In a thrilling comeback, the Buffalo Bills defeated the New England Patriots 35-31, improving their record to 10-4. The standout performance came from quarterback Josh Allen, the reigning MVP, who played a pivotal role in erasing a 24-7 deficit during the game.
Following the victory, Bills head coach Sean McDermott shared his thoughts with Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated regarding Allen”s exceptional display at Gillette Stadium. McDermott expressed his confidence in Allen”s MVP candidacy, stating, “I don”t do a very good job of knowing what”s going on around the league, but I can”t, in my mind, imagine anybody else has done more for their team on a more consistent basis than Josh Allen. I mean, who out there is playing better?”
During the game against New England, Allen completed 19 of 28 passes for 193 yards, throwing three touchdowns without any interceptions. He also contributed on the ground, rushing for 48 yards on 11 carries. According to Pro Football Reference, Allen was ranked sixth in the NFL with a 66.4 adjusted QBR and fourth with a passer rating of 104.3 as of Monday.
StatMuse noted that he and Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford lead the league with 37 combined passing and rushing touchdowns. Additionally, Allen ranks fourth in the NFL with 3,811 combined passing and rushing yards. Despite his impressive performance, DraftKings Sportsbook has Stafford as the favorite to win MVP, with Allen placed third in the odds.
McDermott commented on the MVP race, saying, “That”ll work itself out in the end. And everyone”s going to vote how they want to vote. But there is absolutely no question in my mind who the MVP of this league is.” This statement underscores McDermott”s unwavering belief in Allen”s value to the team and the league.
Reflecting on Allen”s performance, McDermott shared what stood out to him the most: “Really, the whole second half. Down 24–7 at halftime against a good football team, they”ve won 10 straight. It”s like you cemented yourself for the Heisman; he went against the guy who”s arguably the favorite. I mean, again, we were down 24–7, and they just won 10 straight games coming off a bye, and he goes about his business.”
As the Bills prepare for their next matchup against the 3-11 Cleveland Browns on December 21, they hope to carry the momentum from this victory. Meanwhile, the Patriots will be facing the 7-7 Baltimore Ravens on the same night. If Allen continues to find his top form, the Bills could become a formidable opponent in the playoffs, eliciting concern from any AFC rival.
