Josh Allen and Justin Herbert look like they were built in the same quarterback lab. They’re both enormous, both can uncork throws from anywhere, and both have spent years making defenders look helpless. But when the pocket collapses, the split between them has become impossible to ignore.
Herbert’s rookie season in 2020 still stands out as the high-water mark. In that first year, he piled up records for a rookie quarterback and won Offensive Rookie of the Year, all while posting a 99.4 passer rating under pressure - the best mark in the league among qualifiers. At the time, that kind of number made it easy to picture Herbert thriving even when everything around him was breaking down.
That hasn’t been the story since.
Herbert’s under-pressure passer rating dropped to 77.9 in his second season, good for 21st in the NFL. It slid again to 70.3 the next year, then fell to 62.6 in 2023, which ranked 40th out of 50 qualifiers.
He bounced back some in 2024 at 72.1, 29th in the league, and last year he settled at 74.2, 27th among 50 qualifiers. Through two games this season, he’s at 61.8, 19th in the NFL.
What once looked like a one-year blip has turned into a longer pattern. Herbert has now struggled in this area for five straight seasons after that brilliant debut under pressure.
Allen, meanwhile, has been the steadier force in the face of heat. He’s finished inside the top 20 in under-pressure passer rating every year since 2021, and through two games this season he sits second in the NFL at 106.3.
That difference is going to matter on Sunday. Herbert will be dealing with pressure behind a reserve-laden offensive line against the Bills, and how he handles that stress figure is one of the main storylines heading into the Week 3 matchup.
In Other News...
Bills Could Have A Real Edge If Marvin Harrison Jr. Talks Heat Up
The buzz around Marvin Harrison Jr. is exactly the kind of long-shot speculation that tends to follow a team looking for another jolt on offense, and Buffalo has a small but interesting connection that makes the idea linger a little longer than usual. The Bills new receivers coach, Drew Terrell, and special teams coach, Jeff Rodgers, both spent time coaching in Arizona, giving them some familiarity with Harrison and, at minimum, a better sense of what kind of player he is and how he might fit.
Still, there has been nothing from the Bills or from NFL insiders to suggest a trade is actually in motion, which is why this remains more curiosity than something concrete. Even so, the presence of coaches who know the Cardinals side of the equation adds an extra layer to any discussion, because when a player of Harrisons profile comes up, teams are always looking for edges, and Buffalo may have one tucked into its new staff. [Read more 🡒]
Josh Allen Is Chasing Rare NFL History Against The Chargers
Josh Allen has opened the season looking every bit like the centerpiece of Buffalos offense, piling up big numbers through the air and on the ground while keeping the Bills moving with the kind of dual-threat balance that makes game plans miserable for defenses. His early work has also been a showcase for the rushing attack around him, with James Cook helping give Buffalo another layer of stress for opponents to handle.
The next test comes against the Chargers, and it carries a little extra history with it. Allen has a chance to join a very small NFL club by rushing for two touchdowns in his first three games, a mark only a handful of players have ever reached. For Buffalo, it is another reminder that the Bills are not just leaning on Allen to distribute the ball, they are counting on him to keep turning broken plays and designed runs into the kind of edge that can swing a game. [Read more 🡒]
Bills Playmakers May Have To Carry More Than Expected Vs Chargers
The Bills head into their meeting with the Chargers with a familiar sort of pressure on the offense, because the margin for error looks thinner than usual. Khalil Shakir and Joshua Palmer are among the key names to watch, and Buffalo may need both of them to do more than just fill roles if the passing game is going to keep pace with what Los Angeles can bring.
On the other side of the ball, the Bills also have some defensive questions to sort through, with DeWayne Carter and Christian Benford among the players whose availability and recent form matter as the matchup approaches. Add in the teams records and the way both offenses have been trending, and this game shapes up as one where Buffalos most reliable playmakers could end up carrying an even bigger load than planned. [Read more 🡒]