Lamar Jackson and the NFL MVP: Redefining the Award Given Playoff Results
As the 2024 NFL season progresses into the playoff phase, the debate surrounding the Most Valuable Player (MVP) award intensifies. Among the front-runners for the MVP honor, one name stands out: Lamar Jackson. Jackson’s dazzling performance throughout the regular season, paired with his transformative impact on the Baltimore Ravens’ offense, has made a strong case for him to be the league’s most valuable player. However, as the NFL MVP award continues to be awarded based on regular season achievements alone, the question arises: should playoff success be factored into the determination of the MVP?
This question has gained traction in recent years, especially as more and more high-profile players fail to capitalize on regular-season excellence with postseason success. This situation has led to discussions about whether the definition of “valuable” should extend beyond the regular season. Let’s examine the argument for rethinking the MVP award criteria, exploring Lamar Jackson’s candidacy, the historical role of playoff performances, and whether it’s time to redefine what it means to be the league’s most valuable player.
Lamar Jackson’s 2024 MVP Case
To understand the broader context of this debate, we first need to look at Lamar Jackson’s outstanding 2024 regular season. Jackson has once again redefined the quarterback position with his dynamic skill set that combines passing accuracy with elite rushing ability. He’s not only been a force on the ground but has also evolved as a passer, improving his decision-making and consistency in the pocket. Over the course of the season, Jackson’s leadership has been instrumental in guiding the Ravens to a top-tier offensive and overall team performance.
His numbers tell the story: Jackson has accumulated over 4,000 total yards, thrown for 30+ touchdowns, and run for an additional 1,000 yards while maintaining an efficiency that rivals the best in the league. Furthermore, his ability to consistently perform under pressure, elevate the play of his teammates, and dictate opposing defenses has cemented his place as a frontrunner for MVP.
But while his regular season accomplishments are impressive, the lingering question is: does playoff performance — or the potential for a postseason run — factor into the MVP discussion? Historically, the MVP has been awarded to players based solely on their regular-season statistics and impact. Yet, the relationship between regular season and playoff success, especially in high-stakes sports leagues like the NFL, deserves consideration.
The Current Definition of MVP
The NFL MVP award, as it currently stands, evaluates players solely on their contributions during the 17-game regular season. It is one of the league’s most prestigious honors, given annually to the player whose performance is deemed to have had the most positive impact on his team’s success.
In recent years, the MVP award has often gone to quarterbacks, given the central role they play in a team’s offensive success. This is evident in the 2024 season, where quarterbacks like Jackson, Patrick Mahomes, and Jalen Hurts have been frontrunners. While statistics certainly play a major part in the MVP decision-making process, the subjective nature of the award also considers factors such as leadership, influence, and the player’s role in his team’s success.
However, playoff performances are excluded from the MVP selection process. Historically, the NFL has separated regular-season awards and postseason achievements, including the Super Bowl MVP award. There’s a logic to this, as the MVP is meant to recognize consistency and excellence over a 17-game season, while playoff performance is seen as a separate measure of success. Yet, this raises an intriguing question: should a player’s performance in the postseason impact the MVP race?
The Case for Incorporating Playoff Performance into the MVP Discussion
The argument for including playoff results in MVP voting centers on the notion that a player’s value should not just be based on regular-season numbers but on their ability to deliver in high-pressure situations. While the regular season is an important gauge of consistency and durability, the postseason offers a different test — one that reveals a player’s mental fortitude, ability to perform under pressure, and ultimate impact on their team’s championship aspirations.
When players like Lamar Jackson deliver standout performances in the regular season but fail to make deep playoff runs, it raises the question: should the MVP solely reward regular-season achievements, or should the award also take into account how a player fares in the postseason? For example, a player could win MVP after an excellent regular season, but if that player struggles or fails to perform in the playoffs, it might prompt voters to reconsider whether regular-season numbers alone should determine the most valuable player in the league.
Lamar Jackson’s case is particularly poignant. While he has been exceptional throughout the regular season, his playoff performances have often been a subject of scrutiny. Critics point to his lack of deep playoff runs, especially compared to other elite quarterbacks like Mahomes or Tom Brady, whose postseasons have featured more sustained success. Jackson’s Ravens have yet to make a Super Bowl appearance, which some view as a limitation of his legacy, even as he dominates during the regular season.
Yet, a strong postseason performance from Jackson could do much to solidify his place as the most valuable player in the league. If he leads the Ravens deep into the playoffs, perhaps even to a Super Bowl victory, it would not only demonstrate his ability to perform in the clutch but also solidify his case as the MVP. This is a rare opportunity for Jackson to prove that he is not only a regular-season star but also a player who can elevate his team when it matters most.
The Problem with an Exclusive Regular-Season MVP
One of the main critiques of the current MVP system is that it often overlooks the context in which a player’s contributions occur. The NFL is a team sport, and no player exists in a vacuum. A quarterback may post impressive statistics, but their performance is heavily influenced by factors like offensive line play, the strength of their receiving corps, and the ability of their defense to keep them in games. In contrast, playoff games reduce the influence of these external factors, focusing the spotlight squarely on the player’s ability to perform at the highest level when stakes are at their peak.
Moreover, the current system creates an imbalance where a player like Jackson, whose regular-season performance is extraordinary but whose postseason success has been limited, might win the MVP based solely on numbers, even if he fails to meet expectations in the playoffs. If the MVP race were redefined to account for playoff performances, players would be incentivized not only to perform during the regular season but also to deliver when it matters most.
Potential Challenges and Considerations
Redefining the MVP to include playoff results would be a significant shift in the NFL’s awards structure, and it’s important to consider the potential challenges of such a change. First, it might undermine the importance of the regular season. The NFL is a grueling 17-game marathon, and rewarding playoff performance over regular-season achievements could lead to a devaluation of the consistency required to win the MVP during the 17-game campaign.
Another challenge is that playoff games are inherently fewer in number compared to regular-season contests, making it difficult to fairly compare players who may have a larger sample size of regular-season games. Additionally, playoff success is often the result of contributions from multiple players on the team, rather than just the MVP candidate. A quarterback can only do so much, and it would be unfair to penalize a player for a team’s collective inability to perform in the postseason.
Despite these challenges, there are ways to incorporate playoff performance into the MVP conversation without diminishing the importance of the regular season. One possibility could be creating a separate playoff performer of the year award, which would reward excellence during the postseason while still maintaining the regular-season focus of the MVP. This approach would ensure that a player’s postseason achievements are recognized, but the MVP could still be awarded based on the player’s contributions to their team over the full season.
