By Nick Wojton / Billswire.usatoday.com
Entering his second season, Buffalo Bills fans have a high bar set for 2019 and Josh Allen. The standard is high for the quarterback as well.
Despite some rookie struggles, injuries his teammates have sustained and some up-and-down play during early spring practices, Allen recently told The Athletic he’s expecting more than 16 games in 2019. He wasn’t shy from using the “S” word, too.
“I’m not going to sit here and say we’re going to win the Super Bowl, but we’re sure going to try,” Allen said. “We want to get into the playoffs. Coach (Sean McDermott) preaches playoff-caliber every day, and to get in the playoffs it usually takes around 10 wins. Our goal is to go out there, compete every day.”
Much of Allen’s and potential success for Buffalo in 2019 will hinge on Allen and the offense. There were several playmakers brought in as well as offensive lineman by the team’s front office to assist the QB. Those names include Cole Beasley, John Brown, and Mitch morse on the O-line. Despite the high number of additions, Allen’s confident things can come together and come together fast.
“I wouldn’t say [it is] a new team. We still have the same mindset we’re buying into. We’re bringing in different pieces to the puzzle, but I think as a team, the guys we still have in the locker room in Lorenzo Alexander and Micah Hyde and Jordan Poyer on defense have been huge, vocal leaders for us,” Allen added.
In 2019, the Bills will still be a long shot to win the division as long as Tom Brady is still with the Patriots. Allen and the Bills’ best chance to crack the playoffs and potentially a Super Bowl could be via the wild card once again, the same way the team last made the postseason in 2017. That’s assuming the team’s defense continues to hold up their end of the bargain while the offensive side improves, hopefully.