Buffalo Bills: Grading Josh Allen’s performance from Week 2
By Aaron Tully
This is the second 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 2, the Buffalo Bills humiliated the Miami Dolphins 35-0. The main story for the Bills coming out of their victory over the Dolphins was how impressive the defense was. Buffalo had a good day on the ground, rushing for 143 yards on 30 attempts. Josh Allen rushed for 35 yards on five attempts.
Josh Allen’s stat line on the day was again not terrible, but not up to the standard that he set for himself in 2020. He completed 17 of 33 passes for 179 yards, two touchdown passes, and a bad interception at the hands of Xavien Howard.
Allen was not very efficient in his Week 1 performance, and he was not much better in Week 2. He averaged 5.4 yards per pass attempt, up .2 yards from Week 1. Allen had a few throws that should have been intercepted but was dropped.
The passing game struggled yet again to find a consistent rhythm, as the only two drives that they really found that rhythm where their second and third scoring drives.
Josh Allen’s decision-making was worse than it was a week ago. The interception that he threw to Xavien Howard was a ball that should not have been thrown, as he tried to fit it into a non-existent window. Allen’s other really bad decision came on a crossing route to Diggs near midfield that was nearly picked off by Xavien Howard again.
Allen never truly looked comfortable against Miami’s defense, but he did make some excellent throws to prove why he is still among the NFL’s best quarterbacks. His first touchdown pass to Stefon Diggs, in particular, was a fantastic play.
Josh Allen’s Game Grade from Week 2: C+
As was the case last week, Allen could have been better, but he certainly could have been worse. Josh Allen receives a C+ grade for his performance in Week 2. He played just about as well as he did a week ago, but the second rhythmic drive and the two stellar throws on the touchdown passes earn him a slightly better grade than a week ago.
Top takeaways from the Bills win in Week 2. light. Must Read
Josh Allen was pedestrian again in Week 2, but the ground game bailed them out this time. There is still no need to overreact about the passing game’s struggles. They will find their rhythm and figure things out, especially if they can continue to run the ball well.
Josh Allen’s Weekly Grades:
Week 1: C