Snippet from The Athletic Joe Buscaglia on Josh Allen

[Billsfan1972]

As expected, I don't disagree.

 

This may be the year the Bills need Allen to go scorched earth

During the Bills’ four-year postseason run from 2019 to 2022, one of their staples has been a good-to-excellent defense in the regular season that can rescue the offense at any point. We even saw that against the Jets and early against the Commanders. But now, with multiple significant injuries to their defense, it’s potentially setting up as a year unlike any of the four previous ones. Outside of nickel cornerback Taron Johnson, question marks are everywhere on the back seven and the defensive interior against the run. It all could point to this being the year franchise quarterback Josh Allen has to go nuclear for the Bills to reach their goals. Outside of his Week 1 implosion against the Jets, Allen has played at an MVP level. He was dominant against the Raiders and Dolphins, and shook off a slightly slow start against the Commanders to have another excellent game. The Bills looked asleep at the wheel early in the Jaguars game, though that’s something I’ll be diving into when the All-22 comes out Tuesday.

All of that was mostly without Allen drifting back into his college tendencies of not knowing the line between calculated risk and reckless. But should the defense have some difficulty limiting the opponent as their losses would indicate, this is an opportunity for Allen to hit a career marker in what is setting up to be the greatest quarterbacking season in franchise history. Allen, along with receivers Stefon Diggs and Gabe Davis, have shown the potential to be prolific on a weekly basis. But they’ve been able to dial it back with games well in hand in three of their first five games. Plus in past seasons, they’ve been able to escape a down game based on the strength of their defense. That luxury may not be as prevalent against the many average-to-good teams they’ll face as their schedule gets much tougher, very soon. They’ll still have some of those blowouts against the lower-tier teams like the Giants, but once Week 9 hits with a trip to Cincinnati, those will likely be far and few between.

If you’re a glass half full kind of person, should Milano and Jones be lost for a considerable amount of time, it could set the Bills up for the type of football they’ll need to play to advance in the postseason. Their most realistic chance of winning the Super Bowl came in 2021 when the offense was unstoppable and playing a mostly perfect game in one way or another over the season’s final month. For the Bills to accomplish their postseason goals, perhaps Allen needing to be the guy every week will be the ultimate catalyst for them in the postseason. Or, if Allen puts too much pressure on himself, it could lead to more reckless decisions with the ball and some in-game implosions and losses, but that’s the worst-case scenario. Either way, we may see Allen pressed in a way he’s never been before in 2023.

[boyst]

i hope he does not. we need him 10 more years or more.

[JJGauna]

If the defensive injuries force Allen to up his game, he could become unstoppable. I want to see Josh Allen play Josh Allen football.

[GoBills808]

"Their most realistic chance of winning the Super Bowl came in 2021 when the offense was unstoppable and playing a mostly perfect game in one way or another over the season’s final month."

 

there is a close to zero chance the offense plays as well as they did during the end of 2021 and wasn't even enough to get them out of the divisional round

[Boatdrinks]

They may need him to. Each season is unique. This year has already been beset by the injury bug on defense. If Josh needs to resort to more Super Josh type plays then so be it. The goal is to win it all, whatever that requires. 

2 minutes ago, GoBills808 said:

"Their most realistic chance of winning the Super Bowl came in 2021 when the offense was unstoppable and playing a mostly perfect game in one way or another over the season’s final month."

 

there is a close to zero chance the offense plays as well as they did during the end of 2021 and wasn't even enough to get them out of the divisional round

And KC is not the KC of 2021. Past years are just not indicative of this seasons outcome. 

[GoBills808]

2 minutes ago, Boatdrinks said:

They may need him to. Each season is unique. This year has already been beset by the injury bug on defense. If Josh needs to resort to more Super Josh type plays then so be it. The goal is to win it all, whatever that requires. 

And KC is not the KC of 2021. Past years are just not indicative of this seasons outcome. 

the entire point of that article is using past years performance to predict this seasons outcome

[mrags]

I like the thought and firmly believe that Josh has it in him to go Nuclear. I really hope it happens. Could see him taking this league by the horns and exacting his will on everyone while leading this team to victory. He defiantly has it in him. If that happens is another story. 

[Dablitzkrieg]

8 minutes ago, GoBills808 said:

"Their most realistic chance of winning the Super Bowl came in 2021 when the offense was unstoppable and playing a mostly perfect game in one way or another over the season’s final month."

