Albany Times Union (Sunday)

Bills’ offense gaining fans

Rams’ Mcvay impressed by what he’s seen from Buffalo QB Allen so far

- By John Wawrow

Orchard Park Sean Mcvay knows good offenses when he sees them.

Quarterbac­k Josh Allen and the Buffalo Bills — a team previously known for having a defense-first reputation — have suddenly captured the Los Angeles Rams coach’s attention as the teams prepare to play at Orchard Park on Sunday.

“A lot of mixture in personnel. A lot of different looks they can present,” Mcvay said. “And Josh’s ability to be able to beat you with his arms and legs and create off-schedule is a real winning edge. Man, I’ve been impressed with him the first couple of weeks.”

It’s early still, but the Bills (20) don’t resemble the once-plodding, inconsiste­nt offensive team which ranked in the bottom half of the NFL in yards gained for all but two of the past 17 seasons, including 24th last year.

Sparked by Allen’s 729 yards passing, the Bills rank first in yards passing, third in yards gained and are tied for sixth in scoring 58 points.

Buffalo’s offensive renaissanc­e was apparent in a 31-28

come-from-behind win at Miami last week, when Allen had 417 yards passing and four touchdowns in becoming the team’s fifth player to top 400 yards.

In making up for an injury-depleted defense missing two starting linebacker­s, the Bills snapped a 38-game skid going back to 2011 when allowing 28 or more points.

“He’s a lot more comfortabl­e back there, he’s locked in,” running back Devin Singletary said of Allen. “He’s that general we’re looking for.”

The Rams, off to their third straight 2-0 start, are no pushovers on offense, either.

They’ve finished a season ranked no worse than 10th in

yards gained since Mcvay took over in 2017, and have topped 400 yards in each of their first two outings.

Allen dismissed questions about a feud he’s had with Rams cornerback Jalen Ramsey, who was with Jacksonvil­le in 2018 when he called the quarterbac­k “trash” in a magazine article. Ramsey questioned Allen’s abilities coming out of Wyoming.

 ?? Jeffrey T. Barnes / Associated Press ?? Buffalo quarterbac­k Josh Allen threw for 417 yards last week and the Bills lead the league in passing yards through two games this season.
Jeffrey T. Barnes / Associated Press Buffalo quarterbac­k Josh Allen threw for 417 yards last week and the Bills lead the league in passing yards through two games this season.

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