Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen fields questions after a win over the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sept. 23, 2024, in Orchard Park, NY.Adrian Kraus/The Associated Press
It didn’t take long after the Buffalo Bills’ latest dominating victory for quarterback Josh Allen to turn his attention from his four-touchdown first-half outing to the next challenge ahead: Travelling to face the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday night.
And Allen made sure to refer to Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson as a “two-time NFL MVP,” after a 47-10 romp over Jacksonville on Monday night.
Whether intentional or not, Allen’s remark serves as a reminder after an outing in which “MVP!” chants came from the stands.
For all he’s accomplished in six-plus years in leading Buffalo to four straight AFC East titles and five consecutive playoff appearances, Allen is still playing second – and maybe third or fourth – fiddle among QBs when it comes to end of season accolades, with Patrick Mahomes and Aaron Rodgers also earning two MVP honours apiece since 2018.
Based on awards alone, Allen’s not even the most-decorated quarterback out of his draft class, which had him go No. 7 to Buffalo, as Jackson was selected 32nd by Baltimore.
If lack of respect has been a motivating theme driving Allen’s career arc since his modest days at Reedley junior college in California, the 28-year-old has made a powerful statement in getting Buffalo off to its first 3-0 start since 2020.
After opening the season by losing a fumble in the red zone on Buffalo’s first possession in a 34-28 win over Arizona, Allen has led Buffalo to score 12 touchdowns and five field goals on his next 23 drives not ending with kneel-downs.
The Bills have scored an NFL-leading 112 points – Buffalo’s most through three weeks since scoring 113 over that span in 2011. Allen’s completed touchdown passes to six players. And the offence is humming despite off-season concerns of a lack of a top receiving threat with Stefon Diggs traded to Houston and Gabe Davis’s departure in free agency.
Allen’s ability to do more with apparently less was on full display in how he distributed the ball in leading Buffalo to score five touchdowns in the first half against Jacksonville.
After James Cook opened the scoring with a six-yard TD run, Allen patiently bought time in the pocket before hitting tight end Dalton Kincaid, who ran across the length of the end zone to get open for a six-yard catch.
And then there were his perfectly placed passes to hit rookie Keon Coleman for a 24-yard touchdown and a 16-yarder to Ty Johnson in the left corner of the end zone.
Credit Joe Brady for his creativity in balancing the run and pass options in his first full season as co-ordinator. And coach Sean McDermott earns praise for being aggressive in placing faith in the offence to convert fourth downs on each of its opening touchdown drives against Jacksonville and a 31-10 win over Miami in Week 2.
And yet, it’s ultimately Allen who is efficiently running the operation. He’s completed 54 of 72 attempts for 634 yards, and yet to throw an interception after a season in which he had a career-worst 18.
“I’ve said it a thousand times and I’ll keep saying it – he’s a freak of nature,” receiver Khalil Shakir said. “He’s putting the ball to where only we can make the play on it. So, freak of nature, dog, all those things.”
Allen entered this season with a heavier burden in taking over a larger leadership role after Buffalo parted ways with six of eight captains. And he opened training camp with ESPN citing an unnamed NFL executive as calling the quarterback “overrated.”
Remember, too, Diggs’s last social-media post before being traded were the words, “You sure?” in a message on X in response to someone suggesting he wasn’t essential to Allen’s success.
Allen has playfully shrugged off the negativity by saying the only thing that matters is being the best quarterback for the Bills.
So far, he’s been one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL.
What’s working
Converting turnovers into points. Buffalo’s six take-aways have led to touchdowns, including a pick-six by Ja’Marcus Ingram in Week 2.
What needs help
Though allowing just 48 points, Buffalo’s defence is still having difficulty getting off the field in averaging 68 snaps an outing.
Stock up
Shakir has quickly established himself as Allen’s favourite, and most reliable, option. The third-year player has caught all 14 passes thrown his direction for 168 yards and two TDs.
Stock down
Coleman, but only for so long. The rookie learned a lesson for being late to a meeting by spending the first quarter on the sideline against Jacksonville. He made up for it with his first career TD in the second quarter.
Injuries
Backup RT Tylan Grable is out indefinitely after sustaining a groin injury. ... McDermott has already ruled out starting LB Terrel Bernard (pectoral) and CB Taron Johnson (right forearm) from playing on Sunday.
Key numbers
8 – Buffalo’s run of wins going back to last season, marking the NFL’s longest active streak.
Next steps
A third straight prime-time outing, and Buffalo opening a stretch of three straight road games.