A column by CHUCK POLLOCK, senior sports columnist, Wellsville Sun, Olean Star
Maybe it’s because the Bills, at 5-2, haven’t beaten a team with a winning record,
— maybe it’s because they merely lead the NFL’s weakest division, the AFC East,
— Or maybe it’s because the incredible performance by quarterback Josh Allen has been embarrassingly under-reported.
In any case, as Allen leads Buffalo into Seattle’s Lumen Field Sunday afternoon to face the Seahawks (4-3, Fox-TV, Bills Radio Network, 4:05), people are beginning to notice.
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Throughout the first six years of his career as Bills quarterback, Allen has been vexed by turnovers, 64 interceptions and 59 fumbles, almost half of which were lost.
Last season, his 18 picks were second-most in the NFL only to Sam Howell now, ironically, the back-up in Seattle. But Allen knew his 29 touchdown passes hardly offset such a glaring number of interceptions a year ago.
He vowed to do better.
Viola, welcome to 2024.
Seven games into this season, Allen has failed to have a pass hijacked — his previous one was in last year’s season finale at Miami — and if he throws his first 11 passes Sunday without being intercepted he will become the fifth quarterback in NFL history to have thrown over 200 passes from the start of the season without a pick. The others are Bernie Kosar, Jason Campbell, Brian Hoyer and Alex Smith.
And Allen’s performance is the main reason why the Bills lead the NFL in turnover ratio at +10. They’ve taken the ball away 12 times and given it away twice (fewest in the league), both Allen fumbles. He’s turned the ball loose four times this season, but two were recovered. He fumbled the ball away on the first series of the season-opener against Arizona and the other at the end of the trick-play fiasco in Baltimore that was hardly his fault.
SO WHAT caused Allen’s turnover epiphany?
Buffalo coach Sean McDermott offered high praise.
“He’s become a great decision-maker,” he said. “It’s important to him … he knows the value of playing clean football and protecting the house.”
For his part, Allen claims good fortune has helped.
“The defense has dropped a couple (of potential picks) … and that helps,” he said. “But (it’s just) making better decisions and understanding the game plan and knowing where my answers (outlet receivers) are and utilizing my legs when I need to.
“It’s just the mindset of playing smart and sound football and taking shots when they’re there.”
As for this year’s spotless interception effort, Allen added, “I take a lot of pride (in it) … that’s one of the things I wanted to clean up the last couple of years. But to go out there and do it, it’s easier said than done and it takes some luck.
“You’re going to have some balls that shouldn’t be intercepted (and they are) and some balls that probably should be that aren’t. But there are certain times where you’re going to have to take some risks and do whatever you can to help your team.”
He concluded, “I’m not sitting back there trying not to throw interceptions. When you try not to, that’s when they typically happen. You’ve just got to go out there and trust your eyes, your feet and your arm.”
SEATTLE and Buffalo have had similar seasons.
Both started the season 3-0, albeit against weak opposition, but then the Seahawks dropped three straight before prevailing last Sunday at Atlanta, their first victory over a winning team.
The Bills five wins have come against teams with a combined record of 10-23, the two losses to a pair of 5-2 division leaders, Houston and Baltimore.
The Seahawks are in their second year under coach Mike Mcdonald about whom McDermott said, “I really admire what he’s done … the way he’s changed the culture. Pete Carroll was a terrific coach and had great success and now Mike has come in with his own approach.”
And Mcdonald, a former defensive coordinator for the Ravens, might have a bit of an edge as his assistant head coach is Leslie Frazier whom you might remember as Buffalo’s defensive coordinator for six years before (Wink! Wink!) he supposedly decided to take a year off. He was one of the first assistants Macdonald hired.
But what has sparked Seattle’s success is the play of quarterback Geno Smith who has found new life with the Seahawks at age 34 after inheriting Russell Wilson’s job when he was traded to Denver.
After being a journeyman for most of his career, Smith has led Seattle to consecutive 9-7 records with one playoff trip. Over that span he threw for 50 touchdowns with 20 picks and though his numbers are down this year (8 TDs, 6 interceptions in seven games) the consensus is that he’s played well.
BUFFALO, favored by three points, indicated two out as of Friday’s injury report, linebacker Terrel Bernard (ankle/pectoral) and wide receiver Curtis Samuel (pectoral), In addition, rookie defensive tackle DeWayne Carter (wrist) and running back Darrynton Evans (hamstring) went on injured reserve while defensive tackle DaQuan Jones (foot) was limited but all other injured players practiced fully.
POLLOCK’S PICK: Seahawks 23, Bills 20
(Chuck Pollock, a Wellsville Sun and Olean Star senior sports columnist, can be reached at cpollock@wnynet.net.)
