Grading Josh Allen’s performance against the Falcons in Week 17
By Aaron Tully
This is the 16th 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 17, the Buffalo Bills clinched a playoff berth with a 29-15 win over the Atlanta Falcons where they dominated, excluding a stretch of roughly seven minutes in the second and third quarter.
The Bills went run-heavy in this game, a big change-up from their usual pass-first style. Josh Allen attempted just 26 passes on the day, and only completed 11 of them.
On his 26 attempts, Allen threw for 120 yards and three interceptions in the span of four passes. He finished the day with a passer rating of 17.0, the worst mark of his career. Allen averaged 4.6 yards per attempt, down from the 6.7 he averaged last week in Foxborough.
Stefon Diggs was the only receiver that went over 50 yards receiving, garnering 52 yards on five catches. Allen found Gabriel Davis three times for 40 yards and yet another toe-drag swag moment from Davis on a third down in the second quarter.
Just a week removed from a career day for Isaiah McKenzie, he and Josh Allen connected just a single time for three yards. The only offensive player who had a standout day was Devin Singletary.
Singletary led the Bills in rushing on the day, toting the rock 23 times for 110 yards and two touchdowns. That doesn’t mean Allen was quiet in the running game, however, as that is the only positive impact he had on this game. Allen carried the ball 15 times for 81 yards and two touchdowns. Allen and Singletary led the Bills to their best rushing performance of the season with 233 yards on 44 rushes.
Josh Allen’s decision-making was bad in this one. He was erratic and seemed unusually rattled during the stretch of three interceptions in four pass attempts.
Week 17 Grade for Josh Allen: D+
This was the worst game that Josh Allen has had from a passing standpoint in his four-year NFL career. There is no delicate way to put it; he was terrible against a below-average pass defense. His two rushing touchdowns saved him from getting an F.
Josh Allen and the Buffalo Bills punched their ticket to the playoffs with a strong effort from the ground game and defense (as well as some help from the Los Angeles Rams). Josh Allen will be looking to help the Bills win their second consecutive AFC East title with a bounce-back performance next week against the New York Jets.
Must Read. Postgame takeaways for the Bills in Week 17. light
Previous Weeks’ Grades:
Week 1: C
Week 2: C+
Week 3: A+
Week 4: B
Week 5: A+
Week 6: A-
Week 8: B
Week 9: F
Week 10: A
Week 11: D+
Week 12: B+
Week 13: B
Week 14: A-
Week 15: B
Week 16: A+