Central Valley native Allen realizing his dreams with Buffalo
Jo sh A l len a lway s dreamed big while growing up in the small Central Valley town of Firebaugh. Often overlooked or disregarded, Allen had belief in himself that never wavered. He knew he’d somehow find his way to the top.
Recently, one of those boyhood dreams came true for the Buffalo Bills quarterback. Yes, Allen won AFC offensive player of the week honors after throwing for a career-high 417 yards and four touchdowns in a win over Miami, but that award wasn’t what excited him the most.
The Bills’ 24- year- old breakout star, who once unsuccessfully begged Fresno State’s coaching staff for two straight offseasons to allow him to be a walk- on, had to pinch himself when he found out he now has his own cereal.
“As a kid, that’s something that you kind of
dream of, being an athlete and being on a cereal box,” Allen told reporters after “Josh’s Jaqs” — as in Josh Allen Quarterback — were released in the Buffalo area. “It’s something that people get and they start their day and they look at me on a cereal box. It’s definitely weird, but it’s a cool thing and something to cross off the bucket list.”
Fame, once a faraway goal for the kid who used to drive a tractor and chop cotton on his family’s farm near the banks of the San Joaquin River, is now coming quickly for him.
R a iders coa ch Jon Gruden, whose team will be challenged to try to stop Allen in Las Vegas on Sunday, can’t help but love watching the 6-foot-5, 245-pounder perform.
“The quarterback is eyeopening. He’s a fun guy to watch, man,” Gruden said Monday about the man the Bills drafted seventh overall in the 2018 draft. “He can really throw the ball. He’s got a great playing style. He’s got a lot of John Elway’s playing style. He can scramble, he’s strong, he’s tough. He’s a bigtime player.”
Allen, second in the NFL in passing yards (1,038) and touchdowns (10) and third in passer rating (124.8), has also become the rare Buffalo quarterback to receive the stamp of approval from the noblest of Bills royalty.
Here’s a closer look at what to look for when the Raiders try to defend Allen and pick up their second win at their new Las Vegas stadium:
Three reasons for Raiders optimism:
TROUBLES DOWN THE LINE >> The Bills’ offensive line, ranked in the bottom third of the league by most accounts, struggled against the Rams and may be without its best player when it faces the Raiders. Left tackle Dion Dawkins landed awkwardly on his right shoulder and sat out the final few plays Sunday. His status for the Raiders isn’t known yet. If he can’t go, 34-year-old journeyman Ty Nsekhe, who’s played with five NFL teams and five Arena League teams, will take his spot. Ex-Raider Jon Feliciano, who has done an adequate job at right guard since last year, suffered a torn pectoral muscle in July but could return this week. The Rams sacked Allen four times and Buffalo is now tied with the 49ers and Panthers for 10th-most sacks allowed this year with eight. While Allen has averaged 3.07 seconds per pass attempt, fourth best in the league, it’s more a product of his elusiveness than his line’s blocking prowess. GREEN LIGHT FOR AIR ATTACK? >> The Bills’ pass defense has been the league’s sixth-worst in yardage permitted through the first three weeks, meaning Derek Carr could find some enticing passing lanes this week. Both Jared Goff of the Rams and Ryan Fitzpatrick of the Dolphins topped the 320yard mark against Buffalo’s defense, which has been operating without one of its starting cornerbacks this season. However, Josh Norman (hamstring) has a chance to return this week, Bills coach Sean McDermott told reporters Monday. Opponents have been picking on Norman’s replacement, Levi Wallace, rather than deal with Bills’ No. 1 corner Tre’Davious White.
B U F FA L O ’ S TRO U B L E S AGAINST THE RUN >> It’s clear the Raiders’ offense should be able to move the ball as Buffalo’s defense is almost as forgiving against the run as it is versus the pass. The Bills are allowing 4.6 yards per carry and permitted the Rams to run for 167 yards Sunday. That was the most rushing yards the Bills have allowed since Week 8 last season. Overall, they’ve given up 318 yards on 69 attempts. It’s clear the Bills miss hulking, run-stuffing defensive tackle Star Lotulelei, who opted out of the season because of COVID concerns.
Three reasons for Raiders pessimism:
TOO MANY RECEIVERS TO DEFEND? >> The numbers tell us the Raiders’ pass defense has held opposing quarterbacks to the 10thworst passer rating (88.9). But it’ll face its biggest challenge Sunday when the Bills unleash a dangerous trio of receivers for Allen: Stefon Diggs, Cole Beasley and (maybe) John Brown. Beasley in the slot and Brown (or rookie Gabriel Davis) solidify this receiving corps. Beasley had six catches for 100 yards against the Rams and Davis, stepping in after Brown’s calf injury, caught all four of his targets for 81 yards. Oh, don’t forget about Buffalo’s tight ends. The Rams did and it cost them the game. Tyler Kroft and former Raider Lee Smith combined for three TD catches, including Kroft’s game-winner with 15 seconds left. ANOTHER TROUBLESOME BACK >> After facing Christian McCaffrey and Alvin Kamara to start the season, the Raiders’ defense made New England’s Rex Burkhead look like those two stars Sunday, when he scored three touchdowns and had 98 all-purpose yards. Now it’ll face another genuine standout in Buffalo’s elusive Devin Singletary. Like the previously mentioned backs, Singletary is a weapon in the passing game; he’s already caught 11 balls for 93 yards out of the backfield. The 5-foot-7, 203-pounder had 121 yards from scrimmage against the Rams, running 13 times for 71 yards (5.5 average) and grabbing four passes for 50 yards.
A REAL DUAL-THREATQUARTERBACK >> Allen was a revelation the past two years when tucking the ball under his arm and taking off. He gained more than 1,100 yards and scored 17 touchdowns.