JIM KELLY'S BOLD DEFENSE OF JOSH ALLEN: "CRUELTY AGAINST A YOUNG MAN WHO'S CARRYING THE BILLS"
Buffalo, NY — November 15, 2025 – In a shocking and passionate outburst, Buffalo Bills legend Jim Kelly has come out swinging in defense of current quarterback Josh Allen, condemning the treatment the young signal-caller has received from critics and fans alike. Kelly, who has long been regarded as one of the franchise's most iconic figures, didn’t hold back in his emotional support for the 2025 quarterback.
“What’s happening to him is a crime against football — a blatant betrayal of everything this sport stands for,” Kelly declared in an exclusive interview with ESPN. His words reverberated across the sports world, shedding light on the immense pressure Allen has been under this season. Despite Allen’s valiant efforts, the Bills' struggles on the field have led to a wave of criticism, questioning the team's future and, by extension, Allen’s ability to lead them to greatness.
Kelly, who led the Bills to four consecutive Super Bowl appearances in the 1990s, expressed disbelief at the treatment Allen has received, considering the immense weight on his shoulders. "How can people be so cruel — criticizing a young man who’s carrying an entire franchise on his shoulders, giving everything he has week after week?” Kelly added. “Josh is out there battling every game, putting his heart and soul into this team, and for people to tear him down like this, it’s beyond me.”
The harsh criticism surrounding Allen has been a polarizing topic among Bills fans and analysts alike. While some point to Allen's high-risk style of play and occasional missteps as areas of concern, Kelly insists these are the growing pains of a franchise quarterback still learning and evolving. “To me, he’s the future of the Buffalo Bills — and he deserves respect, not ridicule,” Kelly firmly stated.
Allen, who has been instrumental in leading the Bills to playoff contention for several years now, has faced an increasing amount of scrutiny in 2025. Although his athleticism and arm strength remain undeniable, the team's early struggles this season have put him under the microscope. His decision-making and consistency have been questioned in certain games, with critics demanding more from the star quarterback.
But Kelly is not having any of it. He believes the franchise should be rallying around their leader, rather than pointing fingers. “It’s easy to forget what it was like when we had our tough times,” Kelly reflected on his own experiences with the Bills during their rebuilding years. “This is a team game, and Josh isn’t out there alone. The entire team has to rise with him.”
The two-time AFL MVP went on to draw parallels between Allen’s journey and his own. “When I was with the Bills, there were times when we fell short. But we never gave up on each other. That’s the kind of support Josh needs now more than ever.”
As for Allen himself, he has continued to take the high road amid the noise. While he remains focused on his development and the Bills’ success, the weight of Kelly’s words has certainly had an impact. Bills fans, many of whom were feeling conflicted about Allen’s future, have rallied behind the support of their former quarterback.
Kelly's message is clear: it’s time to show respect and give Josh Allen the same unwavering support that helped build the legacy of the Buffalo Bills. Now, it’s up to the rest of the franchise — and the fans — to decide whether they’ll stand by their leader or allow the critiques to continue. One thing is for certain, however: Jim Kelly is not backing down from his defense of Josh Allen, and neither should the Bills.
Buccaneers Make Final Decisions on Chris Godwin and Bucky Irving
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Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receivers Chris Godwin and Mike Evans.
If the reality of how bad the injuries suffered by Tampa Bay Buccaneers stars Bucky Irving and Chris Godwin were, this might be the week that finally seals the deal.
Irving and Godwin were ruled out for a massive Week 11 road game against the Buffalo Bills on Friday, marking Tampa Bay’s eighth game without Godwin this season due to a fibula injury and their sixth game without Irving due to a shoulder injury.
“Bucs coach Todd Bowles told reporters that RB Bucky Irving and WR Chris Godwin are both out for Sunday,” NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport wrote on his official X account on Friday, November 14. “But progress this week … “
The Buccaneers are 6-3 and still in first place in the NFC South Division but staring down a killer string of road games against Super Bowl contenders, and doing so right after a disappointing, 28-23 home loss to the New England Patriots in Week 10.
After facing the Bills, the Buccaneers head to the West Coast to face the Los Angeles Rams — arguably the NFC favorite at this point in the season
“Despite logging three straight days of practice, Buccaneers RB Bucky Irving (shoulder) has been ruled OUT and won’t play Sunday vs the Bills,” NFL reporter Arye Pulli wrote on his official X account. “Chris Godwin has also been ruled out once again.”
Questions To Be Answered About Godwin’s Injury
Anyone unlucky enough to see Godwin’s gruesome injury on Monday Night Football against the Baltimore Ravens 13 months ago probably knew right then it was going to be awhile before he saw a football field again.
Godwin underwent surgery on his dislocated left ankle and things checked out afterward to the point that not only did the Buccaneers sign him to a new, 3-year, $66 million contract in March but the Patriots went so far as to try and sign Godwin for a deal worth a reported $90 million.
Problems started to arise when news broke Godwin needed a second surgery to fix the ankle — further extending the amount of time he needed to recover. Still, the Buccaneers brought him back for a Week 4 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles and a Week 5 win over the Seattle Seahawks before putting him back on the shelf after “irritation” with that same injury.
Godwin’s injury has now cost him 19 combined regular season and playoff games — 2 more than a whole regular season.
The big questions that remain are what went wrong with the surgeries, why the Buccaneers still signed Godwin to such a large contract if there were problems and why did they bring him back so early instead of just putting him on injured reserve?
Irving’s Biggest Concern: No Contact on Shoulder
Irving’s injury recovery process got off to a weird start, which included him not coming clean that he was hurt when he should have.
“Turns out that Buccaneers RB Bucky Irving’s shoulder injury, which he did not report to the team until Tuesday last week, is more of an issue than his sprained foot, per sources,” ESPN’s Adam Schefter wrote on his official X account on October 5. “Irving is dealing with a shoulder subluxation that is expected to sideline him at least two weeks. Irving will not play today vs. the Seahawks and he’s not expected back for next week’s game vs. the 49ers, either.”
