Although Allen, a sixth-year player, has demonstrated his versatility as a passer and runner by helping the Bills win three straight AFC East titles, his image has been damaged by his obstinate over-reliance on his own skills rather than the qualities of those around him.
The many assurances Bills quarterback Josh Allen provided in April and repeated throughout the summer over how he was placing an emphasis on cutting down on turnovers suddenly seem like empty promises entering Week 2 of the season.
There, in the early hours of Tuesday morning, an emotionally drained Allen sat at the podium having to explain how his four-turnover outing ultimately cost Buffalo in a 22-16 overtime loss to the New York Jets.
The disappointing thing about Monday’s game is that the Bills had a great chance to win, especially after Aaron Rodgers, the starting quarterback for the Jets, suffered a season-ending injury to his left Achilles during the opening series. However, Allen tipped the field in favour of New York by squandering a 13-3 lead at the half.
“Trying to force the ball. “Same (stuff), same place, different day,” the player who graces this year’s Madden video game cover said glumly, spiking his words with a profanity. “I can’t. I hurt our team tonight.”
This was hardly the first time Allen has been required to explain himself in front of cameras following an error-filled performance.
And it may not be the last for someone who is just as capable of throwing three or more touchdowns — he’s 19-1 when he does that — as he is committing two or more turnovers (9-12) in an outing.
Leave a Reply