Jerome007

That OLine was sooooo bad. Shady had no chance either. WTH. I do want Allen to start but I fear whoever has that #1 spot is getting KOed

And they (team AND TV reporter) congratulate him! Take his knee out

So he could be back by week 1? Good It's like with Shady. Does he really need to play? He and Kyle are consummate pros, have kept in top football shape. Let them sit till week 1

We see things the exact same way. If the OL doesn't step up, after AJ, whoever is the next #1 might start Sunday in an hospital bed. I loved Allen's hard count try, his side step for the TD. Poise, basically. And I do like he got sacked hard without getting injured cause it was on him to see that free player so he will be more aware from now on.

Really? What could he do? That OLine was crazy bad. Scary for any QB. DLine got pushed around. That's no good... IR and he can be back by week 8-10. I can't believe people that want a 2QB team! Allen impressed, again. Since his ceiling is high and the other don't outclass him at all, he should start. But it still sucks to lose a QB for so long

Pretty much this. I really like all 3 guys, I do, and in a way it sucks it can be only one that plays. But that's football and well say AJ doesn't see the field, 5M a year doesn't hurt the rest of his life... Unless AJ or Nate really outclass Allen, or Allen shows he's not ready,. I would have rather Josh start much sooner than later. Nothing beats real experience and he has so much potential that it's more for him to lose the spot than to win it. AJ & Nate are not established veterans either! Yet I agree with the premise of this thread and will go along with the coaches.

I agree. Yet it would be only his second NFL appearance, and it's preseason so he won't see complex packages designed to confuse a rookie QB. And even seasoned pros have had bad games. But again I agree that for him it's a chance to rise his stock or that he could lose his spot. TBH it's the same for all three QBs. I really do think it is open competition, just like it was when TT was on the team in the beginning. It's just that with Allen his ceiling is higher but his mistakes matter more, being a complete rookie. Weird that AJ seems such a veteran, and even Nate, while both have so little real game experience!

I was very pessimistic. 2 gigantic unexpected holes on the O-line, QB uncertainty, the solid stars are aging. New OC, new players could mean a great upswing or steps back, we just don't know. But yeah, I don't recall a preseason game ever getting my hopes back up that fast. My reason tells me to hold on but emotionally I'm psyched. I can't wait for tomorrow's game. I don't know about you guys but I've rarely been keen on watching these preseason 3rd string players! I only watched the 3rd one typically. Suddenly we sense some hope, that maybe we have some starts on our hands and a OC that at last has some imagination - though I did like Roman's run schemes, just wished he had some pass ones to go along with it! But it was only one preseason game... Allen might be a superstar. There's just a lot of maybes, but at least these could turn out great, not just good.

I get teary eyes watching this to this day. And just love the good story / charity that came out of it too. Such a great moment in sport!

I saw an ad on the NFL network hyping the two QBs and they will show the game. And I was hyped too! I usually dislike all this focus on a few individuals and on the new shiny toys, but Allen really had me excited last week, and Mayfield looked solid. I wish total success for our 3 QBs even though only one will get the real job barring injury. If AJ or Nate gets the #1 spot, I trust our coaches. But Allen simply shows more potential, exciting potential. Usually physical attributes don't matter that much for QBs. For example I was a "Flutie guy" back in the Flutie vs Johnson thing, yet Allen seems too special to disregard! Unless his football IQ sucks he can be a star.

I watched Mayfield a bit and he impressed me. He looked like a vet out there. He looked NFL ready already. And I sure want to see Allen perform again! And I'm sure Bills D players want a chance to sack TT

I've seen a college guy throw a perfect and very mean uppercut. THAT make senses. Hitting the helmet, not so much. Face mask grabbing fights look like two (very large and very strong) girls pulling each other's hair.

My 11 yo kid thought the same as in the original post... I didn't. Sure in a regular season game I'd be foaming at the mouth. Hell, even if they did win the Snow Game last year, that late punt in OT when a victory was needed still has a bad taste in my mouth. But come on, it's preseason, reducing injuries,. evaluating special teams players, and on and on, are surely the reasons. Though, it would have been nice to have a journalist ask him in the after game press conference, just to see what indeed was his thought process.

I watched some of Mayfield's play, and the dude is already savvy and a leader. Doesn't look anything special physically but that matters little for some very successful QBs. I'm still buzzing from Allen's performance though. And all 3 QB plays. And AT LAST, some creativity on offense, which you don't even expect in preseason.

