When Buffalo Bills head coach Sean McDermott told his second-year quarterback Josh Allen to play “fearless”, the signal-caller not only listened, he responded with arguably his best game as a professional.
After completing nearly 64 percent of his passes (21 of 33) while throwing for 256 yards with three touchdown passes, and adding 56 rushing yards with a rushing touchdown, Allen helped the Bills (7-3) roll to a 37-20 win over the Miami Dolphins (2-8) in Week 11.
Allen, who made smart reads and accurate throws while directing an up-tempo offense that moved the ball at will against the Dolphins, was honored Wednesday as the AFC Offensive Player of the Week. the second time Allen has earned that honor in his young career.
Allen guided the offense to points on each of its first four drives, tossed touchdown passes to John Brown (twice) and Dawson Knox, and finished with a career-best passer rating of 117.7.
The three passing touchdowns equaled Allen’s career-high, set during a 42-17 win over the Dolphins in Week 17 of the 2018 season. Coincidentally, that was the only other time in his career that Allen was named AFC Offensive Player of the Week. In that win over Miami, Allen passed for 224 yards with three touchdowns and rushed for 95 yards with two touchdowns.
According to the team, it’s the first time since 1999 a Bills player has won AFC Offensive Player of the Week for the second time with the team. Doug Flutie last accomplished the feat in 1998 and again in 1999.
Allen and the Wild Card-leading Bills return to action with a 1 p.m. game vs. the Denver Broncos (3-7) Sunday at New Era Field.