Bills QB Josh Allen proving doubters wrong, making early MVP case

Josh Allen and the Buffalo Bills entered the 2024 season facing pressure after another playoff disappointment and the departure of star wide receiver Stefon Diggs during the offseason. At least through three games, the Bills appear to be a serious contender, mostly thanks to Allen putting together an MVP-caliber season so far. 

Allen was as good as he's ever been on Monday night (and that's saying something). He completed 22-of-28 for 247 yards with four touchdown passes in the first half alone in Buffalo's 47-10 domination of the Jacksonville Jaguars. Allen finished the night with a 142.1 quarterback rating after tallying 307 total yards and posting a 76.7 completion percentage. 

Allen's elite performance was all Buffalo needed to cruise to a 3-0 record and a spot at the top of the AFC East. Overall, Allen has 634 yards, nine total touchdowns and zero interceptions this year.

While he's thrown for more yards over a three-game stretch before, Allen's efficiency has been off the charts. He's also in a class of his own this season. Allen is the only quarterback in the NFL who has started every game and thrown for multiple touchdowns without being intercepted.

Allen is also doing this despite some questioning if he could be great without Diggs.

"One of the more overrated players in the NFL," an anonymous NFL executive said of Allen to ESPN's Jeremy Fowler in July.  "Immense talent but he makes a lot of mistakes. He's underdeveloped at winning at the line of scrimmage, tends to lock on to targets, more of a thrower than precision passer, forces throws into traffic." 

But it now appears, that not only is Allen proving opinions like that one wrong, but he's using those comments as fuel to take his game to another level. Instead of being able to rely on a true top target like Diggs, Allen is spreading the ball around. Five different Bills receivers made three or more receptions against the Jaguars. 

Of course, Allen and the Bills will ultimately be judged by what happens in the playoffs. 

And to be fair, Allen's postseason numbers show he's been at his best in the biggest games. In the playoffs, he's thrown for 2,723 yards while posting a 64.6 completion percentage and a staggering touchdown-to-interception ratio of 21 to four. 

It remains to be seen if this is finally the year for Buffalo and if Allen can claim some revenge on Mahomes and the Chiefs, who have handed him three of his five playoff losses. 

However, if Allen continues his current level of play throughout the entire season, it's very possible he enters the postseason as the 2024 NFL MVP.