Jim Kubiak: Josh Allen and the Bills didn't get credit for one thing in their latest win – efficiency. Take a look
Most of the talk about this game focused on the Jets’ poor offensive performance. Not enough was said about the efficiency that Allen has learned to play with, nor the potent rushing gear the Bills have developed, Kubiak writes.
The big takeaway from the Buffalo Bills' 30-10 road victory over the New York Jets was that Josh Allen and his offense have grown to a point where they can win games in different ways.
Allen’s efficiency may have been lower than average – he completed 14 of 25 attempts (56%) for 148 yards – but he didn’t make a game-changing mistake. He converted critical third-down situations just when the Bills’ offense needed it most. He was solid all around, getting the offense into the right plays, protecting the ball and finishing drives with just enough for the Bills to get points.
Allen also was the victim of a few uncharacteristic drops, and he selflessly threw the ball away when necessary, both of which impacted his completion percentage. Two of those throwaways were flagged for intentional grounding – unusual for Allen – but he made up for those mistakes with other parts of his game.
The Bills’ offense went into ground-and-pound mode. James Cook led the way with 21 carries for 132 yards and two touchdowns. The Bills were patient as they accumulated an impressive difference in time of possession, 38:21 to 21:39, and they didn’t turn the ball over (although Cook did have a fumble that was recovered by right tackle Spencer Brown).
In fact, the Bills have not lost the turnover differential in 23 straight games, an NFL record and an incredible accomplishment for any team.
Most of the talk about this game focused on the Jets’ poor offensive performance. Not enough was said about the efficiency that Allen has learned to play with, nor the potent rushing gear the Bills have developed. This Bills team rushed on 43 of their 71 offensive plays (60%) while giving their MVP quarterback a much-needed day off from having to do extraordinary things in order to win.
The Buffalo rushing attack accumulated a 224 net rushing yards to 100 yards for the Jets. Allen's 59 yards on the ground certainly contributed, as he was the second-leading rusher in the game.
There were times when Allen made key, difference-making plays. In the end, it doesn’t matter how you win, only that you do win. That's the attitude and the focus of this Allen-led team. That mentality was on full display as the Bills hammered the Jets.
FIRST QUARTER
Play selection: 21 plays (eight passes, 13 runs)Allen: 3 for 7 passing, 14 yards; 2 carries for 40 yards.
Performance grade: 81%
Score: Bills, 10-0.
The Bills’ defense stopped the Jets on the first series, forcing a three-and-out. Allen then had this amazing 40-yard scamper on a third-and-8. This was the catalyst for a 12-play touchdown drive that totaled 81 yards and drained 5:58 out of the first quarter.
1. Josh Allen's 40-yard scramble
Here, on third-and-8, Allen stepped up to his right through the Jets’ six-man pressure and took off. This blitz design gave the initial impression that the pressure was coming to Allen’s right. In actuality, the Jets stunted and looped both linebackers left, forcing him to his right. Credit the offensive line with staying on their blocks, keeping their bodies between their defenders and Allen. This is what allowed Allen to step up and run as he left the pocket.
The Jets were in man-to-man in the secondary, which Allen knew at the snap. He knew that if he could just get out of the pocket, he would have room to run. This awareness, combined with his athletic ability, is a dangerous combination to teams that play man-to-man coverage because the secondary defenders are busy covering their assignments and cannot see Allen leave the pocket until it is too late.
Allen escaped and took off for 40 yards before being pushed out of bounds. This huge scramble and third-down conversion was the difference on the Bills’ opening touchdown drive.
Later in the drive, Allen was called for intentional grounding as he threw the ball away without getting the pass to the line of scrimmage while he was outside the pocket. This was an unusual mistake, and it created a third-and-19 for the Bills’ offense. On the next offensive play, Allen took one for the team as Jets defensive end Micheal Clemons hit Allen late and in the head, resulting in a roughing-the-passer penalty. This was one of several self-inflicted wounds for the Jets in this game.
Sure, Allen embellished this, but he had already thrown the ball when Clemons struck him above the shoulders. The officials called this correctly as Allen did get hit in the helmet. The Jets’ defense would have forced a field-goal attempt here, but the senseless penalty gave the Bills new life.
Cook hammered it home on a 1-yard plunge two plays later, giving the Bills an early 7-0 lead.
Defensive end Joey Bosa forced a fumble on the Jets’ very next offensive play. The ball was recovered by A.J. Epenesa, creating more momentum with a turnover.
