{"id":100756,"date":"2020-12-29T19:40:42","date_gmt":"2020-12-30T00:40:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/?p=100756"},"modified":"2021-05-30T21:18:58","modified_gmt":"2021-05-31T01:18:58","slug":"brandon-allen-deserves-job-cincinnati-bengals-backup","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/2020\/12\/29\/brandon-allen-deserves-job-cincinnati-bengals-backup\/","title":{"rendered":"Brandon Allen Impressing, Deserves Job as Cincinnati Bengals Backup"},"content":{"rendered":"

As they continue their strong push towards the season finale, there are some important questions being answered in Cincinnati. On Sunday afternoon, Brandon Allen<\/a> answered a lingering roster question, when he proved the part as the Cincinnati Bengals<\/a> backup quarterback.<\/p>\n

The Cincinnati Bengals Backup Quarterback Job Looks Like It Belongs To Brandon Allen<\/h2>\n

The Bengals already have the biggest roster question answered: Joe Burrow<\/a> is fully capable of being their franchise quarterback. However, another roster question at the same position seems to have yielded an answer. After four starts as the backup quarterback appears to have a clear favorite of the job, on he earned.<\/p>\n

Prior to the season, the Cincinnati Bengals backup role was one of the bleakest in the NFL. Ryan Finley<\/a> and Jake Dolegala battled it out in training camp for the job<\/a>, but by all accounts, neither truly grasped the role. Now, it looks like Brandon Allen, who the team signed as a COVID-19 protection plan<\/a>, is the perfect man for the job.<\/p>\n

In his four starts for Cincinnati, Allen hasn’t been perfect, but he’s done an admirable job. Though the team is swept with the injury bug<\/a>, especially on offense, Brandon Allen stands tall and delivers.<\/p>\n

So far, Allen has thrown for 877 yards, five touchdowns, and two interceptions. Interestingly, Allen has outranked Burrow in a number of key passing categories. Allen leads Burrow in completion percentage (69.4% to 65.3%), yards per attempt (7.2 to 6.5), touchdown percentage (4.1% to 3.2%), and sack percentage (5.5% to 7.3%).<\/p>\n

Certainly, he’s no Burrow. The leadership and closer’s mentality from Burrow is impossible for Allen to match. However, the team learned this season how valuable a talented backup can be, as they’re helping Cincinnati win games down the stretch.<\/p>\n

Heading into the future, the Bengals need to find more ways to win games. Allen gives them another way to win.<\/p>\n

Winning in Houston Sealed the Deal for Allen<\/h2>\n

Navigating a tricky season as the team’s reserve quarterback to become their starter, Brandon Allen shows poise and patience. His Bengals teammates are rewarding Allen for his patience by making big plays.<\/p>\n

Leading the team’s offensive attack against the Houston Texans<\/a>, Allen delivered his team one of the best quarterback performances since Zac Taylor took over as head coach.<\/p>\n

On Sunday afternoon, it wasn’t just that Allen posted gaudy numbers. He hit such a wide variety of players with different passes, adding an extra layer to his impressive day. Allen completed passes to seven different receivers, including one to Trenton Irwin<\/a>, who played his second NFL game on Sunday.<\/p>\n

Further, he connected on big plays with some of the key members of the roster. A.J. Green<\/a> grabbed a 33-yard catch on a beautiful seed down the sideline. He hit Tee Higgins<\/a> on a beautiful 20-yard ball in the corner of the endzone for a touchdown. He found Alex Erickson<\/a> in the middle of the for a 42-yard connection.<\/p>\n

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OH MY TEE HIGGINS!!<\/p>\n

\ud83d\udcfa: #CINvsHOU<\/a> on FOX
\ud83d\udcf1: NFL app \/\/ Yahoo Sports app: https:\/\/t.co\/IFHvVPw7XT<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/InJCGkWQjO<\/a><\/p>\n

— NFL (@NFL) December 27, 2020<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n