The Buffalo Bills are officially handing the keys to the offense over to Josh Allen.
On Wednesday, the team confirmed that their rookie first-round pick will make his first career regular-season start on Sunday. The matchup is the Bills’ home opener and sees them take on the Los Angeles Chargers.
Josh Allen has been named our starting quarterback. #GoBills pic.twitter.com/4yMyEocTxX
— Buffalo Bills (@BuffaloBills) September 12, 2018
Buffalo Bills Rookie Quarterback Josh Allen to Make First Career Regular Season Start
The move comes after second-year signal caller Nathan Peterman struggled mightily as the Week One starter against the Baltimore Ravens. His stat line from the game tells the whole story: 5/18 for 24 yards with no touchdowns, two interceptions, and a quarterback rating of 0.0. Head coach Sean McDermott pulled Peterman in the third quarter and went with Allen the rest of the way.
But the damage was already done. Buffalo trailed 33-0 when Peterman exited the game. They ultimately lost by a score of 47-3, the worst season-opening defeat by point differential in franchise history.
Allen’s stats in relief of Peterman weren’t anything to write home about themselves. He completed just six of his 15 passes for 74 yards. But he didn’t throw an interception and actually showed an ability to help move the chains on Buffalo’s lone scoring drive of the game. He certainly showcased his mobility while on the field as he was the Bills’ second-leading rusher.
Obviously, the big concern moving forward is how much help Allen will get from his offensive line. Their pass protection against the Ravens was horrific considering the Bills gave up six sacks in total. Allen was a victim of three of them.
Things won’t get any easier with the Chargers coming to town. They boast a fearsome pass rush headlined by Melvin Ingram and Joey Bosa although the latter’s status for the game remains uncertain due to a foot injury.
Sunday’s tilt against the Chargers gets underway at 1 p.m. ET with CBS providing television coverage.