 

there is a close to zero chance the offense plays as well as they did during the end of 2021 and wasn't even enough to get them out of the divisional round

Why do you say this silliness?  🤣

[Boatdrinks]

3 minutes ago, GoBills808 said:

the entire point of that article is using past years performance to predict this seasons outcome

He’s talking about what Josh Allen is capable of doing on the field , not the outcome of a single game between two different editions of teams that have played in the past. 

[Bob Jones]

1 minute ago, mrags said:

I like the thought and firmly believe that Josh has it in him to go Nuclear. I really hope it happens. Could see him taking this league by the horns and exacting his will on everyone while leading this team to victory. He defiantly has it in him. If that happens is another story. 

I mean with Dorsey calling the plays, he can only do so much. It's just mind boggling how Dorsey didn’t adjust his play calling vs the Jags. Doesn't Dorsey have a MS Surface up in the box, like they players do on the sideline, where he could have been reviewing the failed plays during the game, and then make adjustments? He had plenty of time during the game, as the Jags had the ball for most of the game. Then there's always the 15 minutes at halftime too.

[GoBills808]

4 minutes ago, Boatdrinks said:

He’s talking about what Josh Allen is capable of doing on the field , not the outcome of a single game between two different editions of teams that have played in the past. 

He's using what Josh Allen did in the past, hence the 2021 reference, to explore what he might do the rest of this year

 

i don't know why we are arguing this

[Ga boy]

1 minute ago, Boatdrinks said:

He’s talking about what Josh Allen is capable of doing on the field , not the outcome of a single game between two different editions of teams that have played in the past. 

This year was suppose to be about keeping JA17 on a short leash to protect him.  That ship maybe has sailed.

[LABILLBACKER]

10 minutes ago, Bob Jones said:

I mean with Dorsey calling the plays, he can only do so much. It's just mind boggling how Dorsey didn’t adjust his play calling vs the Jags. Doesn't Dorsey have a MS Surface up in the box, like they players do on the sideline, where he could have been reviewing the failed plays during the game, and then make adjustments? He had plenty of time during the game, as the Jags had the ball for most of the game. Then there's always the 15 minutes at halftime too.

Dorsey did an embarrassing job of adjusting early in London.  His inconsistent play calling will be an issue throughout the season. 

[Billsfan1972]

8 minutes ago, Ga boy said:

This year was suppose to be about keeping JA17 on a short leash to protect him.  That ship maybe has sailed.

Boy do I wish it has.

[Process]

They will not be as good as 2021 and they don't need to be. Even with the injuries, there isn't a team in the league putting up 40+ on this defense like the Chiefs did. 

[BuffaloBill]

I absolutely disagree. The Bills need to simply play disciples football where JA can occasionally work his magic.  The Bills are not without depth and the opportunity to win many more games this season.

 

Where JA does need to be “special” is in the playoffs.

[78thealltimegreat]

Josh has a gear I like to call it John Wick mode you saw it against the fins. Let these guys earn their money and lean on the running game and low percentage passes. Save the one man gang stuff for the Chiefs and Eagles later in the season. 

[Sharky7337]

45 minutes ago, GoBills808 said:

"Their most realistic chance of winning the Super Bowl came in 2021 when the offense was unstoppable and playing a mostly perfect game in one way or another over the season’s final month."

 

there is a close to zero chance the offense plays as well as they did during the end of 2021 and wasn't even enough to get them out of the divisional round

Ya im afraid we missed our shot but its looking thay way.

[Wayne Arnold]

1 hour ago, boyst said:

i hope he does not. we need him 10 more years or more.

 

Nah. Just win one Super Bowl. After that the Earth can explode for all I care.

[DrDawkinstein]

 

What is our base/default identity as an offense? What do we do well every time that no one else can do or stop? What should we fall back on when the Offense needs a spark to get going?

 

Answer: Run Josh.

 

Running Josh tips the numbers game in our favor. The defense cant cover everyone AND Josh. When nothing else is working, running game is getting blown up, can't even get the ball to Diggs... Dorsey MUST simplify to our default and turn Josh loose. If for no other reason than to give the Defense something else to respect and think about in order to open it up for other guys.

 

Call a couple of designed QB runs AND a couple of passes that clear out the underneath and let Josh run in space. After a couple of those plays the Defense wont know what's coming next.

 

 

Edited October 11, 2023 by DrDawkinstein