Dan Orlovsky stirred the pot this week with a bold MVP take that’s got NFL fans fired up. On ESPN’s Get Up, the former quarterback and current analyst said he sees Josh Allen and Matthew Stafford as “neck-and-neck” in the MVP race - and let’s just say, that didn’t sit well with a lot of people.
Orlovsky’s argument centered on Allen’s value to the Bills, especially considering the team’s overall roster situation. He pointed out that Allen hasn’t had the same level of support as other top-tier quarterbacks, and yet he continues to be the engine that drives Buffalo. Coming off a win over the Patriots where he threw for 193 yards, rushed for 48 more, and accounted for three total touchdowns, Allen gave Orlovsky some fresh ammo to make his case.
“This is the worst team, 1 through 53, that he’s had,” Orlovsky said. “I would put him and Matthew Stafford right now neck-and-neck for the MVP.”
That line - neck-and-neck - is what lit the fuse.
Because while Allen’s numbers and impact are nothing to scoff at, Stafford is putting together a season that, statistically and situationally, has him at the front of the MVP pack for many fans and analysts. The 37-year-old Rams quarterback has completed 66.4 percent of his passes, thrown for 3,722 yards, and racked up 37 touchdowns to just five interceptions. That’s the kind of production that screams MVP, especially with the Rams making a late-season playoff push.
So when Orlovsky put Allen on equal footing, fans weren’t just skeptical - they were vocal. Social media lit up with pushback. Some questioned Orlovsky’s objectivity, others took issue with his role as an MVP voter, and a few even accused him of campaigning for Allen too early in the race.
One fan wrote, “Dan Orlovsky gotta have that MVP vote taken away bruh,” while another added, “MVP voters shouldn’t be allowed to actively campaign for a certain player to win it when the season is still far from over.”
Some fans even challenged Orlovsky’s football logic, pointing out that Allen’s supporting cast - particularly the offensive line and run game - isn’t as lacking as he suggests. “Josh Allen has the best OL in football and best run game to help him out and he still finds ways to be awful for 3/4 of the football game,” one fan posted.
This isn’t Orlovsky’s first time taking heat over an MVP stance. Last season, he cast his MVP vote for Allen, who ended up winning the award with 27 of 50 first-place votes, edging out Lamar Jackson. At the time, Orlovsky explained his vote by emphasizing Allen’s value to the Bills, citing a 40-touchdown, eight-turnover season with only 14 sacks taken - all while playing for a team without an elite defense.
He acknowledged Jackson’s strong season but ultimately leaned on the “value” part of Most Valuable Player.
And now, with just a few weeks left in the regular season, Orlovsky is once again backing Allen - and once again catching flak for it.
It’s worth noting that earlier this year, the NFL restricted Orlovsky from posting certain content on his X account, and now, with his latest take sparking fresh controversy, the timing isn’t exactly working in his favor.
Whether you agree with him or not, Orlovsky’s stance is a reminder of how subjective the MVP conversation can be. Is it about the best numbers?
The most wins? The most irreplaceable player?
That debate is far from over - and with Stafford continuing to light it up and Allen keeping the Bills alive in the playoff hunt, it’s only going to get louder.