Bills quarterback Josh Allen always seems to be under a microscope. At every mistake, folks grab their pitchforks and take aim at No. 17 in Buffalo blue. Yet when other top quarterbacks around the league underperform. or make similar mistakes? Silence.
It has become an embodiment of the Gordon Ramsey meme when Josh Allen throws an interception compared to when Patrick Mahomes does. Fans coddle Mahomes, yet belittle Allen.
Media not bring this up but……
Patrick Mahomes now has 18 TDs to 11 turnovers this year.
Josh Allen has 29 TDs to 15 turnovers.
— John Africano (@afman3333) November 21, 2023
Everyone’s favorite stat to bring up this season is that Allen leads the NFL in turnovers since he entered the league in 2018. More often than not, they also casually forget to mention he leads the NFL in total touchdowns in that span, and holds the record for most total touchdowns in a season.
Even if we just focus on this season alone, the double-standards for Allen are borderline infuriating. Jalen Hurts is currently the frontrunner for MVP. Yet, Allen has 29 total touchdowns to Hurts’ 24. Allen has a higher passer rating, more passing yards, and a higher touchdown percentage, as well. Allen also has a higher on-target percentage than Hurts, and his receivers have dropped nine more passes.
Now, let’s address the turnovers. Allen has 15 turnovers this season (one of which was on a hail mary at the end of the first half). So, with context, it’s basically 14 turnovers for Allen, which is admittedly high. However, Hurts has 12.
How about Lamar Jackson? Allen has 12 more touchdowns than Jackson, and Jackson has 11 turnovers. So where’s the public outcry for Hurts or Jackson? I don’t see many proclaiming that either of them have turnover problems. Which, by the way, they shouldn’t. But they also shouldn’t make those claims about Allen.
“Since 2018, no player in the NFL has more turnovers than Josh Allen…they lose because he’s reckless.” – Dan
“Half of their defense is injured…it’s not Josh Allen’s fault that the coach had too many players on the field.” – @Stugotz790
📺 https://t.co/YdX8vZ219H pic.twitter.com/TwSwdEjYeG
— Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz (@LeBatardShow) November 14, 2023
Josh Allen the record holder for most TDs in his first 6 seasons. But the turnovers, ya know.
— Nate Geary (@NateGearySports) November 19, 2023
The interception crisis is such a far-fetched overreaction around the NFL. It would be one thing if Allen, or any quarterback for that matter, had 30 interceptions like Jameis Winston in 2019. If that were the case, then we could have the conversation of Allen being a turnover machine. However, plenty of great quarterbacks throughout history have had seasons where they turn the ball over at a higher rate than the league average. Peyton Manning had nine seasons where he threw 15 or more interceptions. Ben Roethlisberger led the league in interceptions twice and threw 14 or more interceptions seven times.
Manning, Roethlisberger, Allen- they all had superstar arm talent, and were expected to be the ones to win for their teams week in and week out. When you have a superstar quarterback who believes in their arm, and their abilities to fit the ball in tight windows, or take chances downfield, there will naturally be more turnovers than the league average. And all of the critics of Allen would take him over a checkdown charlie who gives their team zero explosiveness.
It’s inarguable that Allen is one of the most special talents in football. He leads the league in touchdowns, is second in EPA+CPOE composite, and second in success rate. He’s equally as valuable to the Bills as Mahomes is to the Chiefs or Joe Burrow is to the Bengals. And for every lazy analyst who just points and laughs at turnovers, they would all take him on their team tomorrow if given the chance.
