The Buffalo Bills have clinched a playoff berth and can win the AFC East. And their Josh Allen has made steady progress as the season has unfolded.
It’s safe to say that the Buffalo Bills’ 2019 season to date has been somewhat surprising. Yes, the team is headed back to the playoffs for the second time in three years. Yes, the organization was extremely busy this offseason and retooled itself — most notably along the offensive line as well as at wide receiver.
Additions such as center Mitch Morse, guards Quinton Spain and Jon Feliciano and rookie right tackle Cody Ford have helped up front. Underrated John Brown and steady Cole Beasley have made their share of key receptions. All told, this was a club that a year ago that showed great promise on the defensive side of the ball while their rookie quarterback, Josh Allen, had his ups and downs.
But you don’t get to 10 wins in a season with two games to go without steady improvement from all facets. And perhaps the one player that has made the biggest strides as 2019 has worn on is Allen.
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Of course, early on this year, the seventh overall pick in the 2018 NFL Draft displayed few signs of any progress from his fascinating rookie campaign in which he showed a lot of grit and determination.
Known more for his arm than his legs at the University of Wyoming, the knock on the 6-5, 237-pound prospect was his lack of accuracy. By season’s end, Allen had played in 12 games, made 11 starts and connected on only 52.8 percent of his throws. There were 10 touchdown passes, one dozen interceptions and two lost fumbles. There was also a team-high 631 yards rushing and eight scores as the young signal-caller vaulted opposing defenders in a single bound.
Back to the start of the 2019 season, when in the first half of the club’s season debut at MetLife Stadium against the New York Jets. Allen turned over the ball four times in the first two quarters. But he also rallied the club from a 16-0 deficit to win, 17-16.
The Bills would win their first three games this year before losing a brutal defensive struggle at home against the New England Patriots, 16-10. In that contest, Allen served up three interceptions before being knocked out of the game.
So in the club’s first four games this season, Allen threw twice as many interceptions (6) as touchdown passes (3), ran for three scores and also lost a pair of fumbles. In his last 10 outings, there have been 15 touchdown passes, six scoring runs and only five total turnovers.
On Saturday afternoon at Foxborough in Week 16, the Buffalo Bills will look to end a six-game losing streak to the Patriots. Allen will also look to make amends for his Week 4 performance, a game he was unable to finish. Sean McDermott’s team still has eyes on a division title, something the franchise has managed since 1995.
And if the Bills are to pull this off, they will need to see the Allen of the last two-plus months.