'We Have the Option!' Sean McDermott Reveals Key to Bills Weathering Storm

Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen's physical tools may be more relevant than ever against the Pittsburgh Steelers, who come to town in a Wild Card game bound to be impacted by poor weather.

As one of the best players on the planet – at the league’s most important position – Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen is always going to be at the forefront of his team’s fate.

But on Sunday, with a trip to the Divisional Round on the line, his status as a difference-maker could transcend the fates of the forecast. Buffalo is expected to see a high of 24 degrees and wind gusts of up to 50 miles per hour, per USA TODAY. For mere mortals, like the Bills’ AFC rivals heading to Kansas City, throwing the ball becomes an uphill battle.

For Allen, it may be a slightly colder day at the office.

His physical tools are undeniably elite and an incredible asset for bad-weather games. Heavy winds and potential snow do hurt Buffalo, as the more talented team, but no quarterback is mitigated less by the elements than Allen. His arm is strong enough to cut through the wind – at least better than anyone else – and his size makes him a snowplow when the ground game is called upon.

Before Sunday’s matchup with the Pittsburgh Steelers, Buffalo head coach Sean McDermott talked about Allen’s tools making him the best fit in the 2018 NFL Draft.

“You go back to the scouting process with Josh and the evaluation of who fits in Buffalo,” McDermott said. “Of all the quarterbacks that were coming out that season who best fits? One of those boxes, so to speak, that we looked at was ‘Can they throw it, what’s their hand size?’ All those things in Buffalo, New York.

“That’s a lot of what he brings to the table, that ability, that arm strength, that hand size. And he’s played in it before, so all those go well for Josh.”

Allen’s MVP campaign will end just short of hardware, but few in Western New York are complaining. His 18 interceptions will wrongfully steal headlines from his 4,306 passing-yard, 44 total-touchdown performance, but few would give the Bills a better chance to win. In a game like Sunday’s, Allen may stand alone.

The Steelers, by default because of their quarterback play, were already a bit one-dimensional. Strong winds may only exaggerate their struggles to throw the ball. Buffalo, however, doesn’t have to fall victim to the weather – tilting the contest in its favor.

Bills Mafia saw Allen fight through the weather earlier this season when he did everything in his power to beat the Philadelphia Eagles in a game made ugly by wind and rain. Buffalo fell short, but Allen’s 339 passing yards, 81 rushing yards, and four total touchdowns can give the Bills confidence as the weather worsens.

Bad Weather For Steelers at Bills? Good!

“Most people would say, ‘We don’t have the option,’” McDermott said, regarding an aerial attack in poor conditions. “So at least we have the option at this point to entertain.”

It may be Allen’s legs that stand out instead, but Buffalo is best suited to stay two-dimensional, no matter the forecast. In a game that seems destined for chaos, that’s an invaluable advantage.