Josh Allen’s “ me?” performance Monday wasn’t necessary to show Allen can dominate an NFL playoff game.
It nevertheless beat watching any other live entertainment, while also setting up Allen’s third postseason matchup opposite Patrick Mahomes.
Reminding folks a first Super Bowl title remains in play for the Bills and their snow-shoveling faithful — although the defense’s injuries are raising a caution flag — the 27-year-old quarterback pulled off rare plays in his team’s playoff opener.
His spirals through Buffalo’s cold winds, a 52-yard touchdown run through Pittsburgh’s defense and other special plays advanced the AFC’s No. 2 seed to a second-round home game Sunday against the defending Super Bowl-champion Chiefs, via the Bills’ 31-17 win over the seventh-seeded Steelers.
To see Allen at his best, watch him in the playoffs, as the high stakes induce him to lean more on his immense rushing skills in clutch moments.
Stopping Allen short of the line to gain or the end zone is like trying to tackle a beer truck, as a San Diego State alum rediscovered.
Confronted by a large, fast man charging at him after he’d run away from six rushers, ex-Aztecs safety Damontae Kazee couldn’t corral the 6-foot-5, 240-pounder some 15 yards into his 52-yard burst.
The touchdown jacked Buffalo’s second-quarter lead to 21-0.
The Steelers rallied with 10 straight points.
Allen answered with devastating rushes and throws.
Philip Rivers could’ve empathized, Allen having nudged him into a new career on the same field in another playoff opener three years ago.
Rivers completed 27 es for the underdog Colts, tying his career mark in 13 postseason games.
Like a young hooper who runs the savvy old guys off the YMCA court, Allen outdid the 39-year-old Rivers with rifle throws and mobile playmaking as the Bills eked out a 27-24 victory.
What to expect next from Allen and the Bills?
Even by his high-gusto norms, Allen will pull out the stops Sunday to beat the Chiefs in front of Taylor Swift and a national CBS audience.
He’ll run on keepers, pulldowns and sneaks.
The math s him: in nine playoff games, he’s run for 6.9 yards per carry, averaging nine rushes per game.
Also, he’ll likely fire lasers into traffic, even against the grain. Taking on risk as both a rusher and er is big part of the Allen experience because his arm strength and athleticism expand his opportunities. Though his turnovers are high, so are his exceptional first downs and touchdowns — such as Monday’s third-and-9, across-the-body strike to Stefon Diggs that led to a second-half field goal.
The daring throw came after Allen ran away from blind-side edge rusher Nick Herbig, a Steelers rookie clocked at 4.65 in the 40-yard dash last winter.
Expect to see the Full Allen as well Sunday, because defensive injuries may demand it.
Carted off Monday was Bills middle linebacker Terel Bernard, a rising second-year player who leads the team in tackles and stands second in sacks.
Valuable nickel cornerback Taron Johnson also exited, challenging further a secondary that lacked corner Rasul Douglas and safety Taylor Rapp.
It wasn’t long ago the Bills stood 6-6 and looked in danger of missing the playoffs. Allen wasn’t getting enough help and was too loose with the ball. But after coach Sean McDermott fired offensive coordinator Ken Dorsey and replaced him with quarterbacks coach Joe Brady, the offense became more consistent. Though Allen led a late surge that won the AFC East title, ensuring the Bills would open the playoffs at home, other AFC QBs such as Lamar Jackson of the top-seeded Ravens and Texans rookie marvel C.J. Stroud have commanded more attention lately.
The Chiefs won’t need any reminders of what Allen can do.
Via four touchdown es and 68 rushing yards in a turnover-free performance, he had them all but defeated two winters ago in a divisional game.
But the Bills’ defensive collapse in the final 13 seconds led to an opportunity that Mahomes and Co. turned into an overtime victory. Coupled with the AFC title game loss the previous year — also at Arrowhead Stadium — Allen is 0-2 against Mahomes. This will be his first playoff game against the Chiefs at home, albeit against K.C.’s best defense of the past several years.
Because there’s always a San Diego connection…
Allen’s second of two first-quarter touchdown es to tight ends went to Dalton Kincaid, the former USD walk-on whom the Bills drafted 25th last year. Kincaid ran past linebacker Myles Jack on a seam route and caught the 29-yard . Showing smoothness that suggests a young Travis Kelce, the former Toreros star had 73 receptions for 673 yards (9.2 per catch) in 16 games this season. He transferred to Utah after two seasons under Toreros coach Dale Lindsey. The Bills drafted him four picks after the Chargers took another large -catcher in receiver Quentin Johnston, who had a disappointing rookie season.
