Josh Allen steps apart, and Payments are extra harmful for it

Henry McKenna

AFC East Reporter

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — This wasn’t an announcement recreation from Josh Allen. This was an announcement recreation from offensive coordinator Ken Dorsey. The Buffalo Payments lastly allowed Allen a second to chill out — one thing they’d struggled to take action far this season.

Outdoors of the Payments’ 24-10 win over the New England Patriots on Thursday night time, Allen has needed to do every thing for his staff. He has thrown them on his again, for higher and for worse.

However not in Week 13. He didn’t should recreate his sensational efficiency from the playoffs when he trounced Invoice Belichick’s Patriots.

"Josh is a man that might and does carry this staff," operating again Devin Singletary advised FOX Sports activities after the sport. "We positively let him know, like, ‘Bro, you’re not right here alone. We have you. We need to win as unhealthy as you, so allow us to provide help to in any manner we will, simply take a few of this stress off you, so you do not have to play hero ball.'"

It was fascinating to see the Payments go away from Allen on this recreation — and towards Belichick, who is legendary for taking away the factor he anticipates hurting his protection probably the most. Belichick took away Allen’s mobility. The quarterback had led the staff in speeding on seven of its 11 outings, with numerous essential first downs and touchdowns alongside the best way. So Belichick compelled Allen to sit down within the pocket and beat him together with his arm. That’s what Allen did for the primary quarter, with a pair of landing passes within the first 20 minutes.

It wasn’t like Allen was boring — or common. Within the 20 minutes when the Payments let Allen prepare dinner, he did Josh Allen issues. There was a push move on the opening drive, when Allen appeared like he was impersonating Brett Favre. Allen scrambled and tossed the ball ahead to Nyheim Hines for a modest acquire — but it surely was the type of how-did-he-do-that play that makes Allen a lot enjoyable to observe.

After which there was the stiff-arm to landing move. From the 8-yard line, Allen scrambled and fended off linebacker Mack Wilson, who had fired off the left facet of the offensive line for what appeared like an apparent sack. Allen pushed Wilson to the bottom and set his ft in bounds earlier than floating the ball to Stefon Diggs.

"That is a part of who he's," coach Sean McDermott mentioned postgame when requested in regards to the TD throw to Diggs. "You recognize, the underside line is you'll be able to't put the ball in hassle, in peril. I believed that was a well-calculated throw. It was open and he bought it to him. You by no means take away Josh's instincts and his intestine really feel. He is bought an ideal really feel for issues."

After that, the Payments let Allen chill. On this night time, he didn’t must do every thing, and so they did not should stay or die in his chaos. 

As a substitute, Buffalo's first-year OC referred to as 37 run performs and 35 move performs.

"Coach Dorsey did a very good job of fixing it up," McDermott mentioned. "When the run is working prefer it was at occasions, simply having the ability to keep it up, and generally it wasn't, however it may occur like that, and simply having the ability to keep it up, I believed he was very affected person in that regard."

It suited the Payments in quite a lot of methods. To start with, Allen is nursing an elbow damage (UCL) that's clearly impacting his play. He received’t admit it. McDermott received’t admit it. However for those who have a look at the movie, you see him making extra errors. His timing is off. He’s short-arming passes. He’s not himself. He wants relaxation, however he received’t take the time away, as a result of his staff wants him a lot. That’s what made this sort of night time a delight for Buffalo.

Allen was 22-of-33 for 223 yards and two touchdowns. He ran eight occasions for simply 20 yards. In the meantime, James Cook dinner had 14 carries for 64 yards and Singletary had 13 rushes for 51 yards and a landing. 

"The massive guys up entrance [on the offensive line], they was shifting — they was shifting guys," Singletary mentioned. 

It wasn’t a superb speeding efficiency, but it surely was an environment friendly one.

It was so environment friendly that I had a mind-numbing revelation at first of the fourth quarter.

The Payments stepped as much as the road of scrimmage on third-and-1 from the 1-yard line. Pats followers have been cheering at Gillette Stadium, however they appeared to lack some luster. And whereas — on paper — the play was a massively consequential one, there was additionally a way of hopelessness for New England. The play didn’t really feel necessary. Its offense couldn’t transfer the ball, not to mention rating. So what did it matter if the Payments scored on this third-and-1? As a result of Buffalo already had a 10-point lead. A secure lead. The Patriots didn’t appear able to scoring anymore. (They did rating three extra factors in rubbish time.)

And the Payments did rating a landing with Singletary on that third-down play. They constructed their comfy lead within the recreation and, when it lastly ended, have been again on prime within the AFC East. 

Buffalo's protection deserves as a lot credit score for what transpired in Foxborough — and for assuaging Allen — as the bottom recreation. The Pats completed 3-of-12 on third down. Offensive assistant Matt Patricia had his worst night time as a playcaller, one that can have sports activities radio present hosts calling for his job for the subsequent 10 days. Mac Jones had his worst night time as a signal-caller, one that can have followers calling for Bailey Zappe, who supplied a spark to the offense (albeit towards lesser defenses) in October. New England merely had no reply to beating the Payments' protection, which was with out arguably its finest participant, Von Miller.

How did the Payments exacerbate the Patriots' issues?

"Truthfully, we did not do something completely different," defensive finish A.J. Epenesa advised FOX Sports activities after the sport. "We did not do our blitzes. We did not do something extraordinary. We simply type of did what we do. … We consider in males and never schemes. And males win video games."

It's feeling an increasing number of doubtless that the Patriots (6-6) end on the backside of the division. However Thursday additionally confirmed what the Payments (9-3) can do towards a middling staff — they will let their MVP relaxation. They will use their excellent roster depth to grind away at a lesser opponent. That is to not say the Payments couldn’t use Odell Beckham Jr. They completely may, and I feel they will do what they will to pitch him throughout his go to this weekend. However Buffalo didn’t want Beckham or Miller — or Allen’s Beast Mode. The Payments performed good protection. They ran the ball effectively. They let Allen chill and pummeled the Patriots.

All of which proved but once more the AFC East is not Invoice Belichick's. It’s the Payments’.

High tales from FOX Sports activities:

Previous to becoming a member of FOX Sports activities because the AFC East reporter, Henry McKenna spent seven years overlaying the Patriots for USA TODAY Sports activities Media Group and Boston Globe Media. Comply with him on Twitter at @McKennAnalysis.

Get extra from Nationwide Soccer League Comply with your favorites to get details about video games, information and extra