Bills Josh Allen thought about making this risky lateral play against Ravens

Allen's game has grown tremendously and a lot has to do with improved ball protection

Chris Pirrone | Jan 23, 2025

Jan 19, 2025; Orchard Park, New York, USA; Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen (17) throws a pass during the third quarter against the Baltimore Ravens in a 2025 AFC divisional round game / Gregory Fisher-Imagn Images

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The Josh Allen smirk says it all.

Its a sly, knowing smile, that there was once a time when the Buffalo Bills star quarterback would have done anything to extend a play with the (at times...slim) chance of turning nothing into something. Sometimes those attempts to extend plays resulted astonishing superman-like success. Other times they resulted in dumbfounding throws into coverage, interceptions, or an Allen fumble as he loosely one-handed the ball seeking to outrun and outmaneuver an entire defense.

Oct 6, 2024; Houston, Texas, USA; Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen / Troy Taormina-Imagn Images

2024 Playoffs: A Maturing Allen

But its seems, those days have mostly passed. Allen understands that the likely path to victory in tightly matched NFL playoff games is to take what the other team's defense gives you, and keep turnovers to a minimum.

Allen's 2024 playoff run has been profoundly efficient. Against the Denver Broncos in the AFC wild card game, Allen went 20-26 for 272 passing yards with 2 touchdown passes. He also rushed 8 times for 46 yards, with a QB rating of 134.5. In the Divisional matchup against the Ravens, Allen stats were fairly bland: 16-22 passing for 127 yards with no passing touchdowns, but two touchdown runs (10 total runs for 20 yards), and a QB rating of 86.7.

The key to victory in both games - zero interceptions, zero fumbles and zero turnovers by the Bills.

What 2024 'playoff-Allen' has been is practical and efficient, and that has resulted in the Bills advancing to the AFC Championship game this weekend against the defending Super Bowl Champion Kansas City Chiefs.

But is the old risk taking, linebacker leaping, turnover prone mustang sill lurking somewhere?

Nov 17, 2024; Orchard Park, New York, USA; Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen (17) leaps over Kansas City Chiefs safety Chamarri Conner (27) to get a first down / Mark Konezny-Imagn Images

The Crucial Play Against The Ravens: A Dangerous Lateral Opportunity

In the AFC Divisional game against the Ravens, a crucial moment occurred with just over three minutes left in the game. The Bills were up by by five points, 24-19, with a third down at the Ravens two yard line. A touchdown likely seals the game, but a field goal only leaves the Bills up by 8 with over 3 minutes to go, providing Ravens QB and NFL-MVP Lamar Jackson with ample time to tie the game.

It looked as though Allen set the play at the line, moved into shotgun, and then after the snap attempted to rush directly up the middle. Allen hesitated when he saw no opening, as Ravens Safety Ar'Darius Washington closed and wrapped himself around Allen's legs. The Ravens started to swarm and push Allen backwards. But...there was a moment where Allen and Bills RB James Cook, who was standing uncovered in the backfield, made eye contact.

For those questioning the 3rd down run call, the same one that worked out in the 1st half. The Ravens adjusted, and I bet Allen thought he may have that backside cut. Still don't hate the call... pic.twitter.com/hHwbQ707J4
— Erik Turner Cover 1 (@ErikJTurner) January 21, 2025

Did Allen briefly think about pitching the ball to the uncovered Cook, who could have headed for the corner pylon and scored? The old mustang in Allen might have dug down in his bag of tricks in an attempt to turn nothing into something spectacular, and made an inadvisable lateral to an unexpecting Cook.

Did Allen, even for a moment, think about making that lateral play to Cook?

Allen's answer was "no," but the smile says it all.

I asked Josh Allen if he THOUGHT about pitching the ball BACK to James Cook in the game vs the Ravens

Josh Allen: "No."

*smirks*

Me: Would young Josh Allen have done that?

"He would have done it yes. It may have crossed the mind... I didn't do it"#BillsMafia @BuffaloPlus pic.twitter.com/KLuJsj00Yo
— Dan Fetes (@danfetes) January 22, 2025

Did Josh Allen think about lateraling that ball to James Cook? Wellll...... maybe so. But not doing it represents so much about Allen this year. More from SportsCenter tonight: pic.twitter.com/akkjBFJ6oC
— Alaina Getzenberg (@agetzenberg) January 23, 2025

After all, an unplanned lateral has successfully worked for Allen before...

LATERAL TO JOSH ALLEN FOR THE TD 😱

via @NFL | #BillsMafia pic.twitter.com/kciWflVa3Q
— FanDuel Sportsbook (@FDSportsbook) December 2, 2024

Coleman stunned after Cooper flipped it back to Josh for a touchdown:

“You didn’t tell him to throw it to you? You two, like?

Allen, confused why he was credited with a receiving TD:

“I’m not going to ask any questions. I love football. #BillsMafia
pic.twitter.com/JhIx3TxK6n
— Ajay Cybulski (@AjayCybulski) December 2, 2024

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