• Josh Allen is on an elite run of play: Allen earned his second consecutive 90.0-plus PFF total grade in Week 15 — and his third up to now 4 video games.
• The Payments have been ready for Detroit’s man protection: They used that information to create favorable matchups, a number of of which have been on operating again wheel routes.
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Estimated Studying Time: 5 minutes
Josh Allen and the Buffalo Payments placed on one other offensive masterclass in Week 15, this time in a win in opposition to the Detroit Lions. Allen has firmly cemented himself as the present MVP favourite because the Payments proceed their chase for the AFC’s No. 1 total seed.
Highest-Graded Quarterbacks in Week 15
Allen completed the sport with a 92.5 PFF total grade, the best of Week 15 and his finest mark of the season. That is Allen’s second consecutive 90.0-plus PFF total grade and his third up to now 4 video games. He’s on a tear proper now, and with him main the cost, the Payments‘ offense has seemed virtually unstoppable.
One of many greatest changes to Allen’s sport over the previous two years has been limiting turnover-worthy performs. He has all the time chaotically performed the quarterback place, which led to plenty of dangerous turnovers. This yr, his 2.5% turnover-worthy play share could be one of the best of his profession after he notched a 3.0% clip final season. He’s caring for the ball whereas not sacrificing his playmaking skill.
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Coming into Week 15, the Payments‘ offense had the best share of drives leading to a landing (37.1%). They usually got here out swinging in opposition to the Lions.
HB wheel via the A-gap is a sick play and naturally Josh Allen drops a dime on his first move of the sport. pic.twitter.com/zPI5f8AbV0
— Nick Akridge (@PFF_NickAkridge) December 16, 2024
On the Payments’ second play of the sport, and their first move try, they related on a 33-yard move stemming from a terrific play design. They despatched their halfback via the A-gap on a wheel route, and, sometimes, once you see wheel routes from halfbacks, they go across the line of scrimmage and upfield. The best way the Payments do it permits the halfback to get on the linebacker immediately and put him in battle. With the Lions taking part in man protection, the linebacker now has to go from a flat-footed place to an all-out dash in opposition to a halfback with a operating begin. The Lions‘ linebacker right here does a good job, however Allen throws an ideal ball on his first try of the sport for a big acquire.
Josh Allen’s superpower is extending performs till the final second and creating magic out of nothing. He has the best variety of makes an attempt, most big-time throws, and fourth highest grade of 91.1 when concentrating on receivers operating a scramble adjustment route.
127 seconds of Josh Allen making the NFL his playground pic.twitter.com/iJ6ytUGbUm
— Nick Akridge (@PFF_NickAkridge) December 16, 2024
That is the place Allen is at his best possible. He had a number of performs like this in opposition to the Lions, the place the unique play wasn’t open and he must make one thing occur. Time and time once more, he does simply that, leaving the Lions‘ protection exhausted attempting to cowl downfield for 5-plus seconds. It’s practically unimaginable to cowl for that lengthy and, ultimately, Allen is certain to make them pay.
The Payments knew the Lions would play a ton of man protection, they usually used that information to create favorable matchups and route combos.
One other wheel route from the HB, this time from the slot. One other Josh Allen dime pic.twitter.com/PSwdz5hMjT
— Nick Akridge (@PFF_NickAkridge) December 16, 2024
Within the above clip, the Payments get one other wheel route from their halfback, this time coming from the slot after making a pure decide route with the skin receivers. It’s an unimaginable job for a defender to work via the decide and get to the wheel with out assist, and Allen knew that immediately. There’s no have to even attempt to maintain the protection along with his eyes; he is aware of the protection can’t get there in time and lofts an ideal ball excessive for one more enormous acquire.
The Lions didn’t cease taking part in man protection, and the Payments continued to make them pay.
Why not one other dime from Allen? pic.twitter.com/UYFwOQXsbG
— Nick Akridge (@PFF_NickAkridge) December 16, 2024
Pre-snap, the Payments establish man protection and that the cornerbacks to the shut facet of the sector gained’t be switching their assignments based mostly on the pre-snap movement. Due to that, Allen is aware of he’ll have Dalton Kincaid on a nook route in opposition to a a lot smaller defensive again, Terrion Arnold. Kincaid wins and stacks him, making the choice straightforward for Allen. He then drops an ideal dime to beat the protection for one more giant acquire.
Allen’s present run of type could also be one of the best we’ve ever seen from him, and that’s saying so much, contemplating he’s posted a 90.0-plus PFF total grade the previous 5 seasons. He’s established himself as among the best quarterbacks within the NFL over these previous 5 seasons. Nevertheless, this season he’s, thus far, made probably the most convincing case for MVP of the league and can look to take dwelling that award for the primary time in his profession.
