4. Josh Allen’s “it” factor
Allen was 22-of-28 (78.6%) on Sunday against the Bengals for 251 yards and three touchdowns. On top of the pass game, he also rushed nine times for 78 yards and one score.
On fourth-and-four at the Cincinnati 11-yard-line, the Bills were down 14-3 in the second quarter. Searching for an option, Allen and wide receiver Khalil Shakir connected for some magic. Allen threw the ball just past two defenders and hit Shakir for a much-needed touchdown.
Head coach Sean McDermott said on Monday that he’s relatively past the point of questioning Allen’s decisions, whether it’s going for it all on fourth down or wisely throwing the ball away to resettle and regroup on the next play. On the fourth down play to Shakir, McDermott still appreciated using the word “audacity” to describe the throw. He also mentioned Allen’s decision at the end of the game, specifically too, opting to scramble for the first down on third-and-15 to close out the game.
“Even the last play on the third-and-15, he’s just got this ‘it’ factor that is hard to question and hard to defend … as a bigger-picture item, though, is within those plays that everyone is saying are ‘wow’ plays and only he can make those plays are the check downs that were thrown when they needed to be thrown or the ball that got thrown away earlier,” McDermott said.
“I’m speaking like a true coach, I know, but that’s the balance of discipline and him being so special … It’s one thing to run around and make these special plays, it’s another thing to go, ‘Hey, when the situation calls for it, there’s my check down. I’m throwing this ball away in the high red zone when we get another chance to play another play.’ So that is to me, the combination of an elite player playing on a high level.”
Offensive coordinator Joe Brady also said he trusts Allen to make whatever decision looks and feels right to him.
“It’s way more times than none that he’s in a flow state. When you can call any play and you think he’s going to make it work. When he’s asking for plays, you know he’s going to make it work. He might ask for a play that in my head I’m like, ‘I may not see it in that situation, but I’m going to give him the ownership if Josh is asking for something,'” Brady said. “That’s the flow state and those were situations he was in [on Sunday]. I don’t ever want Josh Allen to be conservative.”
Allen has the second-most touchdowns in the NFL through 14 weeks with 34. He’s now had three straight seasons with at least 12 rushing touchdowns. After his four touchdowns against the Bengals, Allen became the first player in NFL history to record three straight seasons of at least 20 passing and 10 rushing touchdowns.