Bills: Eye-opening stat proves tough reality around Josh Allen's offense
As the Buffalo Bills cope with another Divisional Round exit in another Super Bowl or Bust kind of season, a lot of the blame has been put on HC Sean McDermott and QB Josh Allen. Both are understandable, considering they both had performances well below the standard they've set for themselves. The conversation for Bills […]
As the Buffalo Bills cope with another Divisional Round exit in another Super Bowl or Bust kind of season, a lot of the blame has been put on HC Sean McDermott and QB Josh Allen.
Both are understandable, considering they both had performances well below the standard they've set for themselves. The conversation for Bills Mafia, however, shouldn't center around just where Allen ranks in the NFL among quarterbacks.
Is he better than Joe Burrow? Does he have a shot at Patrick Mahomes' status as the current king of the art of quarterbacking?
Sure, all that makes for some fun segments on National TV but the real question the Bills have to answer is how to get better across the board.
Despite clearly having one of the deepest rosters in the NFL, they lack clear advantages over their biggest AFC rivals. Think about the two teams that are set to play in the AFC Championship Game for a trip to the Super Bowl.
The Chiefs offense is unlike any other in the league in that it A) has Mahomes and B) has an unbelievable scheme that gives the opposing defense a billion things to account for each play.
The Bengals have perhaps the best wide receiver group in the NFL in Ja'Marr Chase, Tee Higgins, and Tyler Boyd. Even in spite of a shaky offensive line, Joe Burrow's amazing play is paired with tremendous pass catchers whom he can trust.
Meanwhile, the Bills lack a real-deal playmaker behind Stefon Diggs at wideout. Additionally, they force Josh Allen to play behind an offensive line that forces him to be a superhero every single down. He's so good that he makes it happen consistently.
But how sustainable is that in the long term? Especially when knowing Mahomes and Burrow aren't going anywhere?
Simple stat proves Bills' problem
A lot has been made about Allen not targeting Stefon Diggs. A lot has been made about Buffalo's quarterback producing a 68.1 passer rating.
But it's time we talk about the stat outlined below by PFF's Arjun Menon. The Bengals perfectly covered the Bills' dropbacks in 66.67% of the snaps! That was the highest mark in the Divisional Round by a margin of 16% and the second-highest all season long.
Credit where credit is due, by the way. Earlier this week I wrote about how Bengals DC Lou Anarumo must be a target for NFL teams looking for a new head coach. His defense has been insane against elite quarterbacks.
But that simply isn't supposed to happen against Josh Allen and the second-best offense in points per drive, DVOA, and EPA/play.
While everyone focused on the turnovers heading into the game, the Bills' passing offense was broken against the Bengals beyond Allen's interception.
Guys didn't get open. Allen ran for his life behind the line of scrimmage.
The team must get better if it is to finally lift a Lombardi Trophy.
Featured image via Tina MacIntyre-Yee /Rochester Democrat and Chronicle / USA TODAY NETWORK
