Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen has put the rest of the league on notice.
It is still absurdly early to make any kind of prognostications about the race for NFL MVP, but it’s not a stretch at all to say Allen threw the gauntlet down in the big Week 1 win over the Houston Texans. Not only did he put on a dazzling performance that will make Bills fans smile at work tomorrow, but he also got his first career win at Reliant Stadium in five trips.
The 2024 MVP finished the opener 20 of 29 for 334 yards and two touchdown passes. That’s already a stellar stat line against one of the league’s best defenses a year ago. When you add in his two touchdown runs (including a 21-yard one), his box score is out-of-this-world good.
Here are three observations from Allen’s opening week performance.
Concerns over his legs and running ability after turning 30 were overstated
When Allen turned 30 this past spring, many fans wondered how he would adapt his game and playing style as some players lose a little bit of power and strength in their legs.
He silenced all of those doubts on Sunday. Yes, 21 of his 23 rushing yards came on that one touchdown run but that play showed Allen will still be Allen. It turns out turning 30 is just another thing Allen can spin out of and not let slow him down.
The Josh Allen quarterback sneak also remains a nearly unstoppable play. Any concerns fans may have had about him losing a step after turning 30 should be dismissed after this Week 1 performance.
His connection with D.J. Moore is looking good
The big trade splash for the Bills was bringing in D.J. Moore to be Buffalo’s new WR1. He and Allen wasted no time spending the offseason and training camp working on their timing and chemistry together. We saw early flashes of success in their brief playing time in the preseason, but facing Houston’s tough defense would be the ultimate litmus test to see how far they’ve come.
Judging by Moore’s five catch, 100-yard, and one touchdown performance, they’re going to be as tough of a combination to defend as any quarterback/wide receiver tandem in the league.
43 out of Moore’s 100 yards did come on that one touchdown pass, but when you get explosive results like that no one will mind. Nor will they mind how Allen threaded the needle to get the ball into Moore’s hands on that play.
With the game on the line, Allen overcame his Texans struggles
It looked like it might happen again. Houston up 31-30, just over three minutes left, and the Bills were backed up on their own 4-yard line. Would Buffalo get stung in their Texas House of Horrors again and lose a heartbreaker to open the 2026 season?
Not on Allen’s watch.
The Bills drove right down the field and Allen connected with Josh Palmer for what would turn out to be the game winning touchdown on a beautiful 34-yard-pass with 1:36 remaining. It was the fourth total touchdown for Allen on the day and even if the defense hadn’t held on the final drive, no one was going to say Allen didn’t do his part against Houston’s vaunted defense.
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