Just when it looked like Josh Allen was slowly fading from the MVP conversation, bam, he bounced right back into it with a history-making performance in a head-to-head battle against what many believe to be the frontrunner.
It wasn’t just that he out-duelled Russell Wilson in the Buffalo Bills statement-making 44-34 victory over the Seattle Seahawks. Or that, after failing to throw a touchdown pass in two games, Allen pitched three of them and ran in for a fourth score, while completing 31-of-38 passes for a career-high tying 415 yards, no interceptions and a 138.5 passer rating.
According to NFL Research, he became the first quarterback in the Super Bowl era with multiple games of 400-plus passing yards, three-plus passing TDs, zero picks and a passer rating of at least 130 in the same season.
The only other players to hit for that cycle once in a year are some guys named Tom Brady, Peyton Manning, Drew Brees, Aaron Rodgers and Patrick Mahomes.
Wilson had a decent day, too, although he did make a couple of mistakes. Along with his 28-of-41 for 390 yards, two TDs and a 94.6 passer rating were a couple of interceptions. He was also sacked five times.
Allen showed his physical toughness by not throwing any balls into enemy hands despite getting sacked seven times.
And he showed his fortitude just stepping on the field.
“Josh is emotional … as you probably heard, he lost his grandmother last night,” said Bills coach Sean McDermott. “It was a big win and a great thing for him to play like he played. Just a mentally tough young man.”
McDermott also said Allen “played a heckuva game,” adding that “he was under pressure at times, he was able to escape, he was smart with the football.
“He got it where he needed to get it.”
What the coach didn’t point out is that the Seahawks entered the day with the worst pass defence in the NFL. That Seattle was the only team in the NFC that had just a single loss entering Week 9 is testament to how good Wilson has played.
“So out of character across the board,” Seahawks coach Pete Carroll said after watching his ‘D’ give up more points that it ever has under his decade-long watch. “I don’t even recognize us.”
The Seahawks did render Buffalo’s running game useless. The Bills top rusher was rookie Zack Morris, who had nine carries for 18 yards, while Allen was next with seven carries for 14 yards.
Meanwhile, Allen has turned Stefon Diggs into the league’s most prolific receiver. After a nine-catch, 118-yard day, the former Minnesota Viking tops the NFL in grabs (63) and real estate covered (813 yards) through the air.
After back-to-back losses in Weeks 5 and 6, the Bills have rattled off three wins in a row and, along with having a two game lead over the surprising Dolphins in the AFC East, are again in the discussion of top teams in the conference.
“We did a really good job preparing for a really good team,” Allen said in a FOX interview right after the game. “Crazy thing is we left a lot out there on the bone and we know that.
“But it was a great win for the Bills tonight. Bills Mafia, we’re rocking.”
With a quarterback who’s playing lead as well or better than any.
MORE RECORD BREAKERS
Mahomes threw the 100th TD pass of his career in his 40th game, becoming the fastest player to reach that mark in NFL history. Dan Marino was the previous record holder with 100 TD passes in 44 games …
The Baltimore Ravens set an NFL record with their 31st consecutive game with 20 or more points. Not coincidentally, the record began Nov. 11, 2018, when Lamar Jackson replaced Joe Flacco as the starting quarterback. The previous record of 30 straight games of 20 or more points was held by the 2012-14 Broncos.
CLOSE CALL
The Pittsburgh Steelers almost had their unbeaten streak halted by an unlikely opponent, but ultimately set a franchise record for best start to a season by going 8-0 and allowing many a Survivor Pool participants to play another day with a 24-19 victory over the Dallas Cowboys (2-7). The story of the game was Garrett Gilbert, the Cowboys fourth quarterback of the season. A 29-year old who has been in the league off and on since 2014 but had never before started a game, Gilbert completed 21-of-38 for 243 yards, with one touchdown pass and an interception. He also ran the ball three times for 28 yards …
When Gilbert hit CeeDee Lamb with a 20-yard scoring pass 7:45 into the second quarter, it ended a drought of 25 offensive series without a touchdown for the Cowboys …
Dallas had not scored more than 10 points since a 37-34 win over the Giants in Week 5 … While his numbers aren’t great, Gilbert had the Cowboys in the game until the end. In fact, for the second week in a row the Steelers needed to knock down a pass in the end zone on the final play to preserve the victory.
