fell to the #32 spot while the Bills took Allen at #7.
Lamar Jackson in a Chiefs game (Image via IMAGO)
The pair played against each other on the opening day, a game in which the Ravens rattled the Bills by scoring 47 and only allowing 3 points. Allen and Nathan Peterman shared the workload, but Jackson only played a solitary snap because veteran Joe Flacco was still the starter.
Their next meeting was in December 2019, and once again the Ravens reigned supreme. This time Jackson played the entire game, throwing three touchdowns, while Allen completed just 60% of his passes for 1 touchdown and ate 6 sacks.
Allen finally got the better of Jackson in their third encounter in January 2021 (17-3). The Wyoming graduate completed 23 passes and threw 1 touchdown as Lamar struggled with just 14 completions and 1 interception.
Their latest dual was the closest of the bunch—October 2022 (23-20 for the Bills). Once more, Allen defeated Jackson, equaling the head-to-head counter to 2-2. Even though the Bills won the game, neither quarterback had a clean game—Allen recorded 1 while Jackson threw 2.
So, Sunday’s game at M&T Bank Stadium will break the status quo. The Bills may have had the upper hand in the last couple of games, but the Ravens are 6-4 in the fixture since 2004.
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