Allen’s success is a byproduct of the Bills stout defense
Josh Allen is a 24-year-old quarterback that is developing. The notion that he is carrying the Bills to success in a broad-shouldered manner is severely misleading.
Since Allen joined the team last season, Buffalo has surrendered the fewest yards to opponents in the NFL. In this regard, they are the league’s best defensive team. They have also allowed just 19.8 points per game since 2018, and this is the fourth-best in the business.
The Bills defense is damn good. Meanwhile, Buffalo’s offense ranks 28th in total yards and the 30th in points scored since Allen arrived two seasons ago.
It’s therefore absurd to offer a repeated pat-on-the-back to Allen when the defense is indisputably carrying the enterprise. Both ideas can be true. Allen is a decent, developing quarterback, but the defense is the entity that should have its accolades scripted on the marquee.
In Kirk Cousins’ first two seasons a starter with the Washington Football Team, the team’s defense ranked 26th in yards allowed and 21st in points allowed. We’re talking night-and-day stuff here. Conversely, Washington’s offense ranked sixth in total yards and ninth in points scored.
Cousins was adversely affected by a porous defense despite a relatively high-octane offense. Allen is outwardly benefited by an elite defense despite a lackluster offense, which he has led.