Josh Allen is one of the NFL’s elite quarterbacks. Some, like me, believe he’s the best player in the NFL. The leader of the Buffalo Bills has won an MVP and gotten MVP votes in three other seasons. No other currently active quarterback can say the same.
Now, in the beginning of July, I’m wondering — when did you realize Allen was the one?
Did it hit you suddenly? Was there a specific play that comes to mind, or did the thought grow on you during the memorable 2020 campaign when the Bills won the AFC
East for the first time in 25 years?
In asking this, I have my own answer… and it’s very specific.
Rewind to 2020, the Bills were playing the Rams, at home, in front of no fans of course in late September on a glorious fall day in Orchard Park.
You remember this game — Allen and the Bills stormed out to a 21-3 lead at the half and an Allen-to-Diggs touchdown connection (with Jalen Ramsey in coverage) extended Buffalo’s lead to 28-3 in the third quarter.
In drought-era form, the Bills squandered that lead against upstart head coach Sean McVay’s club. They were outscored 29-0 after taking the 28-3 lead.
On what proved to be the last possession of the contest for Buffalo, Allen was faced with 3rd and 22 from his own 31 yard line.
I vividly remember being conditioned to believing the pass would either fall incomplete or ultimately gain significantly less yardage than what the Bills needed to move the sticks.
Instead, Allen stood in the pocket, scanned the field and found Cole Beasley over the middle just short of the sticks. The veteran receiver accumulated some YAC to actually got the first down in that 3rd and 22 situation.
I was floored.
I certainly was not accustomed to a Bills quarterback making that type of play, in a critical moment — particularly with no momentum after blowing a seismic lead.
Nine plays later, Allen found backup tight end Tyler Kroft for the game-sealing touchdown on a play that began with 21 seconds left.
That connection with Beasley was the play — along with the subsequent touchdown toss to Kroft — that it struck me. Josh Allen was the one.
When did you realize Allen was the franchise savior?
