Josh Allen Hoping To Improve Accuracy In 2022

The improvement in Josh Allen’s accuracy has been one of the most remarkable aspects of his ascension to one of the NFL’s elite quarterbacks, but the Buffalo Bills star is eyeing further progress in that regard as he looks to finally get his team over the hump.

In the wake of their remarkable AFC Divisional Round overtime loss to the Kansas City Chiefs, it was difficult to think of much more Allen could do to lead one of the NFL’s best rosters to a first championship in franchise history.

However, Allen has identified an area in need of work, believing he must become even more accurate to give his receivers a better chance of creating yardage after the catch.

In a press conference during the Bills’ offseason program, Allen said: “The main thing is still limiting turnovers, limiting bad decisions and then ball placement on some of the underneath routes, allowing guys to get more YAC.

“Last year I don’t think we were very good in that department so it’s kind of on me to put the ball where it needs to be and allow our guys to utilize their legs and run after catch.”

Allen’s assessment of their yards after catch numbers is correct. According to Pro Football Reference, the Bills finished the 2021 season last in the NFL with an average of 4.2 yards after catch per reception.

While it is difficult to quantify how his ball placement impacted those numbers, Allen was less accurate in 2021 than in 2020, when the Bills reached the AFC Championship Game.

Indeed, in 2020 Allen was second in the league with a Completion Percentage Over Expected (CPOE) of 4.6 percent, according to the NFL’s NextGen Stats. Last season, his number dipped to minus 0.9 percent while averaging fewer Air Yards per attempt (8.6) than he did in 2020 (8.8).

Despite the Bills’ issues creating yardage after catch, their offense still ended the year eighth in Football Outsiders weighted DVOA. Yet, with their passing game ranked 13th in DVOA, there is untapped efficiency that could be harnessed by Buffalo picking up those additional yards more consistently.

Allen’s remarkable skill set has given the Bills’ passing attack an extremely high ceiling, one they will come much closer to reaching if he helps them climb the ladder in yardage after the catch.

Should such strides be paired with progress by what looks to be a loaded defense, then 2022 could be the year in which the Bills discover a championship recipe.