Written By: Sean Wright 

Let’s start by saying Josh Allen played terribly against the Jets and was the biggest reason the Bills were defeated. Allen has been a ‘turnover machine’ over the past three seasons. He’s accounted for at least 18 total turnovers during that span including a career high 22 during the 2022 season. Allen’s interception woes are a testament to his devotion to remain edgy and risky. Allen has been a risktaker since his days at Wyoming but it was often overlooked due to his elite arm talent.  

Allen has routinely thrown into coverage throughout his career. That’s nothing new. Allen usually has a way of managing his risks. He’ll throw into coverage but only where his receiver has a chance make a play, the ball lands out of bounds, or its supremely overthrown. However, it appears his decision making has been overly erratic even for him dating back to the Bills playoff game vs. the Miami Dolphins.  

Additionally, Allen is one of the most mobile quarterbacks in the NFL. His ability to run is a gift and a curse. He poses the Bills’ biggest threat as a runner, but he undoubtedly has a fumbling issue. Allen 100 percent needs to clean up his turnovers if he wants to hoist the Super Bowl trophy at the end of the season. 

With that being said! We need to slow our roll on the “Josh Allen isn’t elite anymore” nonsense.  

Let’s get into it. 

 For starters, Allen has put up at least 4,000 passing yards and 35 passing touchdowns in each of the past three seasons. Now ask yourself; how many other quarterbacks are putting up those types of numbers? The answer is one. Patrick Mahomes. Yep, that’s it. Allen has also averaged an additional seven touchdowns on the ground over the past three seasons. …. 

We’re not here to excuse his turnovers, only to merely point out the fact that the reward Allen has brought to Buffalo has heavily outweighed the risk.  

Stefon Diggs finished the 2022 season with over 100 catches 1400 yards and 11 touchdowns and if off to a great start in 2023. Gabe Davis finished with a career high in catches, yards and tied his career high in touchdowns in 2022 despite missing two games. The Bills went out and got elite tight end prospect Dalton Kincaid in the 2023 NFL Draft.  

Both of his top receivers have remained ultra productive, and he now has a new shiny toy at tight end. Allen has averaged 40 total touchdowns and more than 4,000 passing yards per year over the past three seasons. Mahomes is undoubtedly the best quarterback in the NFL with Joe Burrow close behind. Both of whom are 100 percent elite. Allen has legitimate reasons and evidence to support him being ranked anywhere from third to fifth among all quarterbacks in the NFL. We shouldn’t let a few games cloud our judgement over years and years of productivity. Calm down. Honestly. The question is: If Josh Allen isn’t considered elite, who is?