Few quarterbacks in NFL history have defied expectations as consistently and effectively as Josh Allen, the signal-caller for the Buffalo Bills. Before the 2018 NFL Draft, he was often labeled a risk due to major accuracy concerns and perceived difficulties in reading defenses. However, over the past seven years, he has mostly quieted his critics, demonstrating his status as one of football’s most explosive players by leading the Bills to five straight playoff appearances.
Despite making significant strides in addressing his pre-draft shortcomings, Allen has continued to struggle with turnovers. Throughout his career, he has thrown 78 interceptions, including a personal record of 18 during the 2023 season. As a key contributor on the ground, he has also fumbled 63 times, with 26 of those resulting in lost possessions. Heading into the 2024 season, he has amassed 102 turnovers, the highest figure of any player since 2008, according to ESPN.
This season, however, Allen has turned the narrative around once again, becoming the NFL’s most efficient quarterback in terms of protecting the football. In the first seven games of 2024, he has thrown no interceptions on 189 attempts. The next closest quarterback, Malik Willis of the Green Bay Packers, has only 34 attempts without an interception.
The 28-year-old’s impressive start to the season is particularly noteworthy given his history with turnovers. During a media session, he remarked on this positive trend, acknowledging that while he’s made a conscious effort to be more cautious with the ball, interceptions often come down to luck.
“I take a lot of pride in not throwing interceptions,” Allen stated. “Cleaning that up has been a focus for me over the past couple of years. Achieving this is easier said than done, and it does require some luck; sometimes passes that shouldn’t be picked off get intercepted, while others that should be picked off aren’t. I’m just trying to focus on each play, make the right decisions, and get the ball to my teammates.”
He also emphasized that he isn’t overly fixated on avoiding interceptions at the expense of making plays. “I’m not out there trying not to throw picks,” he explained. “If you focus too much on that, that’s when they tend to happen. I plan to rely on my instincts, my vision, and my abilities.”
As the Bills prepare for their Week 8 matchup against the Seattle Seahawks, who have recorded four interceptions so far this season, Allen will aim to maintain his careful approach to handling the football.
