Josh Allen doesn't hold back with blunt assessment of how his game needs to evolve heading into his eighth NFL season
The Buffalo Bills have an alien in Josh Allen: He's otherworldly on the football field. After winning MVP and then following it up by marrying an almost literal superhero, all eyes are on the 2025 NFL season in hopes of bringing the team's first-ever Lombardi Trophy to Western New York. For Allen, it's a time of reflection. During an interview with Sports Illustrated, the franchise quarterback opened up about his game heading into his eighth season and what he needs to improve on if he wants to have sustained success in the league.
“I think about it a lot; eventually, my game will have to evolve," Allen said. "But, again, it’s just being smarter, sliding, getting out of bounds, and throwing the ball away a little bit quicker and not taking these extra one or two hits a game that start adding up,”
Allen is ready for the 2025 season
It's a scary thought for opposing offensive coordinators. After an MVP season, Allen says he feels the best he has in his career.
“I think last year was a step in the right direction, where I didn’t take too many hits. I’m not saying I didn’t take any. But during this offseason? This is the best I’ve felt after any season because I didn’t take hits.”
While it's fun to watch Allen hurdle linebackers or stiff-arm safeties while refusing to go down, he's turning 30 this year, and it's not something that can continue long-term. As a 31-year-old, my ankles crack when going down the stairs. Imagine what would happen if I tried to leap over someone over six feet tall.
Nevertheless, Allen's body needs to be protected, which is why he's focusing so heavily on that aspect of his game. It was a running joke among Bills Mafia circles throughout his first few years in the league that he simply didn't know how to slide. Refusing to go down and taking the contact full force. While it was fun, we're happy he's looking to eliminate it from his game. It's at the forefront of his mind to adapt.
Refusing to go down and taking the contact full force, while it was fun, we're happy he's looking to eliminate it from his game. Anytime he absorbs a hit during an NFL game and is down on the field for more than 0.2 seconds, the fanbase holds its breath. While Buffalo has had sustained success in the league, a large part of that is what Allen has been able to do on the football field. Without him, this team would look drastically different. No disrespect to Mitchell Trubisky.
Allen's history with the Bills
During his seven seasons with the Bills, Allen has amassed 26,434 passing yards with 195 touchdowns and 84 interceptions through the air. On the ground, he's added 4,142 yards on 759 attempts with 65 touchdowns. He's one of the best dual-threat quarterbacks of all time, and he's doing all that he can to maintain success in one of the toughest leagues in any sport across the world.
He was told before playing a single snap in the NFL that he wouldn't make it as a quarterback in the league, and he followed that up by becoming one of the league's best quarterbacks. For those doubting whether Allen can overcome this adversity, his own personal history tells us that he won't only overcome it, he'll shatter expectations. Here's hoping we see a little more sliding from Allen, and maybe limit his hurdles to one or two throughout the regular season and postseason.
