Every team in the NFL has experienced how challenging it can be to stop Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen. He has one of the strongest arms in the game so defenses have to make sure to keep everything in front of them, but when they drop back to prevent the deep pass, he has learned to take the shorter throw. If they blitz to get pressure on him, he becomes as slippery as a banana peel in the pocket and keeps the ball himself or finds the open man. “What are we supposed to do?” defensive coordinators have wondered aloud during many sleepless nights. Well, there is good news for these anguished folks: it is now an option to punch Josh Allen in the head.
The Bills were up 20-13 early in the fourth quarter in Indianapolis and facing a crucial 4th and 1 from the Colts 15 yard line. Although it would have been tempting for some to opt for the chip shot field goal to take a two score lead, Sean McDermott put his money on his 240-pound bison of a quarterback and it paid off. Allen kept the snap and rumbled for five yards through Colts defenders who were trying to stuff him at the line, or in the case of Dayo Odeyingbo, punch him in the head.
Bro is just punching Josh Allen pic.twitter.com/LNao8o3qKE
— Bussin’ With The Boys (@BussinWTB) November 10, 2024
Odeyingbo was likely trying to knock the ball loose, as is common practice in football, but you have to think that this guy was at his wit’s end by that point and lashing out in an inappropriate manner. Put yourself in Dayo’s position, if you can imagine being a 6′-6″, 290-pound millionaire: Lucas Oil Stadium was full of Bills fans so the crowd was buzzing for the away team, Joe Flacco had already thrown two interceptions, including a pick-six to Taron Johnson on his first toss, Indy is not a Super Bowl contender this season, and that fourth down may have been the Colts’ last opportunity to turn the tide of the game.
No matter his true motivation, punching quarterbacks in the head should be frowned upon in a league that has struggled with its reputation concerning concussion issues, but the referees elected not to throw a flag on the play. A fine with Odeyingbo’s name on it may still be forthcoming, but those unpenalized fisticuffs appear to have exposed a loophole in the league rules, and others might now consider swinging at big #17 in a desperate attempt to slow him down.
Allen Gets the Last Laugh
Josh got his revenge later in the fourth quarter when he scrambled on a third down deep in Colts territory and Odeyingbo had an opportunity to bring him down for a sack. As many would-be tacklers have learned over the past seven years, that is a tall task and Allen stiff-armed his face to the turf to keep both the sticks and the clock moving. Running back James Cook scored two plays later to put the Bills up 30-13 after the extra point and effectively ice the game to send the Bills to 8-2.
With Joe Flacco struggling for the second straight week, you have to wonder if the Colts management will again turn to Anthony Richardson, despite controversially benching him two weeks ago. Flacco did throw for two touchdowns (one in garbage time with only eight seconds remaining), but his three interceptions and third quarter fumble proved too much to overcome, despite Allen throwing two picks himself. At this point in his 17-year career, Joe Flacco is probably not going to improve, while the inexperienced Richardson remains something of a mystery and could give the Colts a puncher’s chance down the stretch.
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