Buffalo Bills: Grading Josh Allen’s performance in Week 1

This is the very first entry into the 2021 Josh Allen Game Grades series. Each week, Josh Allen’s numbers, decision making, and overall performance will be reviewed and given a letter grade.

In Week 1, the Buffalo Bills were defeated by the Pittsburgh Steelers 23-16. The Buffalo offense showed flashes of life towards the end of the first half but was otherwise fast asleep for a large portion of their Week 1 contest.

Allen’s stat line on the day was not terrible, but certainly not what Bills Mafia was expecting or hoping for. He completed 30 of 51 passes for 270 yards and a touchdown pass. Allen also rushed for 44 yards on nine carries.

Allen was not very efficient in this outing, averaging 5.2 yards per attempt. It is usually not a good sign if your quarterback has to throw 51 times, and the case was no different on Sunday.

Outside of the final drive of the first half that resulted in the sole Buffalo touchdown on the afternoon, Allen never really found the rhythm that he established in 2020.

Allen’s decision-making was fine but he just could not get anything going against a Pittsburgh defense that brought its A-game on Sunday. His only turnover was a strip-sack at the hands of T.J. Watt.

Buffalo’s offensive line was dreadful, allowing Allen to be sacked three times, and they had a real problem with committing holding penalties.

Josh Allen’s Week 1 Grade: C

Allen definitely could have been better, but he did not get much help from his offensive line. Josh Allen receives a C grade for his performance in Week 1. He certainly was not good, but he did not play poorly either.

There is no need to overreact to Allen’s pedestrian Week 1 performance. The Steelers defense was on fire, and it simply was just not his, or the Bills’ day. Allen should bounce back against the Dolphins next week.