Good post Shaw66 and JohnC! But just think about this: when was the last time we were that excited for a preseason game? I can tell for me: never. In the last 10 years, the most excited I've been by far is of course that 4th & 12 by Dalton Before that, it was the first game of the TT/Rex Ryan era. We had the same great defense and all kind of new tools on offense that injuries prevented us from ever seeing in action before the 1st game of the season. The Colts were considered a playoff team (experts spot on as always right?) and the Bills dismantled them, on defense AND offense as TT had beautiful deep balls, we got to see Shady in action, etc. Hell, I even liked Rex being all bravado and making the next game against the Pats so important. It didn't turned out so well (!) but those were exciting days. To feel this now for a preseason game is special!

I'm still buzzing from his display of arm, legs, poise, pocket awareness. Decision making, audibles, reading defenses... that's all up in the air for sure for now,. Like the exciting "running QBs", you know you'll get abysmal games and some amazing ones, some extraordinary highlights mixed among misses and miscues that high level QBs shouldn't do. Difference though, is that running QBs are all about them. With Allen, WR can sprint deep every route knowing they just might get the ball! Clay has gone deep too at times. Don't tell me the opposing defenses will crowd the box and force him to pass! He can stretch the field. Even his first out-of-bound pass is a warning to other teams that you better watch the deep pass! I can see that helping Shady who is soooo good once the initial holes are made for him. As other have mentioned, if the coaches make him develop, build confidence and all for the whole year, and then get one good OL and WR for next year. Sure, fine plan. And Nate and AJ performed well too! But come on, as a fan, Allen brings an excitement I don't recall having for a QB since following the Bills!

While I can understand the logic, ALL teams need 3 QBs so... nope.

I didn't get that from him. I was pleasantly surprised with his pocket awareness so early in his career. It would be much better for Allen to work with the #1s... but they have to work all the QBs. It's the eternal problem of all preseasons. I'm excited man. If nothing else, Allen brings thrills and fun and likely some cringe moments to the game. But boring he won't be!

Inconsistent? Yes. Some rookie mistakes? Yes. He will likelu throw a few INT with too much youthful enthusiasm and desire to make every play? Yes. Inaccurate? Come on now. I saw none of that supposed dismal accuracy of his. Immense potential. He is exciting as hell! He's like the opposite of Tyrod. You can sense he'll throw twice as much INTs as TT and make some dumb mistakes that make you cringe... but also double the TDs and some WOW plays in there! Opposing defenses will have nightmares as they have to cover deep on every play. His stretching of the filed might even open Shady for some big runs.

I have been VERY impressed with Allen. Very. Yet I still agree with this. He will do dumb rookie things that are costly, but anyone doubting the potential is insane. Dude has got a cannon for an arm, guts, very good poise and awareness in the pocket, and better legs than I expected. If he has good judgment (I didn't say very good or great!) he'll be a star. He's still has some growing pains to get out of him. Though, as always, is playing with the 3rd stringers a good way to help him progress?

Yes! WTH is that?

Seems no one picks on the fact he says he would have fared better with Rodgers, Eli, Big Ben... While not mentioned, probably Brady and Drew Brees as well? LOL The problem here is just not a lack of class against his ex teammate that took his team to the SB while he was injured, but the current Bills QBs can't be all giggling and dancing with those comments!

I didn't watch it all but he seemed super fast as a runner... which means nothing much in terms of if he can be a successful NFL QB. Just that he is entertaining to watch. Unless they suck, having him and RG3 is still a pretty damn scary backup QB stable! Flacco must be feeling some heat. And RG3's ego must be hurting - he went from a BIG star to backup, and now even the new guy is taking all the spotlight! What I didn't get any difference, it's in the kickoff game, but most that I saw went in the end zone as usual... I thought the teams would have wanted to test this new rule and eveluate their players instead of playing it safe for a win that means nothing!

With Woods and Incognito gone, no real threat as far as we can see at WR which means opposing defenses can crowd the box and focus on Shady, there's not that many QBs that would succeed here! I'm all for starting Allen but I feel the current situation might ruin his confidence. Good QBs make their teammates better... but it goes both ways. I've never been negative before a Bills season but I am now. I see a serious lack of talent on offense. I want to be proven wrong, way wrong LOL but that's what I see. 2019 sounds great though with the salary cap situation but you always have to win NOW. The Bills sure proved this last year! They squeaked by but they did it. And showed they could (and should) have beaten the Jags too. So if there is a surprise star on the OL and WR group, OC is a magician, and the QB is on a streak, anything can happen! But betting odds look bleak for this year.

They paid too much but he is very young. Very few star RBs will have their 2nd contracts that young.