Allen, the 2020 Bills, and the AFC Playoff Race
Year two for the rookies to develop will help Josh Allen. Adding Stefon Diggs, and extending Dion Dawkins, will help Josh Allen. But for the Bills to reach their full potential, that of a Super Bowl-caliber team ready to take the AFC East, compete with the Baltimore Ravens, and dethrone the Kansas City Chiefs, Josh Allen needs to help himself.
Bradon Beane has done his job. This defense has already proven themselves to be elite, and should only be getting better with the second-round addition of AJ Epenesa, while the Bills offense looks equally talented– especially now with Stefon Diggs.
Sean McDermott has done his job as well. The Buffalo head coach has put together winning seasons in two of his first three years as head coach, a feat that hadn’t been pulled off by the Bills since the late 90s. He’s made the playoffs twice in that time too, again for the first time since the 90s.
Which means, the fate of the AFC rests in the hands of Buffalo’s quarterback. A defense as good as the Bills’ with a coach as good as McDermott can make life difficult for even the league’s most talented offenses. But if Allen can’t take advantage, it’s going to be Wild Card loss and missed potential for the Buffalo Bills.
Whichever path they take is Allen’s to determine. The tall, athletic, strong-armed quarterback with all the physical tools is still in the stage where he could be viewed as a developmental prospect. But if he wants to take advantage of this Super Bowl window, he needs to get there fast.