When the Bills host the New York Jets on Sunday in Orchard Park, it’ll be the anticipated start of the Josh Allen-Stefon Diggs offense in Buffalo. It’s been a long time since a Bills quarterback that inspires some hope has had a weapon that’s among the NFL’s elite.
While expectations might be at an all-time high, that’s not how the pair of players are looking at their first game as teammates. Instead, both Allen and Diggs took a very level-headed approach when looking ahead to Sunday’s game.
That’s something fans might have to do, too.
Passing and catching seems like a pretty basic human ability, but on an NFL field it’s much harder. There’s going to be Jets defenders to worry about, and perhaps more importantly, a lack of live game reps between the two. That lack of chemistry building has tempered some personal expectations.
“Just trying to be on the same page as him and that’s something that doesn’t come without game reps. You can say it in practice and draw it up all sorts of different ways, but during the game and in the heat of the battle, things tend to change,” Allen said on Wednesday speaking via video conference. “Again, we’ll see on Sunday. Time will tell.”
Upon joining the Bills, Diggs seems to have brought an understanding of the situation as well. One might think because he had a rocky ending with the Vikings, the wideout might get antsy for touches against the Jets to prove his worth in a hurry. Not the case.
“It’s still in the early phases, we haven’t played any ball yet… so I kind of, you never want to put your foot in your mouth,” Diggs said. “In practice time, it’s serious out there. We kind of take it one step at a time, one play at a time, but one thing I can say, he’s got a lot of heart and he wants to be great.”
Not to say that Allen or Diggs is giving any insight into Buffalo’s game plan heading into this one, but because of this, don’t forget about the likes of John Brown and Cole Beasley. Those two had successful first seasons with the Bills and already have chemistry built with Allen.
But even with a potential slow-and-steady approach for Allen and Diggs, don’t think for a second that’s going to pump the brakes on any expectations at all, at least, not for the quarterback.
“The expectation for everybody… the job we’re put here to do, is to try and win a Super Bowl,” Allen said. “At the same time, we’re taking it one game at a time, we’re looking forward to the New York Jets. We can look ahead to Week 2 or Week 3 or Week 17 for that matter.”
“Once you make it to the playoffs, everyone has a chance,” he added.
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