Josh Allen has carried the Buffalo Bills offense so many times in his career that you expect him to turn things on at some point in a game. Allen’s ability to beat teams with his arm and legs while playing Superman has become the norm for Bills fans. In Buffalo’s Week 5 matchup against the Houston Texans, that moment never came.
Allen struggled to get anything going offensively and failed to complete a pass with the Bills needing a first down at the end of the game as the team attempted to send their matchup in overtime. When all was said and done, Allen completed just 9-of-30 passes for 131 yards and one touchdown while adding 54 yards on four carries.
After struggling against the Texans, it should come as no surprise that Allen graded out poorly on Pro Football Focus.
Just how badly did Allen grade out? The franchise quarterback had the offense’s lowest overall grade (48.1). Allen would receive a 37.7 pass grade and an 88.8 run grade following the 23-20 loss. This was Allen’s worst grade from Pro Football Focus since the team’s Week 11 loss to the Indianapolis Colts in 2021. In that matchup, Allen completed 21-of-35 passes for 208 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions.
Allen was certainly off on Sunday, but his weapons did not seem to do him any favors.
Take a look at how Allen’s receivers fared as well as the team’s highest and lowest performers from Week 5.
How did Allen’s weapons fare?
No pass catcher for the Bills hauled in more than two receptions in the team’s loss to the Texans. A lot of their lack of productivity had to do with the players failing to create separation. Here’s a look at the overall grades for Buffalo’s receivers and tight ends.
Mack Hollins (65.2) Marquez Valdes-Scantling (57.4) Keon Coleman (56.5) Dalton Kincaid (53.4) Tyrell Shavers (53.1) Dawson Knox (52.6) Curtis Samuel (52.0)
Khalil Shakir’s cannot return soon enough. If things don’t improve when Shakir returns, Buffalo should consider adding a receiver via trade.
Top-5 offensive grades
C Connor McGovern (84.0) OL Alec Anderson (74.1) RB Ty Johnson (67.4) WR Mack Hollins (65.2) OT Dion Dawkins (64.5)
The quarterback and his weapons did not fare well, but it is encouraging to see three offensive linemen in the top five. Connor McGovern continues to fare well at center while Dion Dawkins held up well at left tackle despite being at less than 100 percent. Alec Anderson, Buffalo’s reserve lineman, also thrived as the extra lineman in Buffalo’s jumbo sets.
Ty Johnson came in at No. 3 among the best offensive grades. He was the team’s clear No. 2 running back yesterday with Ray Davis playing just two offensive snaps. Johnson averaged five yards per carry in the loss with a long of 19 yards on the ground.
Top-5 defensive grades
DE Dawuane Smoot (85.3) LB Dorian Williams (78.2) DT DaQuan Jones (77.2) CB Christian Benford (76.3) LB Terrel Bernard (73.1)
DaQuan Jones had his best game of the season for Buffalo despite Ed Oliver being out of action. Jones recorded six total tackles with one tackle for loss.
Buffalo also got excellent production from their starting linebackers. Dorian Williams recorded 12 total tackles and a fumble recovery in the loss while Bernard recorded five total tackles. One of Bernard’s tackles resulted in a turnover on downs. He also recorded an interception that helped Buffalo get back into the game.
Bottom-3 offensive grades
Curtis Samuel (52.0) Spencer Brown (50.5) Josh Allen (48.1)
One of the most baffling issues with the Bills’ offense is their inability to utilize Curtis Samuel’s skillset. Samuel previously thrived in Joe Brady’s offense with the Carolina Panthers, but in his second go-around with the Bills the team has only utilized Samuel in the short passing game with poor results.
Bottom-3 defensive grades
S Cole Bishop (45.7) DE Casey Toohill (41.8) DE A.J. Epenesa (39.5)
Cole Bishop was responsible for Nico Collins’ long touchdown and he seemed out of position a few times early in the matchup. To his credit, Bishop’s play improved over the course of the game. Buffalo expects their second-round pick to learn from his mistake.
In their first game without Von Miller, some of Buffalo’s depth options struggled. Casey Toohill and A.J. Epenesa were practically invisible with two total tackles in the loss.