Normalizing the abnormal

[Einstein]

Does anyone else feel like we, as fans, have become so accustomed to Josh Allen’s greatness that we’ve started to take the extraordinary for granted?

 

This thought hit me during the 4th quarter when Allen unleashed a 40+ yard pass on the run that narrowly missed connecting with Morris. The reaction from some fans was disappointment - almost scoffing that Allen didn’t deliver the pass perfectly.

 

It makes me wonder if we, as a fanbase, have forgotten just how rare and difficult a throw like that is? Or most of the plays Allen makes.

 

I mean… There are only a handful of people on the planet who can even attempt a throw like that—on the move, under pressure, with defenders closing in. Yet, we’ve grown so used to his greatness that we now expect perfection, every time. And some people judge by that standard.

 

He is not normal. It’s greatness, and it deserves to be appreciated, rather than judged every time a throw isn’t perfection.

 

 

[ToGoGo]

Just now, Einstein said:

Does anyone else feel like we, as fans, have become so accustomed to Josh Allen’s greatness that we’ve started to take the extraordinary for granted?

 

This thought hit me during the 4th quarter when Allen unleashed a 40+ yard pass on the run that narrowly missed connecting with Morris. The reaction from some fans was disappointment - almost scoffing that Allen didn’t deliver the pass perfectly.

 

It makes me wonder if we, as a fanbase, have forgotten just how rare and difficult a throw like that is? Or most of the plays Allen makes.

 

I mean… There are only a handful of people on the planet who can even attempt a throw like that—on the move, under pressure, with defenders closing in. Yet, we’ve grown so used to his greatness that we now expect perfection, every time. And some people judge by that standard.

 

He is not normal. It’s greatness, and it deserves to be appreciated, rather than judged every time a throw isn’t perfection.

 

 

It’s because he wasn’t appreciated coming out. So he had to do extraordinary things just to get credit for being decent. 
 

Now he’s just pure extraordinary and people’s eyes are opening up to what always was. 

[78thealltimegreat]

You are correct I was listening to the post game show and they had a couple callers call in and talk about Josh being off on the deep passing game. There is always going to be a portion of this fan base that just doesn’t realize how great Josh is… but that’s life. 

[TheBrownBear]

He's not perfect, but he's the best player on the planet. Most fun to watch too.

[CincyBillsFan]

2 minutes ago, Einstein said:

Does anyone else feel like we, as fans, have become so accustomed to Josh Allen’s greatness that we’ve started to take the extraordinary for granted?

 

This thought hit me during the 4th quarter when Allen unleashed a 40+ yard pass on the run that narrowly missed connecting with Morris. The reaction from some fans was disappointment - almost scoffing that Allen didn’t deliver the pass perfectly.

 

It makes me wonder if we, as a fanbase, have forgotten just how rare and difficult a throw like that is? Or most of the plays Allen makes.

 

I mean… There are only a handful of people on the planet who can even attempt a throw like that—on the move, under pressure, with defenders closing in. Yet, we’ve grown so used to his greatness that we now expect perfection, every time. And some people judge by that standard.

 

He is not normal. It’s greatness, and it deserves to be appreciated, rather than judged every time a throw isn’t perfection.

 

 

Agree 100%.  Think about what Allen accomplished at the end of the game.  Sure the TD run was great but when the Chiefs were revving up the comeback engine to steal the game Allen took the Bills on back to back long TD drives to win.  Those last 2 drives were masterfully directed by Allen both on the ground ad through the air. 

[Sojourner]

Yes. We are spoiled with his talent. 
 

Josh is one of the very few QBs I’ve always expected a completed pass when he’s rolling outside of the pocket to the sidelines. 

That shouldn’t be the case. But it is. 

[JimBob2232]

yup.  that late run was a thing of beauty - but at the same time I thought "that isn't even in his top 20 highlight reel".  We just expect that from our future HOF QB.

[sven233]

After all the crap we went through at the QB position after Kelly retired, I will never, NOT ONCE, take Allen for granted.  In fact, if anything, I will continue the fight on a regular basis that I believe he is the best player in the world.  Does he make mistakes?  Yes.  Sometimes bad ones.  Does he miss throws?  Yes, of course he does, but every QB misses throws.  The difference is, he does things on the football field that nobody else in the world can do and he can more than make up for the plays you sometimes wish he would make.

 

Did he miss Morris today?  Maybe.  But I think some only count that as a miss because he hits that same throw like 90% of the time and it has almost become routine to expect him to hit it.  But first of all, there are only a handful of QBs in the league that can make that throw one out of ten times where it seems like Allen hits it almost every time.  So, I do think some fans, when he does miss plays like that, are frustrated, but I think it is only because Allen sets an impossible bar for himself to live up to week in and week out.

 

The fact is, though, it's awesome that us as Bills fans can have such high expectations for out QB because for 2 and a half decades we had QBs that set the lowest possible standard to live up to.  So, yeah, he won't always hit that play, but he will hit it more often than he misses and, like I said, I will never take his play for granted because we are watching one of the all time greats in the NFL play QB for us.

