Philadelphia Eagles CB Darius Slay Defends ‘Amazing’ Buffalo Bills QB Josh Allen
The Buffalo Bills have a bad habit of turning winnable games into excruciating losses, and in a season falling far below expectations, there’s plenty of blame to go around. After Sunday’s 37-34 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles, the noise only grew louder.
Buffalo is now 6-6 and on the outside of the AFC playoff picture as the bye week arrives. In search of an explanation for the Bills’ disappointing season, some have looked at quarterback Josh Allen’s turnover numbers as the reason why things are so bleak.
Yes, Allen was fooled on the trap coverage that resulted in his lone interception of the day and his 13th of the season. No, it’s not the reason Buffalo continues to struggle.
Allen attempts a pass during the Week 12 loss in Philadelphia.
© Bill Streicher, USA TODAY
Allen played one of the best games of his career in Week 12. In weather conditions that would ground most aerial attacks, Allen’s one-of-a-kind arm cut through the elements repeatedly. When windows weren’t there, it was his frame and athleticism that brought the Bills closer to victory. He was the best player on the field, regardless of uniform.
Eagles cornerback Darius Slay was similarly impressed.
“Josh Allen is doing an amazing job, man,” Slay said. “We were doing great on the back end covering but extending plays, throwing the ball, making plays, running the ball, he was doing his thing today.”
Allen completed 29-of-51 attempts for 339 yards, two scores, and an interception. On the ground, he was Buffalo’s leading rusher, with nine attempts for 81 yards and two scores. For those counting at home, that makes him responsible for four touchdowns and 420 yards of offense.
Furthermore, his 21.7 total expected points added (per rbsdm.com) was a 96th-percentile performance. For all of his second-half heroics, Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts’ day shouldn’t be considered much more than average. Despite what the MVP odds may suggest, he outplayed Hurts and it wasn’t particularly close.
Yet, the interception will rattle around the airwaves. Slay seems to feel that’s rather reductive.
“I don’t know why a lot of media are giving him bad talk because of turnovers,” Slay said. “You can see he threw the ball 51 times, you know what I’m saying. I don’t know a guy who can throw it 51 times … per game and not turn the ball over. I know you want to take care of it, but if you’re throwing the ball 51 times, you’re going to throw an interception … it’s just going to happen.
“Now if you throw it 20 times per game it’d be a lot different.”
Allen had the Bills in position to win for much of the game. They took a 10-point lead into halftime, held a field-goal edge until Philadelphia kicker Jake Elliott somehow hit a 61-yarder, and (after his head coach did not let him try to win the game in regulation) gave Buffalo a lead in overtime.
Time and time again, it was those around Allen who cost him. Don’t let punditry cloud what was otherwise phenomenal football. Buffalo is a special teams penalty on Monday Night Football and a series of unfortunate events on Sunday away from having the MVP favorite under center.
Allen should have the opportunity to will this team toward victory when the Bills return from the bye against the Kansas City Chiefs.
