In Buffalo, we’re all very humble and none of us will ever remind the many national media outlets and prognosticators who’ve spent the past two calendar years bashing Josh Allen like he didn’t belong in the league.
Alright, I’m obviously joking.
57 completions on 81 attempts, 719 yards and six touchdowns. That’s the raw stat line for Allen through the first two games of the 2020 campaign, leaving nearly every Buffalo Bills fan with the same feeling of jubilation to start the season.
Will those numbers likely continue? It’s hard to say, but it’s abundantly clear that this offense runs through its quarterback and passing attack – something I know Bills fans have been clamoring for for decades now.
Surely, the detractors will point to the competition level as if Allen himself hand-picked his first two opponents, but there is merit to that push back. Both the New York Jets and Miami Dolphins will likely be picking in the top-10 next April in the 2021 NFL Draft and, frankly, there were times I was overtaken by overwhelming feelings of anxiety, especially in that third quarter. But it was Allen answered the bell.
His team faced tremendous amounts of adversity – missing their two best linebackers, full-on "Fitzmagic" moments, a lightning delay and a three-point deficit in the fourth quarter - and Allen overcame it all in one of the more impressive quarterback performances of my lifetime.
Most of us fence sitters – people like me who have been waiting to be fully swayed by Allen – have seen a lot of the things we’ve been calling for in these first two weeks. Two deep ball dimes to take control of a game, back-to-back 300-yard performances, his first 400-yard performance, four passing touchdowns, but most importantly, only two rushing attempts on Sunday in Miami.
This was the first time Allen didn’t use his athleticism as a crutch or distraction away from his inability to win with his arm. He used his athleticism to give himself the time necessary to make game-changing plays with his arm.
My hope moving forward for Allen is to find his consistency. His 70% completion rate through two games is almost certainly going to drop as the season goes on and that’s ok. What has to remain is his brilliance as a playmaker and his protection of the football.
I’m not sure if Allen is elite, but I’m damn sure he’s very good. It’s time he’s given the credit he’s very much earned.