Josh Allen’s quest to reach the Super Bowl began on a shaky note on Sunday against a short-handed Miami Dolphins squad.
Facing off against third-string quarterback Skylar Thompson, Allen and the Bills spent more of the afternoon battling their own mistakes to secure a Wild Card game victory and secure a date in the AFC Divisional Round of the NFL playoffs.
By the numbers: Aside from dropped passes, Firebaugh’s favorite son had little issue airing out the ball on Sunday, completing 23 of 39 passes for 352 yards for three touchdowns.
- Allen, an unusually error-free postseason player, threw two picks during the second and third quarters and also lost a fumble during a sack.
- The Bills’ three turnovers generated 18 points of offense and a hefty comeback for the wayward Dolphins.
- Stefon Diggs, a favorite target of Allen, fell off the map in the second half. Diggs was targeted once and had no receptions the second half after catching seven passes for 114 yards in the first 30 minutes.
What they’re saying: “I mean, the turnovers, they hurt us. Really let them back in the game. Up 17-0 with chances and I give them the ball two times and give them a touchdown — it’s just things you can’t do. And you can’t expect to win like that, so some stuff to clean up on that,” Allen said post-game.
- “One-week seasons, man, that’s it. Got to take it one game at a time. Thought we did some good things today, I did some bad things today, so there’s stuff to clean up and some things to learn from, but we’ll grow from it. So, all that matters is surviving and advancing. Doesn’t matter how we win, it’s if we win, and I’m proud of our guys for playing the way they did,” Allen also said.
What’s next: Bills take on the Cincinnati Bengals at Highmark Stadium in Orchard Park, N.Y. in the AFC Divisional Round on Sunday.
- TV Broadcast: CBS / Paramount+ 12 p.m. PT
