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Josh Allen has emerged from the shadows, showing remarkable prowess on the field. The Buffalo Bills’ star quarterback reignited the passion of teammates and fans alike with a triumphant performance on Sunday, reminiscent of the song “Mr. Brightside.”
If fate favors Allen, he may well be lifting the Lombardi Trophy in New Orleans come season’s end. The Bills took a significant stride towards that aspiration with a victory over the Kansas City Chiefs, winning 30-21 and putting a halt to the Chiefs’ aspiration for an unbeaten season.
In this game, Allen threw for 262 yards and completed a touchdown pass while also rushing for 55 yards, which included a crucial 26-yard run on a fourth-and-2 play with just over two minutes remaining.
“The Josh Allen experience at this level has been remarkable,” declared Bills wide receiver Amari Cooper, who recently joined the team following a trade with Cleveland. “He’s an incredible player – the old saying goes, big-time players make big-time plays in moments that matter, and that’s precisely what he did.”
This performance only solidified Allen’s case for the MVP award in a season that didn’t initially feature much excitement around the Bills. After struggling in the playoffs the previous year and losing significant players in the offseason, they were largely written off. Oddsmakers even favored Aaron Rodgers and the New York Jets to secure the AFC East title. However, with a current record of 9-2, the Bills are on track for their fifth consecutive division championship, while the Jets sit at 3-8.
Allen has dealt with skepticism throughout his career, dismissing his designation as the most overrated player per a preseason ESPN poll of anonymous NFL players. He has continued to make critics eat their words with consistent, impressive performances throughout the season. However, Allen doesn’t view this as a revenge arc; he has long played with a chip on his shoulder after facing adversity early in his journey, including a lack of scholarship offers in high school and only one opportunity from the University of Wyoming after junior college.
“The league has its stars, and he’s definitely one of them,” Cooper mentioned. “He’s an exceptional talent, and some players are simply made to excel in this sport. My time here has been joyous since we’ve been winning consistently.”
For Allen and the Bills, this particular game held greater significance compared to the Chiefs and their star quarterback Patrick Mahomes. The Bills have now claimed four consecutive regular-season victories against Kansas City. Yet, it’s worth noting that Mahomes has triumphed over Allen in all three playoff matchups, which includes a victory last January during the divisional round.
Both Allen and coach Sean McDermott chose to temper the excitement surrounding the win. “This just brings us to nine wins,” Allen reflected. “I realize a lot of attention is on this game and its implications for both fan bases and the league, but it’s just Week 11.”
McDermott likewise resisted calling it a defining moment. “This is not the end point,” he stated. He is correct; the Bills are still in pursuit of their first Super Bowl title, and anything less will not suffice.
Similarly, Lamar Jackson of the Baltimore Ravens has experienced regular-season triumphs but continued to face frustration in the postseason. The Ravens’ journey toward a championship hit a snag with an 18-16 defeat against the Pittsburgh Steelers. Russell Wilson moved to 4-0 as the Steelers’ starting quarterback, helping Pittsburgh (8-2) gain control of the AFC North, now boasting four consecutive wins over Baltimore (7-4).
Jackson, the reigning league MVP, struggled once again against Pittsburgh. He encountered his most challenging game of the season, ending an impressive streak of eight straight contests with a passer rating exceeding 100.
“They simply shut me down,” stated Jackson, providing no insight into why Pittsburgh’s robust defense poses such a challenge. “They performed well.”
The Steelers’ triumph, coupled with the Chiefs’ defeat, places them in contention for the top seed in the AFC, while a close battle is brewing for the NFC’s lead between the Detroit Lions (9-1) and the Philadelphia Eagles (8-2).
With seven weeks remaining in the season, there’s still much to unfold.