The Buffalo Bills received a wake-up call on Sunday. They took their first loss of the season, falling to the New England Patriots by a score of 29-26. While there were certainly some encouraging performances in the loss (Keon Coleman's chief among them), the Bills were far from perfect.
Josh Allen played "hero ball" again, and the results were inconsistent. While he threw one touchdown and ran for another, his interception cost Buffalo dearly.
Allen wasn't the reason the Bills lost to the Patriots. But his performance wasn't enough to carry his team to victory, either.
Josh Allen's heroics weren't enough for Bills to overcome Drake Maye's Patriots
For three and a half quarters, Allen played as well as Bills fans have come to expect from him. He missed a few throws here and there, but for the most part, he was excellent.
Allen put up 253 passing yards, a passing touchdown, and a rushing touchdown on the day.
His numbers could have been even more impressive if he had a bit more help from his receivers. Josh Palmer's drop on a deep pass over the middle should have turned into the touchdown that would have made the difference in the game. With D.J. Moore out for most of the game, Allen's options were limited.
Still, he made the most of what he had to work with. His ability to extend plays with his legs was outstanding and led to an explosive gain for Khalil Shakir late in the second quarter. Allen didn't scramble much, totaling just four rushing yards on the day, but he was able to avoid the Patriots' pass rush. He only took one sack.
At the end of the game, Allen let his reckless tendencies get the best of him. After escaping pressure, he threw a deep pass down the left sideline into double coverage, ending in an interception. At the time, the Bills still had enough time on the clock to work the ball down the field methodically. Instead, Allen's attempt at a heroic moment ended the game for Buffalo.
Josh Allen's Week 4 grade: B+
Allen is not to blame for this loss. Outside of one play in the fourth quarter, he was excellent throughout the game. Instead, the Bills' defense deserves to be put under the microscope. They've allowed at least 29 points in three of their four games so far. That's not sustainable, even for a team with an MVP quarterback.
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