[HardyBoy]

I honestly didn't even celebrate the way I normally would (jumping up and down and in 360s) while watching that run, at least not in the moment...just fist pump when he got the first, stood up when I realized he had a chance to score, big fist pump, a huge sigh of relief and then grabbed my 7 year old while he was flipping out and gave him a big hug.

 

I think mostly I was waiting to make sure he wasn't hurt before celebrating, but what a freaking play!

[Warcodered]

Honestly on that one I just figured he doesn't normally throw it to Morris that often so they weren't in sync.

 

As to the rest, of course it happens, it's the same thing with Beane and McDermott I mean if you take the time to actually look at McDermott and Beane's record since taking over here the amount of people that think they should start over or even just fire McDermott is nuts. 

Edited November 18 by Warcodered

[BillsFan130]

Yep. I think a lot of us expect "perfection" from him.

 

If you watch the all 22 for any Great QB, you can laser in on "oh you should have thrown it here on this play".

Josh at his worst is the 2nd best QB in the league, and can make a very strong argument he's the best in the nfl right now 

Edited November 18 by BillsFan130

[HappyDays]

Every QB misses throws. Some fans are just unrealistic and/or don't watch other teams' full games.

 

It almost doesn't even matter what he did in the first three quarters. Clinching the game with two of the most clutch TD drives you'll ever see is the story. Pulling that feat off against this Chiefs defense is unheard of. If some fans can't appreciate what they're watching they've lost the plot.

[BillsFan130]

7 minutes ago, JimBob2232 said:

yup.  that late run was a thing of beauty - but at the same time I thought "that isn't even in his top 20 highlight reel".  We just expect that from our future HOF QB.

Jim Nantz had an epic call on that one: "Play of the year right!".

 

 

[HappyDays]

9 minutes ago, sven233 said:

Did he miss Morris today?  Maybe.  But I think some only count that as a miss because he hits that same throw like 90% of the time and it has almost become routine to expect him to hit it. 

 

Morris also could have tracked the ball and caught it. Just saying. It wasn't way off the mark and that sort of throw isn't a spot throw anyways. Not that I begrudge Morris for it, he's a 3rd string TE for a reason.

[Sabres 2025]

31 minutes ago, Einstein said:

Does anyone else feel like we, as fans, have become so accustomed to Josh Allen’s greatness that we’ve started to take the extraordinary for granted

 

 

 

No. Nobody that is a fan of the Buffalo Bills takes Josh Allen for granted. 

[Bills!Win!]

There was one time against the 49ers on a rainy wet miserable day in orchard park that JP losman couldn’t even complete check downs and screens 

[RunTheBall]

I don’t take Joshua F’n Allen for granted. He missed a WIDE OPEN Morris on that play. It’s ok to say so. The guy is a unicorn. He will make more plays than he misses.

 

[MasterStrategist]

Nobody who really is a true " die hard" takes Josh for granted.  I told my 6 year old son today, who watches full Bills games/knows the rules/etc living in Steeler country, that having a QB like Josh isn't something to take for granted.  

 

We are all fortunate as Bills fans.  Josh does things that nobody else can do.  He puts this team on his back in key situations every game, especially today with many 3rd and longs, and on the most critical play of the game on his 26 yard scramble.

 

Everyone should cherish his time in Buffalo, and no doubt we eventually win a SB.  

 

But it's also OK to 2nd guess his play/decision making too.  He missed several opportunities today, not only Morris but mostly to Samuel.  Cooper made some unreal catches at critical times too, or we are talking about a different outcome potentially.

 

Again, Josh is the best QB on the planet and no way we're sitting at 9-2 without him. But he can be inconsistent, and if he can hone in some of that, we'd be unstoppable.  

 

That's what playoff Josh has been, an unstoppable force with a so-so defense/supportive cast.  Josh is least of our concerns, but his bar is so HIGH compared to anyone else, and that's what fans expect of him.  Not perfection, but excellence when it matters. 

 

Josh delivered just enough of that excellence today, but it was also nice to see that we had a defense ONLY GIVE 7 POINTS in the 2nd half.  That's been our issue vs KC, credit to Josh but also defense.  Josh didn't do enough single handedly today, he needed some support and got it.  Josh is the best there is, but we need those 1-2 earlier plays....defense bailed us out enough, then Josh made an unreal play to win it on 4th down.

[The Firebaugh Kid]

53 minutes ago, 78thealltimegreat said:

You are correct I was listening to the post game show and they had a couple callers call in and talk about Josh being off on the deep passing game. There is always going to be a portion of this fan base that just doesn’t realize how great Josh is… but that’s life. 

Both deep-ish throws to Cooper were perfection. 

[Since1981]

CBS put the crew in Highmark parking lot. 17 is the underlying reasons and entertainment. I hope Josh continues to take a Bills-friendly salary and we give him the best OL 17’s cap money can buy. P.S. it would a top 4 saddest day as a bills fan if josh doesn’t retire a bill.

Edited November 18 by Since1981