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Epenesa had 6.5 sacks, but how many of them required him actually beating a blocker as opposed to him coming free on a well-designed blitz? There’s value in being able to time a blitz properly, but it’s still more scheme than skill. It’s not like he lined up against tackles and regularly beat them.

He didn’t get beat out by some late round pick who exploded onto the scene. On Sunday, he looked like they pulled someone out of the stands and handed him a helmet. He was bad bad. On his first drive, the last drive of the first half, he gave up three completions. Then he got flagged for PI in the end zone. Then he gave up another completion for a TD. Then, on the first play in the second half, the WR barely pushes him blocking on a running play and he just falls over backwards ass over teakettle like he got run over by a truck.

Maybe the Steelers just really want to crush people during the pre-season, and they’re playing against teams who treat pre-season like pre-season.

Say what you will about their inability to find an elite QB, but their record when their starter has played is 46-28. I can't really fault a front office for losing when their starting QB goes down. Both organizations have incredible regular season records with healthy starting QBs. Both have sucked with backups (Buffalo is 1-4 when Josh is out). SF has had more success in the postseason, but not dramatically so. Ultimately, it's two different organizations who have had success in opposite areas of roster construction but they've achieved at very similar levels on the field. Football is interesting in that regard. There's a lot of different ways to skin a cat.

That’s true, but isn’t the same true of Allen? Buffalo has ranked 2nd, 1st, 16th, and 2nd the past 4 seasons in points allowed. New England ranked 7th, 2nd, 14th, and 13th Brady’s first 4 seasons.

Comparing current stats to a guy who came into the league 23 years ago is…something. Brady’s first playoffs were in 2001. 2 QBs threw for over 4,000 yards that season. 9 threw for over 20 TDs. 12 threw more that 15 INTs. In 2022, 9 QBs threw for over 4,000 yards, 14 threw over 20 TDs, and none threw more than 15 INTs. In 2001, there had been one 5,000 yard passing season in history, and it hadn’t happened in 17 years. It’s happened 14 times since then. To put it mildly, it’s not an apples to apples comparison. When Brady was at the same point in his career that Josh is in today, he had 11 TDs, 3 INTs, 2 fumbles, and was 9-0. Josh has 17 TDs, 4 INTs, 8 fumbles, and is 4-4. Both have impressive numbers, but that doesn’t mean that Josh is an equal or superior postseason QB to Brady.

I agree with almost all of this, but part of the reason Burrow hasn’t been called on to put up tons of points is that he hasn’t turned the ball over and put his defense in terrible positions. In the Dolphins playoff game, Buffalo had to score more than 31 to win. Was that bad luck for Josh, or was it his own doing? Josh threw an interception that led to an 18 yard drive by Miami ending in a FG. Then, Josh threw another interception that led to another 18 yard drive by Miami. This one resulted in a TD. Then Josh fumbled, and Miami returned it for a TD. That’s 18 points directly attributable to turnovers by Allen. Miami scored 6 times in that game. Their scoring drives in terms of yards gained were 38, 18, 18, 8, 0 (defensive score), and 75. That’s one legit drive allowed by Buffalo. Josh, IMO, is either the second or third best QB in the game. Burrow is right there with him even though they’re very different players. Josh puts up bigger numbers, but he also takes more chances. If Burrow took more chances, he’d put up bigger numbers as well. It comes down to whether the juice is worth the squeeze. So far, Burrow has an AFC championship trophy and a blowout win over the Bills, so he’s got a legit argument for being the better QB. Josh has bigger numbers with fewer elite weapons, so he’s also got a legit argument.

Wow, I typed two instead of one.

I watched him panic in OT and throw a ball blindly backwards over his head. https://twitter.com/NFL_DovKleiman/status/1213620109643792384 I also watched him throw a jump ball to a FB who was double covered. https://twitter.com/NFL_DovKleiman/status/1213625501996273665?s=20

I've been dead on with pretty much everything I've said about them. They've been a very good team that haven't been able to get over the hump the past few seasons. All off-season, I've said that their age, injuries, and lack of hits in the draft is likely to reveal itself in a big way this season. Unless I've missed something that makes my take "hilariously incongruent" with reality, the next time you're able to tell me "I told you so" will be the first.

I don't know that it cost them a Super Bowl, but his fumble against the Texans resulted in a FG for Houston in a game the Texans won in OT.

Because I have the temerity to discuss Josh's ball security issues in a threat about Josh's ball security?

You got me. I mistakenly typed 2 rushing TDs for Burrow. That completely invalidates the fact that Allen has 8 fumbles in 8 playoff games compared to zero for Burrow in 7 games. Feel better?

Feel free to elaborate. Josh ran for TDs against the Texans and Bengals. He fumbled twice against the Texans, one each against the Colts, Ravens, and Chiefs, and three times against the Dolphins. Burrow ran for a TD against the Ravens and has not fumbled.

Josh Allen: 2 rushing TDs, 8 fumbles in 8 playoff games Joe Burrow: 2 rushing TDs, 0 fumbles in 7 playoff games

Three INTs and three fumbles in two playoff games does, though.

No way. Sacks are just too hard to get these days. The quick passing game barely existed back then.

I don’t think that’s true. He’s a great player, but he’s still got a few holes in his swing. If the right QB coach comes along and fixes them, he could actually be even better…like when Jordan figured out the fade-away was free money.

Are they trying to set some sort of record by having the highest number of players over the age of 30 play on defense in a single season?

He is what he’s always been, a gifted athlete who would rather do his own thing and be a good LT instead of truly dedicating himself and being one of the top guys in the game. This isn’t a surprise. If he were the type of guy who really dedicated himself, he’d be making $23m a year. Instead, he plays like a $15m a year guy and gets paid $15m a year. You can’t really fault a guy for being exactly who he’s always been. If you want an elite LT, you either draft someone and hope they become elite or you find someone who is already elite and pay them elite money.

By my count, there was exactly one time that Josh took a true drop back (ie. not a pre-determined quick-hitter, screen, or roll out) in which he didn’t have help. It was the play where Golden smoked him and he had to tackle him to prevent Josh from getting drilled. He didn’t “look good against Watt”. There wasn’t a single snap in which he had to man-up against him. Literally every single snap where there were both in the game was game-planned to prevent Brown from having to pass protect. That’s to be expected against one of the few truly elite pass rushers in the game, but you can’t really say that a Tackle held up well against a guy when the offense built an entire game plan around not leaving him on an island.

13seconds was unavailable.

Donovan Smith signed for one year, $3m.

No, it’s not.

So you’re saying he treated preseason games like the Super Bowl?