The Bills’ offense took over on the Jets’ 24-yard line but were unable to muster enough for a touchdown on six plays. Allen missed on third-and-8 as he was forced to shuffle to his left in the pocket. The ball sailed over the head of Dalton Kincaid.
This resulted in a 28-yard field goal by Matt Prater and a 10-0 Bills lead.
It was on the next offensive series that Allen ran off the field with an apparent head injury on what appeared to be a broken running play.
On this second-and-7 attempt, Allen simply tried to fall forward toward the line of scrimmage. It appeared in the review that Clemons’ left hand struck Allen inside of his face mask during the tackle. This inadvertent wallop appeared to catch Allen on the bridge of his nose, causing him to leave the field in an unexpected and worrisome panic.
Backup Mitch Trubisky came in at a moment’s notice. He stepped in as if he had started the game with this perfect pass on third-and-7 to Joshua Palmer for 32-yards and a crucial drive-saving conversion.
2. Mitch Trubisky's complete pass to Joshua Palmer on third-and-7
Trubisky, who was ice-cold standing on the sideline, threw an absolute dime to Palmer. Consider this ball placement versus man-to-man coverage. Trubisky read the coverage and delivered as if he had been playing the whole time. It was an amazing moment.
This demonstrated just how mentally and emotionally dialed-in this Bills team is. Every player has a job to do, and they seem to take that responsibility seriously. This was not a normal backup coming in off the bench. This was an emergency, and Trubisky had literally no time to think, much less warm up. This moment showed just how valuable he is and the type of character he possesses.
Ultimately, because of Trubisky’s 32-yard completion, this series continued into the second quarter. Allen returned one play later with tissues jammed up his left nostril to stop the bleeding. This unusual nine-play, 46-yard possession ended with another 52-yard field goal by Prater to expand the Bills’ lead to 13-0.
SECOND QUARTER
Play selection: 17 plays (nine passes, seven runs)Allen: 5 for 9 passing, 56 yards, one sack; two carries for 6 yards.
Performance grade: 82%
Score: Bills, 20-3.
The Jets punted on their first possession of the second quarter, and Allen and the Bills’ offense were again presented with an opportunity to put the game out of reach.
This Allen completion to Keon Coleman on first-and-10 got the Bills out to midfield.
3. Josh Allen's first-and-10 play-action pass to Keon Coleman
To this point in the game, offensive coordinator Joe Brady had so much rushing success that the Jets were forced into base personnel – four down linemen, three linebackers and four defensive backs.
Brady took advantage of the base personnel with play-action passes like this one. Allen had only three choices following his fake to Cook. The Jets’ linebackers reacted hard to the run fake, which left their secondary in the soft zone. This was as easy as it gets for a quarterback in the NFL.
Allen threw this, his second straight completion to Coleman on this drive. This is a great example of why running the football is so important in the NFL. Success on the ground dictates defensive personnel and often limits what defenses can do. Here the Jets had to stop Cook, and in doing so made themselves vulnerable to the pass.
Cook ripped off this 44-yard touchdown run two plays later to give the Bills a 20-0 lead.
4. James Cook 44-yard touchdown run
Cook’s run here is simply amazing, and once he gets into the open field, he is almost uncatchable with game-breaking speed.
The Jets kicked a long field goal on their next possession, cutting the Buffalo lead to 20-3 going into halftime.
Allen and the Bills’ offense had five offensive possessions in the first half, which resulted in four scoring drives (touchdown, field goal, field goal, touchdown) and one punt.
Despite the injury to Allen’s nose, the offense had generated 247 yards to the Jets' 78 yards, and the Bills were again winning the turnover differential at plus-1. Allen himself completed 8 of 16 attempts for 70 yards.
The Bills’ successful ground assault alleviated much of the pressure on Allen, which, in the big picture, was a big plus heading into a short week against the Dolphins.
THIRD QUARTER
Play selection: 21 plays (seven passes, 14 runs)Allen: 5 for 7 passing, 66 yards; two carries, 13 yards.
Performance grade: 100%
Score: Bills, 23-3.
On the opening series of the second half, the Bills received. This opportunity was a chance to take all of the wind out of the sails of their opponent. Allen and the Bills’ offense did just that with a demoralizing 11-play, field-goal drive that took 5:52 and went a total of 64 yards. This put the Bills ahead 23-3.
This drive again was kept alive by another great play by Allen on third down. This was a third-and-10 completion to Elijah Moore.
5. Josh Allen's third-and-10 perfect throw to Elijah Moore
Brady used an empty set and this creatively designed flood concept to bait Jets cornerback Michael Carter II, who overcommitted as Moore initially appeared to be running across the field. Carter was so surprised at Moore’s change of direction that he stumbled, tripped over his feet and fell.
