Today, no one would rank Jets QB Zach Wilson even close to Bills QB Josh Allen ahead of their upcoming Week 9 clash. For some, they are on completely different ends of the spectrum. For example, Steven Ruiz of The Ringer ranks Allen No. 2 and Wilson No. 33 (out of 37).
But step back in time for a moment and remember that Allen was not always the incredible talent that he is today. It took him some time before things finally clicked. So in a sense, Allen and Wilson are sort of similar. And it’s that similarity that allowed Allen to share some words of encouragement with Wilson.
Allen appeared on “Kyle Brandt’s Basement” and one of the topics they touched on was Wilson as a young quarterback in the New York market and coming off the performance that he had against the Patriots in Week 8. Allen likened that game to one of his own in the past against New England.
“I was in that same position,” Allen told Brandt. “I threw three picks against the Patriots my second year and it all clicked for me after that game.”
Allen threw for 2,074 yards and 10 touchdowns with 12 interceptions in 12 games as a rookie in 2018, followed by 3,089 yards, 20 touchdowns and nine interceptions in 2019.
After acquiring WR Stefon Diggs from the Minnesota Vikings in 2020, Allen’s numbers skyrocketed to 4,544 yards, 37 touchdowns and 10 interceptions, eventually getting the Bills to the AFC Championship Game.
Wilson may not match Allen’s second-year numbers but may come close (on pace for 2,934 yards, eight touchdowns and 14 interceptions) but did throw for 2,334 yards as a rookie in 13 games.
Allen is a good example of a team taking the time to allow Allen to develop and build around him with the Diggs acquisition. Some Jets fans are understandably upset after Wilson’s performance last Sunday, but he also has only played 18 games to this point.
If there is anyone to feel good about getting encouragement from, it’s the likely current favorite for NFL MVP. We’ll see if things do start clicking for Wilson heading into the second half of his second season.
.@JoshAllenQB sees some of himself in Zach Wilson, who he faces this Sunday:
"I was in that same position. I threw three picks against the Patriots my second year and it all clicked for me after that game."
🔗: https://t.co/cJUhadtF9I
👂: https://t.co/xuNUEi1vSa pic.twitter.com/yQ4aqAxhQp— Kyle Brandt’s Basement (@KBBasement) November 2, 2022
