Did New York Jets, Zach Wilson Break Josh Allen, Stefon Diggs Apart on Bills?

According to one Bills beat reporter, New York's Week 1 win did more to sever the bond between Buffalo's top passing duo than anything else this past season.

New York was sent into a frenzy on Monday Night Football to start the 2023 season. A 65-yard punt return by Xavier Gipson gave the New York Jets a miracle victory over the Buffalo Bills in overtime on a night that turned into a disaster following the torn Achilles injury suffered by Aaron Rodgers.

As it turns out, while the Jets were only able to get to seven wins last season, their early season victory over their AFC East rival had lasting impacts that only just reverberated across the league.

According to Tim Graham, Bills reporter for the Athletic, following the game in the Bills locker room noticed some turmoil going on between Buffalo's star quarterback Josh Allen, and wide receiver Stefon Diggs.

"They (the Bills) were trying to pick him (Allen) up, one thing I didn't include in the story was Stefon Diggs coming up to him after the game...but Josh Allen snapped at him," Graham explained on his Tim Graham and Friends Podcast. "He said 'it's one f++^ game.' He kind of motioned that he wasn't talking to him. Diggs walked away and Josh just sat there."

In his immediate story following the Bills 22-16 loss to the Jets, Graham held the conflict between Diggs and Allen because "as I recall, I didn't know what Diggs said to him" but now recognizing that he "wishes it was included."

Why does this story mean anything? Following Diggs' offseason trade to the Houston Texans, the Bills chose to carry the receiver's $31 million dead cap charge for the upcoming season - the most ever for a single receiver. Why would Buffalo want to put themselves through even more cap issues if not to get rid of a player they felt wasn't working well with the organization?

In their loss to the Jets, Graham suggests that was only the start.

"Whatever Stefon Diggs said to him, Josh Allen wasn't having it. Diggs, in that moment, would lead one to believe on the regular was getting under Josh Allen's skin."

Diggs caught over 100 passes last season for the fourth straight year while Allen threw for over 4,000 yards for the fourth straight year as well. In the opening night loss, Diggs caught 10 passes but Allen's three interceptions proved costly.

As Buffalo began to change their offensive philosophy late in the year, though, Diggs' offensive output decreased. Now 30 years old, the All-Pro wideout will be looking to win a championship with the Texans instead.

Something had to have happened for the Bills to recognize that moving on from Diggs was the best step for the organization. If the Jets were part of the cracks that began to show between the receiver and quarterback, New York, should have some solace in looking back at their disappointing 2023 finish.