1. ESPN ranks Josh Allen here on its list of top 25 players under 25
ESPN writer Mike Clay released a detailed ranking of the top 25 players in the league under the age of 25. Josh Allen came in at number six on his list and has shown major progress throughout his first three years in the league. Allen has thrown for 3,028 yards through 11 games and needs 62 passing yards to set a new career-high.
No. 6. Josh Allen, QB Buffalo Bills
Turns 25: May 21, 2021
Signed through: 2021*
During the 2018 pre-draft process, there was no way I thought I'd ever be listing Allen as one of the league's best players. I thought wrong. Allen struggled badly with accuracy and decision-making early in his career but offset that in a big way with his athleticism and rushing ability. After posting the league's worst completion rate (53%) and highest off-target rate (23%) as a rookie, Allen improved his game a bit in his second pro campaign before taking a giant leap forward with a better supporting cast and in a pass-heavy offense here in 2020.
Allen has completed 69% of his passes (seventh-highest rate in the league), is averaging 7.9 yards per attempt (10th best) and sits no lower than 10th among passers in completions, passing yardage, touchdowns, carries and rushing yardage. Allen finished 24th in QBR in each of his first two NFL seasons, but is up to sixth in 2020. With Allen's Bills sitting atop the AFC East at 8-3, the third-year quarterback is a strong finish away from serious league MVP consideration.
2. Bills want to be playing their best football in the upcoming months
The Bills defense had a stout performance on Sunday against the Chargers and are slated to get some key pieces back from injury. Yesterday it was announced that linebackers Matt Milano and Tyrel Dodson returned to practice. This is the first step for the two players to potentially return to the 53-man roster in the coming weeks. It is not clear if they will play on Monday, but it is a step in the right direction as this Bills team looks to play its best football in December and going into January. Jordan Poyer touched on that and said that the team's everyday habits will help them play their best football down the stretch.
"Just continuing to get better, and you do want to be playing your best ball in late December," Poyer stated. "So, it just comes down to everyday habits, continue to work, continue to trust the process. I know it's cliche, but this is what we have to do, it's that crucial time of the year and everyday counts. You got to, day-by-day come into this building with that mindset."
3. Why Stefon Diggs is impressed with Gabriel Davis
Gabriel Davis has shown throughout his rookie season that he has the ability to make big plays week in and week out. On Sunday, Davis finished the game with three receptions for 79 yards and a touchdown. One of those passes was a 44-yard strike by Allen where Davis got behind the defender, stretched out and used his height to his advantage to make the catch. The throw by Allen was one of the top five longest throws by air distance in Week 12, traveling a total of 51.7 yards. Stefon Diggs had some high praise for Davis on Wednesday, saying he's not surprised by his early success.
"I'm surprised he didn't go higher in the draft as well because I think he can play," Diggs said. "The kid can play and just having him continue to motivate us as well. He made a lot of plays in camp, that a lot of people didn't see so we kind of saw the potential early. So, him having success doesn't really surprise me, but I'm just happy to have him and hopefully, we can push forward and have more success."
