Josh Allen and the Buffalo Bills always seem on the verge of something special, yet the disappointment hits just as hard every year. Since 2020, Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs have crushed their Super Bowl dreams four times, while Joe Burrow and the Bengals have dealt them another playoff blow.
Through it all, star quarterback Josh Allen has shouldered the burden—facing criticism, battling injuries, and trying to meet sky-high expectations. He’s delivered countless MVP-worthy performances, finally earning the award last season. Still, it’s his epic battle with Mahomes in the 2021 divisional round that continues to define his playoff legacy.
Mina Kimes pointed out who must elevate their game to help Josh Allen finally capture a Super Bowl title. According to a post on X (formerly Twitter) from NFL on ESPN, Kimes said Allen needs more support from his receivers on the outside.
“He [Allen] was second in QBR against zone coverage. Ninth versus man,” Kimes said. “That’s not a Josh Allen stat, that’s a Bills receiver stat… It’s a difference between them making the Super Bowl or not. You need one of those skill players to step up as a true 1-on-1 man-beater,” Kimes remarked.
Josh Allen needs help from the Bills
Put simply, Josh Allen is doing his part—especially after earning MVP honors last season—but he can’t do it alone. He needs a reliable receiver who can consistently beat man coverage and make plays on the outside, not just any kind of support.
In the modern NFL, a receiver who can consistently create separation isn’t just nice to have—it’s critical. Consider how vital Travis Kelce has been to Mahomes’ success or the impact Ja’Marr Chase has made for Burrow.
The Bills once had that dynamic connection with Stefon Diggs, but over time it faded, ultimately resulting in Diggs being traded to the Houston Texans in April 2024. Since then, the remaining receivers—though dependable—haven’t provided the kind of game-changing presence needed to push the Bills over the top.
If the Bills truly want to get over the hump, they have to give Josh Allen a legitimate No. 1 target again. Whether it comes via the draft, a trade, or a breakout from someone already in-house, that kind of difference-maker is the piece they’re missing.
Kimes drove the point home by highlighting how often defenses play man coverage against Buffalo, largely due to their growing respect for the Bills’ run game.
“When you’re talking about an offense in Buffalo that faces a ton of man coverage, in part because defenses now are so afraid of the run game, it honestly is the difference between them winning, or making it to a Super Bowl or not,” she continued.
