In the world of American football, there have been years where the Green Bay Packers seemed to lack the necessary roster to make a serious Super Bowl run. However, despite this, experts and pundits consistently picked them as contenders solely because they had Aaron Rodgers leading the charge at quarterback.
Even to this day, the respect for Rodgers has not waned. He now finds himself in the later stages of his career, coming off a significant Achilles injury, playing for a team with a 13-year playoff drought. Yet, astonishingly, many experts still chose the New York Jets as the team to watch for a potential playoff push.
The rise of Josh Allen on the Buffalo Bills has been a revelation this season. From the dominant victory over the Miami Dolphins on Thursday night to his overall stellar play, Allen is quickly earning the kind of respect and admiration that Rodgers has enjoyed for so many years.
It is puzzling how Allen’s previous successes were not enough to convince everyone that the Bills could thrive without star receiver Stefon Diggs, who was traded to the Houston Texans in the offseason. There seemed to be a prevailing belief that Diggs was the catalyst that elevated Allen to an elite quarterback status. However, as Allen improved his accuracy and composure, it became evident that his skill set was among the best in the league.
Despite Allen’s exemplary play, the Bills were largely overlooked as Super Bowl contenders in the offseason, especially in their own division, the AFC East. This was partly due to Rodgers’s return with the Jets, as well as an ESPN player survey that shockingly labeled Allen as the most overrated quarterback in the league. Now, with a perfect 2-0 record, that assessment seems laughable.
In a thrilling Week 1 comeback against the Arizona Cardinals, Allen showcased his superhero-like abilities to carry the Bills to victory. Then, in Thursday night’s game against the Dolphins, the Bills’ defense stepped up to contain the opposing playmakers, allowing Allen to shine once again. His sensational 33-yard throw to Ty Johnson was a perfect illustration of his talent and poise under pressure, proving that the Bills are still a force to be reckoned with despite losing key veterans.
