Josh Allen is playing the best football of his career, leading the Buffalo Bills to another division title. His team is 11-3 heading into Week 16 and still has a chance to finish with the best record in the AFC.
The Bills have played well in the regular season since Allen’s second year in the league, but they will not get the respect they deserve until they go on a deep playoff run.
NFL analyst Pete Prisco recently pointed out that Allen now has to finally stop the Kansas City Chiefs from making the Super Bowl. He also used the Bills’ star in an analogy involving NBA legends.
Pete Prisco Compares Josh Allen to Charles Barkley and Karl Malone
Prisco talked about how Allen is in the same boat as Charles Barkley and Karl Malone were during the Michael Jordan era. He referred to Patrick Mahomes as the Jordan of the NFL, as the Chiefs quarterback is 3-0 against the Bills in the playoffs.
“But I think when you look at it, if he [Allen] wins out, puts up good numbers, he’s the MVP,” said Prisco. “But you’re right, it’s time for Josh Allen and the Buffalo Bills to quit being Charles Barkley and Sean Kemp and Karl Malone and John Stockton to Michael Jordan. It’s time to beat Michael Jordan, and Michael Jordan is Patrick Mahomes. It’s time for Josh Allen and the Buffalo Bills to go beat Michael Jordan.”
"It's time to beat Michael Jordan."@PriscoCBS says it's time for Josh Allen and the Bills to defeat Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs in the playoffs. pic.twitter.com/MPHf1bZuik
— NFL on CBS 🏈 (@NFLonCBS) December 18, 2024
Allen is 4-1 against Mahomes and the Chiefs in regular-season games, and the Bills also defeated Kansas City earlier this year. However, none of that matters, as Mahomes has always led his team to wins when it matters the most.
The Bills quarterback is one of the best talents the league has ever seen, but he desperately needs to win playoff games against elite quarterbacks. Allen is 0-4 in the postseason against Joe Burrow and Mahomes, and if he fails to beat either the Lamar Jackson-led Baltimore Ravens or the Chiefs this season, the Bills’ allure could take a hit.
Buffalo has the league’s second-best scoring offense, along with a defense that is allowing 22.1 points per game. The AFC East team doesn’t have star players like Stefon Diggs, Jordan Poyer, and Micah Hyde on the team, but this is the best they have ever looked in the Allen era.
They have no reason not to go on a deep playoff run. The Chiefs are vulnerable and can be beaten, but you could argue that was the case last season, yet the Bills lost at home. So, it will be fascinating to see if Allen can finally get past the Chiefs in the playoffs to make his first Super Bowl.
Allen Has a Clear Path to His First MVP Award
Allen became the runaway favorite to win the MVP award after the Bills’ 48-42 win against the Detroit Lions in Week 15.
Based on their remaining gamees, Buffalo could easily win all their games, and their superstar quarterback has likely secured the first MVP award of his career.
Here are the Bills remaining matchups:
- Week 16: vs. New England Patriots
- Week 17: vs. New York Jets
- Week 18: at New England Patriots
Allen has thrown for 3,395 yards, 25 touchdowns, and five interceptions in 14 games this season, completing 64.4% of his throws and a passer rating of 103.5. He has also rushed for 484 yards and 11 touchdowns, averaging 5.3 yards per carry.
This is not the best statistical season of Allen’s career, but his recent play is some of his best work ever. It’s a remarkable achievement that he has thrown just five interceptions this year.
The 28-year-old quarterback’s significant reduction in turnovers has helped the Bills become one of the best teams in the NFL despite losing several key players in the offseason.
Allen deserves to win the MVP, but he needs to make it count in the playoffs.
