How Josh Allen rediscovered overdrive in win against Raiders

[Buddy]

How Josh Allen rediscovered overdrive in win against Raiders

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[StraightJ]

Hipkat may get angry at me for posting with what formatting he says doesn't match his.  It's ok, I don't plan to do relatively many of these, I just wanted to give something for folks to read until he is on tomorrow.

I enjoyed the beginning of the story, about the hardships of OC Ken Dorsey making it to the game.  It was a bit different. 

 

 

 

ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. — The following metaphor is a true story.

At 12:39 p.m. Sunday, golf carts hustled Buffalo Bills assistant coaches through a Highmark Stadium security gate and toward their perch in the press box.

As they reached an asphalt incline, Ken Dorsey’s driver encountered some trouble. The cart came to lurching halt. Two carts behind them were forced to brake. Dorsey remained placid, listening to music off his phone, while his driver furiously futzed with the gearshift.

The only movement was in reverse. Dorsey’s wagon front-ended the coaches behind them despite efforts from the rear-facing assistant in the backseat, extending his legs to fend off the collision. The driver jiggled some more. Backward they jolted again. And again.

Dorsey calmly stepped out and hopped into another cart, which whisked him away to call the plays.

The Bills’ offense sputtered, panicked, stalled and went the wrong way six nights earlier, but they changed direction against the Las Vegas Raiders and smoothly zoomed to a 38-10 victory.

In what seemed like a fourth exhibition game, Josh Allen looked nothing like the disoriented bombardier who committed four turnovers at the Meadowlands. The entire operation looked different.

“I think we all felt Monday was just a punch in the f—— stomach,” Bills right tackle Spencer Brown said. “We came back pissed off. Josh led us on the field today and did a good job.”

Allen didn’t insist on chunk plays. Rather, he took all the morsels Las Vegas offered. All three tailbacks produced. Allen connected with nine targets. Each Buffalo touchdown was scored by a different player.

Buffalo kept the ball for two-thirds of the game, including all but 2:10 of the third quarter.

“The versatility of this offense,” Bills tight end Dawson Knox said, “is really fun.”

Sunday began with Bills Mafia directing some serious side-eye at their boys.

After losing to the New York Jets in overtime and a week of anxiety, the Raiders took the opening possession 75 yards in just five plays for a touchdown. Then the Bills went three-and-out: two James Cook runs and an Allen sack.

Then Buffalo found its new golf cart. Dorsey and his quarterback found a rhythm. Allen completed his first 13 passes, stabilizing the offense for touchdowns on four of its next five series. The lone stoppage happened on fourth-and-goal from the 1, an incomplete pass from Allen to Knox in the end zone.

The misfire was uncommon. Allen completed 31 of his 37 attempts for 274 yards and three touchdowns. His 83.78 completion percentage is third only to the 84 percent he posted against the New England Patriots two playoffs ago and the 83.87 from last year’s opening slaughter of the Los Angeles Rams.

Gabriel Davis had six receptions for 92 yards and a touchdown. Stefon Diggs grabbed seven for 66 yards. Knox and Khalil Shakir made touchdown catches.

“He wasn’t trying to give a Herculean effort,” Bills center Mitch Morse said of Allen. “He just took what the defense gave him and made plays when he had to. When you see that happen, it’s a beautiful thing.”

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More impressive Sunday was what Allen didn’t do.

He didn’t make any ludicrous throws into double coverage. He didn’t dribble the ball. He barely ran, although he did attempt to hurdle again, taking a shot to his nethers on one of his three carries for 7 yards. Aside from two occasions where Allen was removed early from a regular-season finale, Allen has only four games with fewer carries.

“As long as I’ve been here, I always see him bounce back,” Bills defensive end Shaq Lawson said. “Always. Every time.

“They woke him up. From here on out, I think it’s going to be crazy.”

Dorsey’s resourcefulness didn’t stop in the passing game. James Cook rushed 17 times for a career-best 123 yards (and added 36 more yards on four catches), while Latavius Murray and Damien Harris each got goal-line carries and scored touchdowns.

The offensive line also kept Allen clean. A week after he absorbed five sacks and nine quarterback hits, the Raiders hit him just twice while passing: a 7-yard Divine Deablo sack and a no-loss Robert Spillane sack. Star edge rusher Maxx Crosby registered seven tackles but didn’t get to Allen.

Sam Martin’s only punt occurred on Buffalo’s opening-series three-and-out.

“When we hit on all cylinders,” said Murray, “we’ll be a tough team to beat.”

Perhaps the best example of Buffalo’s resolve was displayed in the fourth quarter.

Helped by a three-touchdown cushion, Dorsey and Allen methodically guided the Bills on an 11-play, 95-yard drive that consumed 7:32. Allen completed all three passes for 65 yards, including a 40-yard strike to Davis on third-and-6 from Las Vegas’ 48-yard line. Harris had four carries for 23 yards and the touchdown.

“When you feel like you’re imposing your will out there, it’s just a confidence-booster,” Knox said. “Being able to run the ball well, take little checkdown throws when we can and then hit a big one, it’s all about playing smart, not conservative, taking what the defense gives you.”

Next up are the unbeaten Washington Commanders, who squandered an 11-point lead late in the fourth quarter Sunday over the Denver Broncos and escaped with a 35-33 victory. The Commanders rallied to beat the Arizona Cardinals 20-16 on opening day.

The Bills are favored by six points, but that means zilch if the Bills don’t stay on the proper, upward path and — like Dorsey’s golf cart — repeatedly stall out or slip into reverse.

“This feeling right here is what we work for during the week,” said Murray, sitting deep in his locker stall. “Now we need to see if we can do it again and again.”

At 3:58 p.m., Dorsey exited the locker room earlier than any player. He was headed over to Bills headquarters to examine game film. He was on foot.

(Photo of Josh Allen: Kevin Sabitus / Getty Images)