[
]
The Buffalo Bills secured their fifth consecutive AFC East title and clinched the No. 2 seed in the playoffs before facing the New England Patriots in Week 18. Quarterback Josh Allen, in the midst of his best season yet, entered the final regular-season game with 3,731 passing yards, 28 touchdowns, 531 rushing yards, and 12 rushing touchdowns. His MVP-worthy performance is undeniable. As Allen played through the game despite concerns about his health, he made NFL history but also faced criticism for exiting early.
Bills’ Strategy Questioned as Josh Allen’s Brief Patriots Appearance Spurs Debate
Josh Allen, the quarterback of the Buffalo Bills, made news on Sunday when he chose to play in the defeat against the New England Patriots. Most people thought that Allen would have to rest for playoffs. However, he ensured that his remarkable streak of consecutive starts continues: now it stands at 105 regular-season starts and 115 including the playoffs. This decision, however, drew mixed reactions from fans and commentators alike.
During the game, Allen led the Bills onto the field to start, only to exit shortly after, handing the ball off to running back James Cook before quickly making his way to the sidelines. This brief appearance was enough to extend his streak, but it left many questioning the rationale behind the decision. CBS Sports play-by-play announcer Spero Dedes summed it up succinctly, calling it a “quick day at the office” for Allen.
For the Bills, the game didn’t hold much significance as they had already secured the No. 2 seed in the AFC, and key starters were rested for the playoff push. Yet, the decision to feature Allen for a single play raised eyebrows, with some fans criticizing it as a “shameless” attempt to pad his consecutive start streak. One fan took to social media, saying, “Starting for one play is crazy,” while another quipped, “Lame… Should have to play an entire quarter.”
The criticism wasn’t limited to fans. Some argued that this move was an unnecessary play for a meaningless game. “You know who wouldn’t play 1 play to keep his consecutive starts record alive? Patrick Mahomes,” one fan stated, indirectly calling out Allen’s approach.
While Allen’s streak is undeniably impressive, it’s more than double that of the next closest quarterback, Jared Goff, who had 51 consecutive starts before the Sunday night game. Allen’s 115 consecutive starts now place him 13th on the all-time list for quarterbacks. To put things into perspective, the record for the most consecutive starts is held by Green Bay Packers legend Brett Favre, with an astonishing 294 starts, which includes the playoffs.
Also Read: “Going to mess this up”: NFL on Fox analyst Daryl Johnston channeled the inner fear of every Bears fan watching the game vs the Packers
Although the brief appearance has stirred controversy, it was just part of the Bills’ plan to make sure Allen would stay healthy and continue that run-all without risking injury before the playoffs. Allen is set for January 12 when the team opens NFL Wildcard action against the Denver Broncos, although he will surely turn his focus to a longer playoff run because he will be part of the competition for the 2024 NFL MVP against Lamar Jackson.
[
]
Source link