This passing concept for Allen is nothing more than a flood concept to his left, just accomplished with different routes. Here, he had a go route, Khalil Shakir on a whip route in the flat, and Moore flooding the area underneath the go. The brilliance here with Brady’s call was that he kept the reads the same for Allen while using the element of surprise with Moore and attacked the man-to-man coverage. This conversion could not have been executed any better. It was perfect, and it expanded the Bills’ lead to 20 points.
The Bills again had a commanding three-possession lead.
Allen and the Bills’ offense did not relent. They made the Jets pay with another powerful and tediously long 12-play drive that took the rest of the third quarter and a total of 6:59. It was Allen again on another third down that made another touchdown drive possible.
6. Josh Allen evades a sack attempt by Sauce Gardner
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As the Bills marched down the field, they stalled on the 10-yard line and were forced to make a play on third-and-3. The Jets had something else on their minds as they sent cornerback Sauce Gardner on this corner blitz. This was a great defensive tactic that surprised Coleman and Ray Davis, who had the inside-out protection responsibility.
Gardner blitzed so quickly that he had gone by Davis before he could react. For any other quarterback, this could have been a terrible blindside hit, but for Allen it was an olé! It was Allen’s instinct and last-second reaction that avoided what could have been a wicked collision and perhaps a turnover.
Corner blitzes are designed to disrupt, and this one certainly did. Gardner at the least should have had a sack and perhaps created a fumble, but Allen’s reflexes and instinct to wheel to his left were unimaginable, even to Gardner who had Allen dead-to-rights. Allen was like a matador holding the red cape for an angry bull. Gardner, the bull, went flying past, with all of his momentum having missed Allen completely.
Very few players that could have avoided this potential sack, and it just so happens that Allen is one of them. Watch Allen as he scrambles, almost orchestrating a touchdown pass to Davis back to the inside before deciding to take the first down and step out of bounds.
This was an incredible play by Allen, whose third down heroics in this game again saved the drive.
Moore took a jet sweep into the end zone on the next play, putting the game out of reach, 30-3 Bills.
FOURTH QUARTER
Play selection: 12 plays (three passes, nine runs)Allen: 1 for 2 passing, 12 yards; 0 carries for 0 yards.
Performance grade: 80%
Score: Bills, 30-10.
Allen played one more series into the fourth quarter. It was a three-and-out, and the Bills punted. Trubisky finished the game and drained the rest of the clock for the Bills’ offense.
Trubisky’s contributions in this game were significant in his backup role. He sets the standard for readiness that everyone on this team bleeds. The "next man in" mantra is not lip service; it is how this Sean McDermott team operates. Every player in uniform is ready to contribute at any moment.
It is perhaps this mental and emotional readiness that makes the closeness of this team so easy to see. They root for each other, and that is not something you see everywhere. That selfless chemistry makes it special.
Following the game, Allen responded to questions about how Trubisky stepped up.
"I think that's a true embodiment of the character and the man that he is coming in there and making a play on third down for us. That was a huge drive. It was a huge play. So, shout out Mitch," Allen said afterward.
The insight here for teammates is that everyone matters, and that sets the Bills apart, in my opinion. You just don’t see that level of camaraderie in most other teams.
Conclusion
Statistically, Allen’s performance was a solid 85%. His value and production in this game were not measured in completions but in his timely third-down plays. When it counted most, he made the plays that made the difference.Sure, Allen made a couple of mistakes with intentional grounding penalties and missed a couple throws. The silver lining in a game like this was the fact that he didn’t have to be spectacular.
In my opinion, the greater the running emphasis and overall success, the better this Bills team will be. Allen's skill set, his leadership and his execution, combined with a balanced rushing attack, make for an unstoppable offense.
In this short week, the Bills had to prepare to face another AFC East opponent, the Miami Dolphins, with just three days' rest. That made the Jets game the perfect time to dominate an opponent by rushing the football.
Credit must go out to McDermott and his staff for having the Bills emotionally ready to play on the road following their thrilling, roller-coaster victory over the Baltimore Ravens. That Week 1 opponent was a physically and emotionally difficult game, but the Bills played this Week 2 game as if Week 1 had never happened. The focus and resilience was palpable, and that is a great example of how a championship-caliber team naturally goes about their business.
Overall QB Performance Grade: 85.75%
Passing: 14 of 25 (56%), 148 yards, 0 TDs, 0 INTsRushing: 6 carries, 59 yards, 0 fumbles, 0 TDs