Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen listens to reporter's questions following an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 22, 2023, in Foxborough, Mass. The Patriots defeated the Bills 29-25. (AP Photo/Winslow Townson)
Josh Allen, the quarterback for the Buffalo Bills, has passed for 371 yards in two games this season, which is the fewest since his rookie campaign.
The Bills are tied for the second-fewest passing attempts in the NFL with 59 runs this season, 17 more plays than Allen’s 42 throw attempts.
New York’s ORCHARD PARK (AP) — Josh Allen, the quarterback for the Buffalo Bills, offered an explanation on Tuesday after many had weighed in on why the team’s offense has been so slow of late. Everything and everyone was being blamed, from jet lag to coordinator Ken Dorsey.
Perhaps that is him.
After a disappointing season opener and dominating performance in Week 2, Allen disclosed that he had taken the deliberate choice last month to control his emotions. Referring to it as “low positive,” the quarterback questioned if he had done so too much.
Allen remarked, “I feel like I perform better when I can stay as low as possible during the game, so I’ve been trying to find that zone.”
“I felt like I could think a little bit more if I could limit myself and my energy and my heart rate,” he continued. “But who knows? Maybe I should play football and stop worrying so much.”
Allen believes a change of pace might be necessary, even if he has no intention of going back to his careless, defender-hurdling, and squeezing passes into double coverage ways.
As Buffalo (4-3) gets ready to visit the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (3-3) on Thursday night, he said, “Maybe I’ve got to be more upbeat and be a voice a little bit more loud — let my emotions show a little more.” Buffalo has a short week to prepare.
Buffalo is in dire need of a spark, especially given its slow-starting offense, which has allowed opponents to score 10 points in the first half of its last three games, the most recent of which was a 29-25 loss to New England.
The Bills are 1-2 over that period, with two victories—a 14-9 victory over the New York Giants and a 25-20 loss to Jacksonville at London’s Tottenham Hotspur Stadium—and are wondering at the halfway point of the season if their window of chance to win the AFC East is narrowing.
Buffalo is in dire need of a spark, especially given its slow-starting offense, which has allowed opponents to score 10 points in the first half of its last three games, the most recent of which was a 29-25 loss to New England.
The Bills are 1-2 over that period, with two victories—a 14-9 victory over the New York Giants and a 25-20 loss to Jacksonville at London’s Tottenham Hotspur Stadium—and are wondering at the halfway point of the season if their window of chance to win the AFC East is narrowing.
The odd thing is that the offensive funk struck right after the Bills had won three straight games, the last of which saw them defeat division rival Miami 48-20 and outscore their opponents 123-33 overall.
Coach Sean McDermott said that the team has to go back to controlling the game instead of just responding to events that occur during it, and he put the burden on everyone, even himself.
As the spotlight on Dorsey grew, he brushed off a question about whether his offense was in danger. And he rejected sharing insight on what’s gone wrong and what actions he can take to boost its performance, whether it’s mixing tempos to keep defenses off balance or having Allen attack the middle of the field more often.
Allen has tried just six throws over the middle in the first half of Buffalo’s last two games; four of those passes have been completed, one of which was canceled by a penalty, and the other two have resulted in an interception and an incompletion.
Receiver Stefon Diggs stated that having some success on opening drives is one method to gain momentum.
“You know what I mean when I say that us in a rhythm is scary? Diggs stated, “Once we start, we don’t stop.” “We simply must move forward.”
The Bills’ season has started slowly. Buffalo’s initial drives have totaled 11 yards on seven plays over the last three games; last Sunday, they resulted in two punts and a first-snap interception.
In its last three fourth quarters, Buffalo has improved significantly, scoring a total of 42 points in rallies. However, the only victory came from Buffalo’s defense stopping the Giants at the 1 on an ill-timed play.
A defense that is already missing three players due to injuries has been put under pressure by the early-game problems and is still working to get edge rusher Von Miller back. The offensive players are also becoming frustrated, which affects subsequent possessions.
“It is annoying not to be able to score. Receivers Gabe Davis stated, “So the fun isn’t there when you’re not doing what you work all week to do.” “All we have to do is start moving the ball and keep things simple. There is no ceiling if we just do what we know how to do.
The restoration of QB “Fun-Time” could also be beneficial.
Perhaps. Perhaps. Allen stated, “I really enjoy playing this game,” but he also stressed the importance of striking the correct balance. It’s a very fine line. Once more, though, this team looks to the captains. They turn to face the quarterback. I have more work to do. That’s my intended course of action.
NOTES: To clear nearly $4 million in salary cap space, the Bills renegotiated the deal of LT Dion Dawkins. Buffalo had almost run out of salary space to add players and replenish injury-ravaged slots on its active roster, so the move was necessary. TE The most recent player to lose a game is Dalton Knox. He was supposed to have surgery on Tuesday, but his wrist injury has kept him out of commission indefinitely.
