Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson received 12 first-place votes and teammate Derrick Henry got one. Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow and Bills QB Josh Allen also received one first-place vote each.

Allen edged two-time winner Lamar Jackson, the 28-year-old quarterback for the Baltimore Ravens, for the league MVP award award in the closest race for that honor since Atlanta Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan beat out New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady in the 2016 season.

Per Pro Football Reference, Allen finished the regular season leading the NFL with a 77.3 adjusted QBR for the campaign. While his Bills went 13-4, Jackson's Ravens ended Week 18 at 12-5. According to Cronin, Allen's "85.3 QBR and 6.5 yards per dropback when pressured were the highest ever in a season since ESPN began tracking pressures in 2009."