BUFFALO, NY (WKBW) — It's not a secret. The Bills pass game is in a much better place than they were at this time last year.
Through 12 games this season the Bills have 12 different players who've caught a touchdown pass, a receiver who's surpassed 1,000 yards on the season, and a QB who's thrown for nearly 3,500 yards.
"We're still not a finished product, but the competitiveness which the guys display and the intelligence and toughness that we place a high premium on smart players," offensive coordinator Brian Daboll said. "They're able to grasp the information we teach them and execute it at a high level."
Josh Allen is a big part of why this offense is putting up so many points week after week. He's a more comfortable player than in years past and his consistency in the air is something that's progressed year after year.
"The x's and o's are obviously very important but it's gotta be something he feels comfortable with," Daboll said. "We've developed that each year since he's been here with things we think he does well and try and incorporate plays we know he can go out there and execute."
Take a look at Allen's numbers since he was drafted in the 2018 NFL Draft:
2018: 52.8% completion, 2,074 yards, 10 touchdowns, 12 interceptions
2019: 58.8% completion, 3,089 yards, 20 touchdowns, 9 interceptions
2020 (through week 13): 69.9% completion, 3,403 yards, 26 touchdowns, 8 interceptions
His accuracy stands out and it most recently showed in the team's win against the San Francisco 49ers where he completed 80% of his passes for 375 yards and four touchdowns. It was arguably one of the best performances of his career.
"He's a confident player every time he steps out on the field. He had a good game. He played well, Daboll said. "We mixed in some intermediate shots, some easy completions for him, he got the ball out of his hands and saw the defense well. His job as a quarterback
is to lead the team down and score points and help us win games and he's done that quite a bit around here since he's been here."
With a 9-3 record, the Bills are sitting atop the AFC East standings with four regular season games left. Allen and his wide receiver corps are "cooking" as of late and seem to be unstoppable. But Daboll says while Allen's a great guy to have in the huddle when the game's on the line, he's also a great guy to just be around.
"He's a grinder, he's a good leader, and he's a worker," Daboll said. "He knows he's far from a finished product, just like we all are, but he's the kind of kid you love being around, love coaching, and love working with."
