Buffalo Bills QB Josh Allen primed for major setback in 2024 according to ESPN analyst
2024 represents a season of change for the Buffalo Bills and it doesn't come in the form of overall expectations, as Josh Allen and co. are among Vegas' top-5 favorites to win the Super Bowl.It's in the form of the Bills' current roster, which saw numerous veterans depart via release or another suitor in free […]
2024 represents a season of change for the Buffalo Bills and it doesn't come in the form of overall expectations, as Josh Allen and co. are among Vegas' top-5 favorites to win the Super Bowl.
It's in the form of the Bills' current roster, which saw numerous veterans depart via release or another suitor in free agency over the last couple of months. The most notable name, in particular, was Pro Bowl wideout, Stefon Diggs.
One can even say part of the change harkens back to the later portions of last year, when the Bills started to utilize -and lean on- an effective running game. At this point, especially after the Diggs trade, it's easy to see why the Bills offense could look a lot different.
ESPN analyst Mike Clay projects the Bills' changes to impact Allen the most. In 2024, Allen is projected to complete 66% of his passes for 3,701 yards, 23 touchdowns and 12 interceptions over 15 games.
The yards and touchdowns would represent a massive step back from the Allen we've seen since the 2020 season. That guy has averaged 34 passing touchdowns and 4,385 passing yards over the last four seasons – all four years have eclipsed 4,000 yards in a single season and 2023 was the only year in which Allen didn't throw 30+ touchdowns over that span (he threw 29).
If Allen's season does go this way, it'll be his lowest marks -in terms of yards and passing touchdowns- since he became a full-time starter in 2019.
But it's easy to see why Allen's numbers are projected to be as low as they are: We don't truly know how he'll play post-Diggs (as well as Gabriel Davis) and the Bills are going to run the ball more now that James Cook has established himself as the main guy.
But at the same time, there's definitely a world in which Allen eclipses 30+ passing touchdowns in 2024. Don't completely count out the Bills' receiving corps. Curtis Samuel, one of the free agent additions, had the best year of his career under Joe Brady in 2020 and is a versatile weapon that can be used in a variety of ways. Marquez Valdes-Scantling is a big play waiting to happen if he can hold onto the damn ball and Khalil Shakir has shown plenty of flashes out of the slot. There's also rookie Keon Coleman in the mix.
The tight end duo of Dawson Knox and Dalton Kincaid provides Allen with playmakers down the seam and over the middle of the field. Add that in with Cook's receiving abilities out of the backfield and even Ty Johnson's and Darrynton Evans' and it's clear Allen has weapons at his disposal.
And, last but not least, the Bills finished 2023 sixth in red zone scoring efficiency. Meaning, they know how to score touchdowns in the money area, which only bodes well for Allen's overall numbers.
Yes, the Bills offense will look a lot different in 2024, but it would honestly be a bit of a surprise if Allen's final stats look like this when it's all said and done.
