Josh Allen is the X-factor for the Buffalo Bills this season. He’s not just one of the X-factors, he’s the main one. Because if Allen plays up to his potential this season, the Buffalo Bills have what it takes to win the AFC East division.
Now that Tom Brady has moved out of Foxborough, there’s going to be a run on the division crown this season. And no, I’m not counting out Cam Newton in New England. The Bills, however, have a team primed to take a gigantic leap forward.
Buffalo’s well-coached with a stout defense. The team’s front office went out an upgraded the offense with play-making wide receiver Stefon Diggs. Now, we’re all looking to see if Allen can quarterback this team to their first division title since 1995.
Buffalo’s 2020 season began with an opening day matchup with the visiting New York Jets.
Allen led the Bills to three consecutive first-half touchdown drives to help lead his team to a 27-17 home win over the Jets.
Here are my three takeaways from an interesting season opener for Buffalo:
Watching Josh Allen feels like a roller coaster ride
Allen showed everything his fans love about him and his critics love to write about him. He managed to do this all in one half of football.
The third-year quarterback made some big-time throws and moved the ball with his legs. The Jets’ defense had no answer in the first half for whenever Allen escaped the pocket to run. He carried 14 times for 57 yards in this game.
Allen’s arm was on display on throws to Diggs, John Brown, and Cole Beasley.
The flipside to the coin with Allen is his struggles with turnovers. Allen fumbled on the team’s opening drive while scrambling for yardage. He finished the game with two lost fumbles, and this has been an issue for him throughout his young NFL career.
Allen posted his first 300-yard passing game and set career highs in attempts and completions. But he must take better care of the football for Buffalo to make a serious run at winning their division.
The Bills defense is legit scary
Last season this defense was scary, not much has changed. There are playmakers up and down this unit. Buffalo’s defense sacked Sam Darnold three times, they negated the Jets running game, and forced Darnold into an interception.
Early in the fourth quarter, with the Jets building momentum, Jordan Poyer stripped the ball from tight end Chris Herndon, Jerry Hughes recovered the ball and Buffalo found a way to close the door on the game.
This is a unit that carried Buffalo into the playoffs last season. They allowed the second-fewest points in the NFL and third-fewest yards. They can shut down an opposing team’s momentum and proved it again in this game.
Keep an eye on the Buffalo run game
For everything that looks right with Buffalo’s offense, the run game left room for concern this week.
The Bills dominated the Jets in time of possession, 41:16 to 18:44. They also ran the ball for 98 yards, but that number is misleading. Running backs Devin Singletary and rookie Zack Moss each carried the football nine times for 30 and 11 yards respectively. Josh Allen, meanwhile, carried the football 14 times for 57 yards. The issue there, obviously, is that Allen is the quarterback.
Singletary averaged 5.1 yards per carry last season. It could just be opening week struggles, but it’s worth keeping an eye on.
