The Buffalo Bills’ best reason for optimism in 2026 is the same one that usually sits at the center of every serious conversation about this team: Josh Allen.
That’s the view from Pro Football Focus, which pointed to Allen as the driving force behind Buffalo’s outlook in Year 1 of the Joe Brady era. And it’s not hard to see why. The Bills, as the piece notes, will go as far as Allen can carry them.
PFF highlighted just how steady Allen has been at the top of the quarterback ladder. “Josh Allen is the first quarterback in 20 years of PFF grading to produce six straight 90.0-plus PFF grades, having accomplished the feat every year since 2020," Pro Football Focus wrote.
"His turnover-worthy play rate has declined in each of the past three seasons, reaching a new career low each year and rewriting the narrative surrounding his ability to protect the football. He is also one of the NFL’s best running quarterbacks, as he has put up a 90.0-plus PFF rushing grade in five straight seasons.
Whether scrambling or converting in short-yardage situations, Allen has scored at least 14 rushing touchdowns in three straight seasons, including the playoffs, while forcing at least 20 missed tackles in each of the past five seasons."
The 2024 MVP backed up that praise with another big season, finishing with 3,668 passing yards, 25 passing touchdowns, 579 rushing yards and 14 rushing touchdowns.
Allen’s career numbers only reinforce the case. He enters the season with 30,102 passing yards, 220 passing touchdowns, 4,721 rushing yards and 79 career rushing touchdowns.
There’s also the bigger-picture reality hanging over Buffalo: the championship window doesn’t stay open forever. The article frames it plainly - this is about whether Allen and the Bills can finally get to the promised land this season, with time ticking down on his chance to win a title.
The Bills open the 2026 season against the Houston Texans.
And Allen has already offered his take on Brady taking over. “Still respecting the past and what's been here the last 10 years and not shying away from that, but also having his own twist on it," Allen said after Brady was named HC.
"It's been really good to see him embrace the role and step into it. The way that he talks to the guys, you can tell he's very well respected with everybody in that locker room, and it's only going to continue to grow in my opinion."
In Other News...
Bills Fans Already Face A New Stadium Access Problem
The move to the new Highmark Stadium is already changing the way Bills fans will experience game days. Individual home-game tickets are hard to come by, and the ones that do pop up are going for more than what season ticket holders pay, which is a sharp turn from the kind of last-minute planning many fans are used to. For plenty of people who have long treated Orchard Park as a place you could still reach on short notice, the new setup looks far less forgiving.
Most of the available tickets are expected to come through the secondary market, which makes spontaneous attendance much tougher and adds another layer to an already high-demand environment. The Bills are also leaning into the buzz around the new building by offering behind-the-scenes tours, a sign that interest in the stadium itself is becoming part of the experience. What remains to be seen is how many fans will be able to get inside on their own terms once the novelty wears off. [Read more 🡒]
Josh Allen Needs More From Dalton Kincaid Than Ever
Dalton Kincaid enters the 2026 season in a familiar spot for the Bills: full of promise, but still needing to turn flashes into something steadier. Buffalo has already committed to him by picking up his fifth-year contract option, and the timing matters with Joe Brady now taking over as head coach after previously running the offense. Brady knows exactly what Kincaid can bring when he is healthy, and the next step is getting more of it on a weekly basis.
Josh Allens recent praise of their connection during joint practices only adds to the sense that Kincaids role is about to matter even more. The chemistry is there, or at least trending in the right direction, and the Bills have spent enough time waiting for Kincaid to stay on the field and become the kind of mismatch he was drafted to be. What remains is the part Buffalo has been chasing from him since day one, the kind of dependable production that could make this offense look very different if it shows up when the games count. [Read more 🡒]
Bills Just Became Part Of A Browns QB Decision To Watch
A joint practice in Buffalo gave the Browns another look at their quarterback situation, and it did not exactly produce a clean answer. Shedeur Sanders and Deshaun Watson both had mixed throws during the session, leaving the battle for the Browns starting job still very much in view as the preseason gets moving.
Watson has reportedly held the edge in the competition, but Sanders is set to start the upcoming preseason game, which should give Cleveland another data point before the real decision gets made. Browns coach Todd Monken has suggested veteran starters may sit out that game, and the Week 1 quarterback choice could come shortly after, keeping the Bills tied to one of the AFCs more closely watched camp stories. [Read more 🡒]