The reigning NFL MVP had just enough magic on tap to take down the New Orleans Saints in Week 4
The Buffalo Bills’ 31-19 win over the New Orleans Saints was anything but pretty. I wouldn’t even call it comfortable. Quarterback Josh Allen threw his first interception of the season (and nearly a second), took three sacks, and looked off-balance behind an offensive line that was sorely missing Spencer Brown. But Allen is still the reigning MVP, the best player in the NFL, and the reason the Bills will end up on top of the AFC East again this season.
But maybe we expect perfection, more so — we expect crazy, insane, spectacular play from the man who has single-handedly brought life back to the franchise. Because even in an “ugly” win, Allen was better than average.
To start, Allen led the Bills to yet another touchdown on their first possession. Buffalo is the only team in the league to have tallied an opening-drive touchdown in every game this season.
Allen’s first-quarter performance was easily his best of the game. He threw for more than 100 yards in those 15 minutes alone (a good thing as he only tallied another 100 yards total over the next three quarters). That is the 16th time in his career that Allen’s thrown for 100 or more yards in the opening quarter of a game. After Sunday’s win, the Bills are 15-1 when Allen has that much success early in the game.
When Allen pump-faked a pass to James Cook and then used his legs to charge into the end zone from five yards out, he moved up a line in the Bills’ franchise record books. Allen’s score was his 70th scrimmage touchdown, putting him ahead of O.J. Simpson for the third-most in team history. Allen trails just Andre Reed and Thurman Thomas, who each have 87. Since Allen has scored double digit rushing touchdowns in each of the last two years, it’s very reasonable to think he may take over that record sometime in 2026.
That same touchdown tied him with quarterback Cam Newton in the NFL record books. Allen (and Newton) has 45 games in which he has scored a both a passing and a rushing touchdown. That’s the most in the NFL, all time. The countdown to 46 and sole possession of the record is officially on.
So, yes, we didn’t see many superhuman plays by Allen (there was that crazy angry 27-yard run in the fourth quarter), but even an “average” Allen is still heads above the majority of the league. Allen’s average play is what we used to dream of. Enjoy it Bills Mafia. You have a great quarterback.
Category: General Sports
