There’s a really dumb playoff narrative surrounding Josh Allen and the Buffalo Bills that just needs to die
Josh Allen is front and center in the national media, and the latest narrative needs to die.
The Buffalo Bills are in the playoffs, and several other teams that were expected to be AFC kings have ultimately fallen flat. That’s where the ridiculous narrative begins.
The “no excuses” Josh Allen playoff narrative is lazy, and it needs to die.
Several talking heads in the national media have spent the week leading up to the Buffalo Bills and Jacksonville Jaguars matchup saying if not now, then when for the Buffalo Bills. Claiming that because teams like the Kansas City Chiefs, Baltimore Ravens, and Cincinnati Bengals are missing the postseason somehow means that there’s added pressure on Allen to win it all this year.
That’s just flat-out lazy and ignorant if you ask me. So, because Allen and the Bills performed well enough to make the postseason and other teams fell flat on their faces, it’s all on Allen’s shoulders now to win it all? Come on, give me a break.
Even ESPN reporter Mina Kimes joined in on the fun, poking holes in the ridiculous narrative that Allen no longer has excuses and must take home the crown this season.
“Here’s one: The run defense is 31st league-wide and it’s a team sport,” Kimes wrote on X.
Of course, there’s pressure on Josh Allen
Allen has put on otherworldly performances in the postseason, and it’s something that the Bills Mafia hopes will continue in the upcoming playoff run. Among quarterbacks who have had five or more starts in the playtoffs, Allen is first in yards per game (272.3), first in touchdowns per game (2.1), first in touchdowns to interception ration (23:4), tied for first in games with 135+ passer rating (three), most rushing yards ever by a quarterback (609) and sixth in interception percentage. When the bright lights of the playoffs shine, Allen historically plays his best football.
That’s not to say that there isn’t pressure resting on Allen’s shoulders for the contest; it would be ignorant to assume otherwise. But to claim that because other teams missed the postseason, that now all of a sudden Allen has no excuses to win a Super Bowl is beyond naive.
It’s a team sport, and more often than not throughout Allen’s career, it’s been the team that has let him down in the playoffs, not his individual performances.
Josh Allen has already done his part in the postseason. Time and time again, he’s elevated his play when it matters most, often despite the circumstances around him.
So if the Bills don’t finish the job, spare the lazy “no excuses” takes. Allen has already shown who he is in January. Whether that’s enough has always depended on the team around him.
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Josh Allen gets candid about his play and identifies what must change for the Bills to reach true Super Bowl contention
You don’t hear this everyday from the reigning MVP.
