Josh Allen’s Dominance Continues as Bills Keep Rolling
DETROIT — When Mack Hollins joined the Buffalo Bills this offseason, he already knew what Josh Allen could do. After all, he had seen Allen’s magic on TV and faced him on the field as an opponent. But even with that knowledge, Hollins admits he was still taken aback when he first saw Allen in action up close.
“[Initially it] was like, ‘Oh, he really does this in real life,’” Hollins said. “… But he consistently does it. So, it’s not a surprise. It’s not luck, it’s not a fluke. It’s just who he is.”
And who Allen is, according to Bills head coach Sean McDermott, is a quarterback playing at the peak of his powers. Allen’s performance in Sunday’s 48-42 win over the Detroit Lions was nothing short of spectacular. He completed 23 of 34 passes (67.6%) for 362 yards and two touchdowns through the air, while also rushing 11 times for 68 yards and two more scores on the ground.
The victory improved the Bills to 11-3, keeping their hopes for the No. 1 seed in the AFC alive. Buffalo also made history, becoming the first team in NFL history to snap multiple nine-game single-season win streaks. They ended the Lions’ streak on Sunday and had previously done the same to the Kansas City Chiefs last month.
Breaking Records and Making History
Allen’s performance on Sunday added another milestone to his growing list of achievements. He now holds the record for the most consecutive seasons with 35 combined passing and rushing touchdowns in NFL history, surpassing Brett Favre’s four-season stretch during which Favre won three MVP awards.
“It’s the best I’ve seen him play and not surprised,” McDermott said. “When he sets a goal for himself, for a team, I mean, he’s hard to stop. So, people have tried, they’ll keep trying, that’s what we do in this league, and I mean, just incredible, incredible performance week after week, and what more can you say?
“… Every week we’re watching an incredible player play incredibly consistent week after week, and I’ll let you guys fill in the rest of the sentence.”
Allen’s MVP odds reflect his dominance. According to ESPN BET, his odds improved to -900 after the game, up from -400 at kickoff. The only hiccup in Allen’s day came after the game when he visited the X-ray room with head athletic trainer Nate Breske to check on his shoulder following what he described as a “funky fall.” Allen assured reporters that everything was fine, calling the visit “precaution” and for “peace of mind.”
Offensive Firepower
The Bills’ offense was firing on all cylinders against the Lions. They punted just once all game, with their only other non-scoring drives coming from a missed 24-yard field goal by Tyler Bass and the end of each half. The unit started hot with three consecutive touchdown drives and added three more in the second half, all on drives of five plays or fewer. This marked the team’s eighth straight game scoring 30-plus points, tying an NFL record held by the 2000 Rams, 2007 Patriots, 2010 Patriots, and 2013 Broncos.
Buffalo’s offensive line deserves plenty of credit, as they’ve now gone four games without allowing a sack. They also paved the way for a rushing attack that racked up 197 yards, including touchdown runs of 6 and 41 yards by James Cook. The Lions had no answers, allowing their most rushing yards and rushing touchdowns in a game this season.
“I mean, he’s incredible, right? … But I want to give credit to everyone on that side of the ball,” McDermott said. “It’s not just Josh; he’s not able to do that if the offensive line isn’t doing their job, and sounds like coachspeak, but it’s accurate.”
Allen’s Versatility Shines
Allen’s ability to adapt to any situation was on full display. Against the Lions’ blitz, which came on 39% of his dropbacks, Allen went 9-of-13 for 124 yards with two touchdowns and a scramble. He also excelled outside the pocket, throwing for 171 yards on such plays—the most by any quarterback in a game since Week 14 of 2021 (Russell Wilson).
His recent performances have been historic. After a six-touchdown game against the Rams last week, Allen now holds the record for the most fantasy points over a two-game span by any quarterback since the 1970 merger (93.16). He’s also the first quarterback in that span to post back-to-back 40-point games, per ESPN Research.
“This dude’s incredible,” tight end Dawson Knox said. “It’s hard to describe what he does on a consistent basis every single Sunday. I’ve talked about it before, but sometimes you just turn into a fan. I mean, he threw a chest pass touchdown to Dalton [Kincaid] got called back, but he’s lifting the ball to guys, making plays with his feet. I’m yelling in my head [for him] to slide, but he’s running guys over. It’s so much fun to play with that dude. It’s really a privilege, and I hope I get to play with him as long as I possibly can.”
Originally Written by: Alaina Getzenberg
