Josh Allen Faces Tough Reality as Bills QB While Sean McDermott Goes Against His Own Decision

Last night’s Baltimore Ravens versus Buffalo Bills game was an absolute thriller! The Bills, led by superstar quarterback Josh Allen, managed a stunning comeback to win 41-40. But, despite his heroics and the team’s victory, Allen faces a tough reality ahead as two former players pointed it out after the game.

The Ravens were in control for most of the second half, with Lamar Jackson, Derrick Henry, and Zay Flowers dominating Buffalo’s defense. At one point, they were up 40-25 late in the third quarter, and it looked like the game was theirs. But Josh Allen, the reigning MVP, wasn’t having it. He completely took over in the fourth quarter, scoring two rushing touchdowns and throwing another. But, the comeback also revealed the pressure on his shoulders for the season. 

During an episode of “Speakeasy,” former NFL players Emmanuel Acho and LeSean “Shady” McCoy had a heated discussion about whether the Buffalo Bills will ever win a championship. McCoy expressed some skepticism, arguing that unless quarterback Josh Allen is “dam- near perfect,” the Bills have a very slim chance of winning. 

The former player suggested that Allen was often “putting the cape on and saving” the Bills. This paints a picture of Allen completely pitted against other top quarterbacks in the league like Patrick Mahomes. 

It is not just that Allen has taken up the team’s burden on his shoulders, but the major concern here is the Bills team in itself, which isn’t giving Allen any room to slip up. McCoy thinks that Allen is largely unsupported when compared to the Mahomes, who has superstars like Travis Kelce and Tyreek Hill as teammates. “Who else you got? The Eagles. I mean, it’s all pros. Everybody. Everywhere. On both sides of the ball. When I look at the Bills, they don’t have none of that… You see what I’m saying. Like Josh can do everything by himself.” 

This grabs more attention as Bills coach Sean McDermott, too, makes a statement to the press praising Allen as he says, “Josh, he’s always been like that though. He wants the ball in key moments of the game,” he said, “That’s what the great ones, that’s their mindset. That’s what they want, that’s what they do. And he’s never out of it in his mind.”

It might be in Allen’s nature to want to win the game and put in his complete effort to lift up his team’s performance. But putting so much pressure on Allen’s shoulder shows that McDermott is backing out from his own statement that he made in the past. 

Did Sean McDermott go back on his word? The Bills’ “Tush Push” controversy in week 1

While the Bills were celebrating a narrow escape with a 41-40 win over the Ravens, one call that has everybody talking is the “tush push.” What makes it so interesting is that it’s a play Bills coach Sean McDermott had previously gone on record to criticize. Earlier in March, the health and safety of his players were McDermmott’s prime concerns, which is why he also voted against the play style. Yet, he was seen implementing the Tush Push from his playbook against the Ravens, giving rise to quite a buzz in the NFL community.

To secure a win in week 1, Josh Allen was even leaping in the air with a player on his back, putting forward pressure, making it worse than any standard version of the play. For the Bills, luck came through when Derrick Henry fumbled on the Ravens’ 38-yard line with three minutes left in the game. Moreover, Allen took the Bills down the field, culminating in a touchdown himself, which put the score at 40-38. The conversion attempt for two points to Keon Coleman was incomplete. Even though they would soon find themselves behind again, these last two minutes were marvelously strung together, giving the Bills all the momentum. 

It is either that he deems the play too dangerous to the degree that it should be outlawed and has hence put his players at much risk of injury, or he does not think it is that dangerous after all. Given that he is continuing to call the play, McDermott would only harm the case against its ban.