McDermott: Allen-Lamar is 'what everybody's been waiting for'
Next week's divisional-round matchup between MVP candidates Lamar Jackson and Josh Allen promises to be a top box-office draw.
"This is what everybody's been waiting for," Buffalo Bills head coach Sean McDermott said Sunday after a 31-7 win over the Denver Broncos, according to Tyler Dunne of GoLongTD.
The Baltimore Ravens punched their ticket to the divisional round by steamrolling the Pittsburgh Steelers 28-14. Jackson threw for 175 yards with two touchdowns while rushing for 81 yards.
Allen and Jackson are expected to finish 1-2 in MVP voting this season after monster campaigns in 2024.
| Category | Allen | Jackson |
|---|---|---|
| QB Record | 13-4 | 12-5 |
| CMP% | 63.6% | 66.7% |
| Pass Yards | 3731 | 4172 |
| Pass TDs | 28 | 41 |
| INTs | 6 | 4 |
| Passer Rating | 101.4 | 119.6 |
| Rush Yards | 531 | 915 |
| Rush TDs | 12 | 4 |
Baltimore and Buffalo met earlier this season, with the Ravens cruising to a 35-10 victory. Allen finished that game with 180 yards with no touchdowns or interceptions, while Jackson compiled 156 yards and two passing scores.
"They got after us earlier this year, so we got a lot of film to watch," Allen told CBS Sports' Tracy Wolfson postgame Sunday. "It's a great team. It's a great quarterback, obviously, with Lamar, what he's able to do."
Allen added: "He's one of the most dynamic, if not the most dynamic quarterback in the league."
Allen and Jackson previously met in the postseason, with the Bills quarterback emerging victorious in a 17-3 divisional-round win in January 2021.