Josh Allen, the formidable quarterback for the Buffalo Bills, has established himself as one of the most dynamic players in the National Football League (NFL). Allen measured at 6-foot-5, 237 pounds. With his passing arm combined with his physicality and overall athleticism, he became a dual threat from the quarterback position. Since entering the league in 2018, he has the most career rushing touchdowns (75). This outstanding total ranks him first among all players, ahead of noted do-everything back Derrick Henry.
Allen’s evolution into one of the QB greats was a focused effort to change how he approached the game. As the years have gone by, he’s taken a more conservative slant, choosing to slide to prevent injury. His command of his game has sharpened completely, extending his durability. This remarkable growth has further canonized his place as a bedrock for the Bills’ offense.
During his childhood, Allen showed impressive running skills. And in 2016, he turned 142 carries into 523 rushing yards and seven touchdowns. The ensuing year, those figures plummeted to 92 total carries for 204 yards and five scores. Despite this decline in raw rushing statistics, Allen credits his early experiences at Reedley College with honing his ability to run effectively.
“Honestly, my first few starts in junior college, I ran for a lot of touchdowns (10 total), but it was so unusual because in high school I was so slow,” – Josh Allen
It’s more than just rushing numbers. His rushing prowess has been instrumental in the Bills’ offensive strategy. For context, Allen’s 75 rushing touchdowns have all been scored in only 121 games, with many of them coming in key moments and crunch time. Impressively, 27 of those touchdown runs have been from the 1-yard line, a testament to his short-yardage capability. He’s crossed through the end zone 71 times sharing carries in the red zone.
Allen particularly excels in high-pressure situations, most notably in the fourth quarter of games. That’s when he has scored the majority of his rushing touchdowns. This late-game dominance helped build his reputation as a clutch performer, often making him a nightmare for opposing defenses.
His five performances against teams in the AFC East (the Jets, Dolphins, and Patriots twice) solidify his dominance. Allen leads all players with 18 division rushing touchdowns. Far from any fluke, this accomplishment is a testament to his skill at raising his game at the most critical moments. In a memorable moment during his first win against the Jacksonville Jaguars on November 25, 2018, he showcased his dual-threat capabilities by scoring two rushing touchdowns.
“When you break a long one, it’s just a little bit different, especially when you break a couple tackles along the way; just feel pretty cool,” – Josh Allen
Allen’s teammates have repeatedly touted the uniqueness of his skill set. Offensive coordinator Joe Brady noted the dynamism that comes with Allen’s capacity to run.
“Once the ball is in his hands, you really don’t know what’s going to happen. Sometimes that’s a really good thing. Most of the time, it’s a really good thing,” – Joe Brady
Defensive players are well aware of the increased challenges that Allen’s ability to run presents. What has stood out to his teammate AJ Epenesa, though, is not only Allen’s own running ability but how it puts pressure on opposing defenses.
“It’s the ball fakes, the arm ability, what he can do when he throws, and then just the pure athleticism,” – AJ Epenesa
Allen himself loves this dual-threat aspect that makes defenses reconsider everything they do. He remarked,
“Being 240 or 250 pounds and being able to outrun linebackers to the sidelines, run people over.” – AJ Epenesa
Allen himself has been undergoing fascinating evolution as a quarterback. His running ability is an essential part of that skill set. It’s his combination of size and speed that provides the biggest advantage on the field. Combined with strong decision-making, he is a passing/rushing threat on every play.
“I like that it presents a different challenge for defenses. They have to account for the quarterback run, which means you get an extra blocker in the run game and just makes them have to think about that in the back there.” – Josh Allen
As Allen continues to evolve as a quarterback, his ability to run remains a vital component of his overall skill set. His combination of size, speed, and decision-making allows him to be both a passing and rushing threat on every play.
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