3 – Allen off and running, improved as passer

Going from start one to start two for Josh Allen proved to be an exercise in significant progress.

Allen was aggressive, but not reckless as he took what the defense gave him. It enabled Allen to get into a passing rhythm early in the game. He completed six of his first eight passes for 65 yards including a 26-yard touchdown to a wide-open Jason Croom off a fake swing pass to the flat.

"He was decisive early and that's important," said McDermott. "It looked like he played with a clear mind, which is also important for our young players, whether it's Tremaine (Edmunds) or Josh in this case. It's important that they play with a clear mind and do what they do."

Perhaps even more impressive were Allen's scrambles and read option runs. Facing a 2nd-and-9 from the Vikings 10-yard line on the opening drive, Allen took off on a scramble and outraced the defense to the front left pylon of the end zone, diving and stretching the ball out to break the plan for a touchdown.

Late in the first quarter facing a 3rd-and-9 at the Bills 36-yard line, Allen scrambled right up the middle and hurdled a Vikings linebacker before crossing the line to gain on another 10-yard run.

"It was third down and they brought a little pressure and I escaped. I probably got my eyes down too low. I should've went through the progression a little longer, but I was trusting my feet, trusting my gut," said Allen. "There was a guy maybe three yards in front of the sticks and I knew we needed to get a first down there. I think we went on to score on that drive. It was a big play, but it was just another first down."

The play ignited the Bills sideline as several players were jumping up and down seeing Allen put his body on the line.

"It was unbelievable. It got everybody juiced up. Just seeing a guy out there competing like that," said Poyer. "I didn't know what he was going to do. The last thing I thought he was going to do was hurdle. That was one of the most unbelievable plays I've ever seen live in person. If that's not a top 10 play I don't know what is."

Allen then finished the drive leaping over the line to extend the ball and break the plane of the goal line for a one-yard touchdown run on 4th-and-goal from the one.

"To get down there and come away with three or zero, it would not be a good thing. To be that close, I'm thankful he trusted me to go get one yard," Allen said. :But our line did a great job on that play and the whole game. A lot of credit to our guys. I'm proud as heck of them because that's a tough defense we just played."

The rookie quarterback was under pressure at times and did take three sacks, fumbling on one of them, but he ran the offense efficiently and made good decisions in the passing game as evidenced by his completion percentage of almost 70 percent (69.6%).