CANADIAN CONTRIBUTORS
Ottawa’s Neville Gallimore had his best game as a Dallas Cowboy with three tackles, including one solo, along with one tackle for a loss and a quarterback hit. “Gallimore is having an outstanding day,” praised CBS analyst Tony Romo early in the second quarter, and again with similar words a couple of times in the first half …
Gallimore’s hit on Ben Roethlisberger in the second quarter sent the Steelers QB limping to the locker room before halftime. Roethlisberger returned, as he usually does. “I’ll be fine,” Big Ben said when asked about the knee after the game …
Romo and his play-by-play partner Jim Nantz did get Gallimore’s position wrong. “I have him in the fourth round,” said Nantz, when asked by Romo when Gallimore was picked. For the record, the former Oklahoma Sooner went in the third round (82nd overall) …
In a showdown of Canadians, Abbotsford B.C.’s Chase Claypool had a busy day. He was targeted 13 times, more than any receiver in the game, and caught eight passes for 69 yards. He also ran the ball once for four yards …
Bears DL Brent Urban (Mississauga) had three tackles, including two solos, as well as a quarterback hit.
TOUGH TO BEAR
After a 5-1 start, the Bears lost their third game in a row in a 24-17 final against Tennessee that, with two garbage time touchdowns, very much flattered Chicago. Blame can be pointed at the offensive line, which had three starters out with injuries and three backups on the reserve/COVID-19 list. But the O-Line was never a strength anyway. The play calling of head coach Matt Nagy is baffling, to say the least. The Bears converted just 2-of-15 third down attempt against a Titans team that entered the week with the league’s worst third-down defence. The Titans have had a difficult time stopping the run before meeting up with the Bears, who had 56 yards along the ground ….
Nick Foles, a 31-year old with the mobility of a 51-year old, was under pressure all day. He did complete 36-of-52 passes for 335 yards and two touchdowns in the final five minutes. But here’s the stat of the day: It was the 84th 300-yard passing game in the Bears 101-year history. On Thursday, Aaron Rodgers had the 63rd 300 yard game in his 121/2 years as a starter for the Packers …
Entering the day only the New York Jets (44) had punted more often than the Bears (37), reported the Chicago Sun-Times Jason Lieser, who went the extra mile to inform us that the Bears (4,141), Eagles (4,111) and Giants (4,041) top the ‘most punts’ chart over the last 50 years. The Bears come by their great defence, crappy offence identity honestly …
“To be 5-4, it hurts,” said Nagy, who was named the 2018 coach of the year in his first season on the job after guiding the Bears to a 12-4 first-place finish after occupying the NFC North basement the 12 months earlier. If his job is now in jeopardy, so should Ryan Pace’s job as Bears GM.
THE COVID WATCH
Baker Mayfield was placed on the reserve/COVID 19 list by the Browns, who could take solace in the fact they’re on a bye week. According to NFL Media’s Mike Garafolo, Mayfield did not test positive but came into close contact with someone who did, and could be back with the team as soon as Wednesday …
The Dolphins were without five assistant coaches due to COVID-19 protocols for their game against the Cardinals …
DOWN AND OUT
In making his return from IR, Panthers super star RB Christian McCaffrey had 18 rushes for 69 yard and a touchdown plus 10 catches for 82 yards and a touchdown — or a typical McCaffrey day. He did appear to suffer a rib injury on the last drive, but Carolina coach Matt Rhule provided no update …
Washington QB Kyle Allen suffered a dislocated ankle in the first quarter. He was replaced by Alex Smith, whose career was put on hold after he suffered a serious leg injury in 2018. Smith, who will start at QB for the Football Team next week, completed 24-of-32 passes for 325 yards and a touchdown, but also tossed a couple of late interceptions in the 23-20 loss to the Giants …
Ravens DE Calais Campbell suffered a calf injury in the first quarter and did not return … Bears RB David Montgomery left the game early after suffering an apparent concussion …
Colts TE Jack Doyle was ruled out after suffering a concussion … Dolphins WR Preston Williams was carted off in the second quarter with a foot injury …
Texans RB David Johnson, whose career has been riddled with injuries, suffered a first-quarter concussion against the Jaguars that sidelined him for the rest of the day …
The Titans were without Jadeveon Clowney due to a knee injury that kept him from practising all week. A pass rusher who hasn’t had a sack in seven games this season, Clowney will be evaluated further to determine if he needs surgery on his meniscus.
EXTRA POINTS
Broncos first-round pick Jerry Jeudy had his first triple digit game, grabbing 7-of-14 targets for 125 yards, but Denver lost 34-27 to Atlanta ….
Acquired from the Chargers at the trade deadline earlier in the week, cornerback Desmond King II made fast friends with his new Titans teammates when he recovered a fumble and ran 63 yards to the end zone …
Kyler Murray had his first career double-triple, rushing for 106 yards along with his 283 passing yards in Arizona’s loss to the Dolphins. Lamar Jackson and Michael Vick are the career leaders in double-triples with eight, and Murray has what it takes to pile up a few more.
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