Buffalo Bills Let Josh Allen Run, Find 'Easy Plays' in Win vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

At some point, the Buffalo Bills had to decide whether letting quarterback Josh Allen run was worth the injury risk that would follow. Apparently, Thursday Night Football following an embarrassing loss was the time to flip the switch.

Fast-forward four quarters, and it’s safe to say it worked. Buffalo won 24-18 over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Highmark Stadium on Thursday night, but never lost control of the game, thanks in part to its best offensive showing since Week 4’s blowout victory over the Miami Dolphins.

Reeling Allen in had been a controversial topic surrounding the Bills offense. Center Mitch Morse expressed relief that his quarterback was getting hit less with fewer carries, and the team has a vested interest in keeping Western New York’s most prized possession healthy for as long as possible.

He was always going to scramble, but taking designed runs out of the offense was a move made to protect Allen. The offense’s performance in recent weeks tested that theory’s resolve.

After falling short against the New England Patriots in Week 7, it was clear something had to change to make things more functional. It looks like that has been unleashing Allen’s potential on the ground.

Head coach Sean McDermott spoke about making both scrambles and designed runs a point of emphasis in preparation for Week 8’s contest.

“I would say both,” McDermott said. “I liked how we got him going early there with the quarterback draw … in the first quarter, first drive. So I was very pleased.”

That particular draw resulted in a touchdown, but it wasn’t the only one they called. With an inconsistent run game, a more stationary Allen allows defenses to hone in on receivers that, before Thursday, hadn’t looked threatening at all. Back on the move, he’s able to open things up and give his playmakers more favorable opportunities.

The impact of a two-dimensional Allen shouldn’t be understated.

“That was what I’m used to seeing, and it was fun to watch,” McDermott said. “Josh looked very comfortable, the offense looked very comfortable. Probably the first time since maybe episodes of the Raiders game and then again in Miami where it just looked like every play wasn’t an adventure, every … there looked like there were some easy plays.”

Buffalo needed to get back on track, winning the less daunting games on its schedule to keep pace with the conference’s best. It’s too early to tell if these flashes will remain throughout the year, but fans can rest assured that things went pretty well.

The staff deserves credit for making the necessary adjustments. So does Allen, who has made it known that fewer constraints lead to more free-flowing football.

It’s possible the Bills revert back to their conservative approach to Allen during stretches of the season, and judgment on that topic likely comes down to how risk-averse one is. But the fact that this Staples-brand easy button can be stored in Buffalo’s back pocket is a win in itself.