Josh Allen answered any doubts about his status as one of the game’s best quarterbacks on Sunday in the Buffalo Bills' 43-21 drubbing of the Washington Football Team at Highmark Stadium in Orchard Park.
In Allen’s best game since inking his monstrous six-year, $258 million extension this past August, the MVP candidate completed 32-of-43 passes for 358 yards and four touchdowns. He also added a late rushing touchdown in the win to finish the afternoon with five total touchdowns.
There were many impressive throws — the 14-yard strike to Dawson Knox in the end zone; those tosses down the seam to Cole Beasley — but his opening touchdown to Emmanuel Sanders encapsulated why he’s so great.
In addition to featuring an elite arm, Allen is nearly impossible to bring down.
To quell Washington’s pass rush, Allen faked a hand-off and moved to the right, temporarily confusing the defense. But the pocket collapsed in short order, and as a result, Allen kept running further to his right so he could evade defensive lineman Tim Settle.
Most quarterbacks in that situation would’ve thrown the ball away, or dumped off a pass to the closest receiver, but not Allen. He fired a strike into the end zone, finding Emmanuel Sanders in the right corner.
The veteran wideout showed up just as the ball was landing.
With five receptions for 94 yards and two touchdowns, it’s fair to say Sanders appears to be finding his groove with Allen. After the game, Allen stressed the importance of Sanders’ presence.
“Guy that just constantly does what he’s asked in the run game and the pass game,” Allen told reporters following the win. “He’s a vet in this league, he does everything right. He’s got juice. He’s been great for me, I know he’s been great for the other guys in this locker room.”
The Bills’ top three receivers — Stefon Diggs, Cole Beasley and Sanders — combined for 22 catches and 254 yards. That’s the kind of production the Bills will need from them going forward.
Luckily, Allen makes their jobs easy.
