There is a new sheriff in town, ready to dominate the AFC East for the next decade, and his name is Josh Allen. For a long time, the Buffalo Bills were the felony of the division, which were only surpassed by the New York Jets most years. But even the humble Jets managed to play in consecutive AFC championship games during the Brady-Belichick era, which spanned two decades.
Before written by Josh Allen in 2018, the Bills only had one playoff appearance in the 21st century. Last year Allen led the Bills in his first AFC championship game since 93. In Allen’s rookie year, he won five games, and the team only won six in total. With Allen as a full-time starter in the second year, the Bills achieved a 10-win season and a bed for the playoffs. The third year was 13 wins, a division title and the AFC championship game.
Allen’s stats have improved so much from season to season that he finished second in the MVP vote last year behind triple winner Aaron Rodgers. A distant second, yes, but this kind of growth of a player that many were willing to give up after a disappointing rookie campaign is quite a success. I think Allen achieves elite NFL quarterback status this year winning his first MVP award in the league.
Last season Allen went 37 touchdowns and 4,544 yards. In his first two years, Allen threw 30 combined TDs and 5,163 yards. Their passenger statistics have improved in almost every significant category. Yards, yards per game, yards per attempt, first downs, completion percentage, total quarterback (QBR) rating, passer rating, and could go on. Call it a statistic, and so far Allen has improved it every year of his career.
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He has also demonstrated the ability to beat defenses with his legs. In his first two years, Allen rushed to get 17 TDs, which is the second most important of all time for a QB behind Cam Newton (22). While Allen spent more of the ball in the third year, he still got eight running TDs and 421 yards on the ground, which is the lowest of his career.
Allen is the best QB in his division by a wide margin. Buffalo dominated the AFC East in 2020, sweeping the division, and Allen played a huge role throwing 13 TDs to just 2 INTs in 6 division games. About 40% of Allen’s passing gardens (1,732) came against the division last year. I just see that his dominance over the division continues this season and into the future.
Another major contributor to Allen’s possible MVP season is the addition of an elite receiver abroad. Stefon Diggs had the best season of her career taking steps from Allen. Seeing the tandem, it looked like they had been playing together for years, not a few months. Diggs caught 127 balls and 8 TDs his first year with Allen and the Bills. Most Diggs statistics increased significantly in the same way that Allen did. Allen and Diggs won their first pro bowl selections, and Diggs was named All-Pro for the first time.
There is no reason to think that this duo will not continue to be one factor in the East and the AFC in general. I still don’t see the Super Bowl for the Bills, but I do see Allen continuing to dominate on an individual level as the team continues to progressively move toward that end goal. Josh Allen should be favored to win the MVP award this year, and I won’t be surprised at all when I do.