ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. — Thurman Thomas, a Hall of Fame running back for the Buffalo Bills, expresses no surprise at the spotlight quarterback Josh Allen is receiving as he vies for the NFL MVP title this season. However, he is somewhat perplexed by the delayed acknowledgment from others regarding Allen’s talent.
In a message sent on Monday, Thomas reflected, “I believe this should have been recognized in the last couple of years. To see him in Year 7 continuing to improve is astounding. It’s awesome to watch him achieve ‘firsts’ in the league.” The running back was specifically highlighting Allen’s impressive performance in a game against the Los Angeles Rams, where he made history by becoming the first player in the Super Bowl era to record three touchdown passes and three rushing touchdowns in a single game, despite the Bills ultimately losing 44-42.
Most recently, Allen set another milestone during a thrilling 48-42 victory against the Detroit Lions. He became the first player in NFL history to throw at least two touchdown passes and rush for two scores in consecutive games, achieving this extraordinary feat three times within the same season. Thomas had previously predicted Allen would be an MVP contender back in September 2020 and anticipated that the quarterback would surpass the passing and scoring records of Hall of Famer Jim Kelly, his former teammate.
So far, Allen has shattered many of Kelly’s single-season records and is nearing his career totals. Thomas admires how much joy Allen seems to be experiencing on the field this year. This newfound enjoyment may stem from Allen’s recent engagement to actress Hailee Steinfeld, his emerging leadership on the team, or simply a result of growing maturity. The 28-year-old appears to be playing with a sense of freedom.
That freedom is translating into a thrilling season for the Bills, who currently boast an 11-3 record and have secured their fifth consecutive AFC East title. They still maintain hope for clinching the top seed in the AFC, which is currently held by the Kansas City Chiefs. Buffalo has recently navigated a challenging portion of its schedule successfully, defeating the Chiefs, routing the San Francisco 49ers 35-10, and overcoming the leading NFC Lions. The only blemish came from the earlier game against the Rams, where Allen nearly staged a comeback from a 17-point deficit.
While the Bills’ defense may need improvement and additional players to reinstate health, the offense led by Allen continues to demonstrate its ability to carry the team. Cornerback Taron Johnson praised Allen, declaring, “Josh is the best player in the league, and having him is special; I genuinely feel he’s unstoppable.” Johnson’s enthusiasm came after an impressive performance where the Bills scored on eight of ten drives and amassed 559 offensive yards—totaling the fifth-highest in the team’s history.
Head coach Sean McDermott is equally enthusiastic about Allen’s consistent success, as the quarterback has only thrown five interceptions this season. “We’re witnessing an incredible player maintain remarkable consistency week after week, and I’ll let you all finish the sentence,” McDermott stated, remaining coy but hinting strongly at Allen’s MVP prospects.
In terms of the Bills’ current strengths, the running game has seen significant improvement. Following a tough loss to the Rams, McDermott emphasized the need for a more balanced offense, resulting in James Cook finishing with 105 rushing yards and two touchdowns.
However, the pass defense remains a concern for the Bills. Their secondary allowed the most yards passing against Jared Goff. The lack of key players in the defensive backfield contributed to this, while Detroit had to rely heavily on passing to catch up throughout the game.
Among positive developments, Ty Johnson stood out as a leading receiver with 114 yards, offering the Bills’ offense an extra layer of threat alongside returning rookie receiver Keon Coleman and tight end Dalton Kincaid. Conversely, kicker Tyler Bass faced scrutiny again after he missed a 24-yard field goal attempt even though he managed to make longer kicks later in the game.
Injury updates showed linebacker Matt Milano sidelined with a groin issue after another game following a substantial time out, while teammate Curtis Samuel also exited with a shoulder injury. Additionally, the team was missing starting safeties Taylor Rapp and Damar Hamlin, in addition to cornerback Rasul Douglas.
A noteworthy statistic reflects the Bills’ offensive prowess; they have become the fifth team in NFL history, and the first since Denver in 2013, to score 30 or more points in eight consecutive games.
Looking ahead, the Bills have upcoming matchups against division rivals New England twice within the next three weeks, sandwiched by a home game against the Jets.