When people think of Josh Allen, the Buffalo Bills’ star quarterback, his distinct style often comes to mind first. Standing at 6’5″ and weighing 237 pounds, he has the physique typical of traditional quarterbacks, enabling him to handle the demands of being a pocket passer. Despite his size, Allen is a dual-threat who challenges defenses with both strength and speed in the running game.
He exemplifies the trend of modern quarterbacks who can effectively execute both passing and rushing plays. Players like Lamar Jackson, Jalen Hurts, Caleb Williams, Jayden Daniels, and Jordan Love illustrate the new model for successful quarterbacks. As NFL teams prioritize players who can keep defenses off balance, Allen has become a sought-after prototype for franchises in search of a new quarterback.
Over the past four years, Allen has thrown for more than 4,000 yards and rushed for over 500 yards in three of those seasons, still making use of his dual-threat capabilities. However, his earlier seasons displayed a tendency to engage in “hero ball.”
Deep passing has consistently been a defining trait of Allen’s game. He has recorded over 30 touchdowns in three seasons yet has at times forced throws to achieve big plays. This risk-taking approach has held back both Allen and the Bills, as he often relied on his natural athleticism to keep his team competitive in games.
His dependence on his ability to make big plays was particularly evident during the 2023 season, where, despite leading the Bills to another AFC East title, he threw 29 touchdowns accompanied by a career-high 18 interceptions.
Allen’s high-risk style led to thrilling moments and playoff appearances but also resulted in frustrating defeats. In attempts to keep pace with the Kansas City Chiefs, he frequently pushed the limits of the passing game, affecting Buffalo’s playoff hopes over recent years.
As the Bills sit at 5-2 leading the AFC East, Allen has started the 2024 season strongly. After an unusually high number of interceptions last year, he has managed to throw 12 touchdowns without an interception in his initial seven games this season.
While this streak might eventually end, Allen’s last regular-season interception occurred in the final game of the previous year against the Miami Dolphins, where he was intercepted twice but the Bills won 21-14. Allen had an impressive completion percentage of 78.9%, making strides to secure another AFC East title.
Although such a streak typically aligns more closely with precision passers like Drew Brees or Tom Brady, Jared Goff has also made headlines with his own impressive streaks this season, showcasing his accuracy as a starting quarterback.
Allen’s success has also been bolstered by the adaptation of the Bills’ offense, particularly after the trade of receiver Stefon Diggs to the Houston Texans. This led to a quick 3-0 start by diversifying their passing targets. With new receiver Amari Cooper on board, Buffalo now has a dependable target, which could help Allen maintain his interception-free streak.
However, the competition is fierce heading into a challenging stretch of the season, with several playoff teams ahead on the schedule. After facing the Seattle Seahawks, the Bills will take on formidable opponents including the Miami Dolphins, Kansas City Chiefs, and San Francisco 49ers in later weeks.
The longer Allen can avoid interceptions, the better the Bills’ chances for a successful postseason will be, especially against tough defenses. Nonetheless, with greater expectations comes additional pressure; the quest to maintain his interception-free streak will not be an easy task.
