Josh Allen’s play reminds NFL MVP Kurt Warner of himself – Hot

The two-time MVP in the National Football League also doesn’t believe Allen’s 14 interceptions in 2022 and four this season should be such a big deal.

Those are two of the somewhat surprising statements from Warner in an interview over two telephone calls Wednesday before and after his dental appointment.

When it comes to interviewing Warner, it isn’t like pulling teeth.

Warner, who will be the analyst alongside play-by-play announcer Rich Eisen for Sunday’s Bills game in London against the Jacksonville Jaguars, gave answers to a handful of questions in 30 minutes that were lengthier than the line of media experts who bashed Allen after the loss to the Jets.

Warner’s comments had the kind of insight an analyst doesn’t get enough time to offer during a game.

He worked the Bills’ “Monday Night Football” loss to the Jets alongside Kevin Harlan for Westwood One radio and said he was “very complimentary” of Allen overall.

“I thought Josh played well in the first game, as well,” he said. “I thought he did a good job, and I think all year long he’s done a great job of taking what the defense has given him and getting the ball out of his hands quick. Kind of taking that next step from trying to hold it and make big plays all the time.

“Obviously, what got him in trouble in the first game was there were a couple of plays where he decided, ‘I’m going to take a shot,’ and got impatient and pushing the ball down the field.

“Outside of that, Josh has played great all year, and I think it shows up in his completion percentage (72.7) and the fact that he’s making the plays that are there to be made … It’s been fun to watch.”

He acknowledged two of Allen’s three interceptions in the game were “dumb decisions,” and he should have fallen on a fumbled snap, rather than try to make a great play before fumbling again.

“You don’t have to make a bad play into a great play, just don’t make it into a worse play,” Warner said. “But three plays can dictate whether it’s a great game or an awful game for a quarterback.”

Then Warner made a Patrick Mahomes comparison after his performance in Kansas City’s 23-20 win over the Jets Sunday.

“Mahomes didn’t play very well. He could have had five interceptions, six interceptions. They got out of there with the win … Those three dropped interceptions loom huge when you look at the big picture and the fact that you win versus you lose.”

Warner prides himself on giving takes that might not be popular or based on statistics.

Warner’s view that Allen’s 14 interceptions in 2022 season and the four this season shouldn’t be as big a deal as they are made out to be nationally also goes against the popular narrative.

“I won an MVP throwing 22 interceptions one year (2001),” Warner said.

Warner watched all of Allen’s interceptions over the last two seasons for a NFL Network segment on whether the quarterback needed to be fixed or changed after the Jets game.

“We have this narrative that’s out there, but is the narrative true?” Warner said of Allen’s interceptions. “I don’t think the narrative was true … If you compare that to the number of plays that he’s made doing those same things that have led to touchdowns, you have to weigh it and go, ‘Ok, I’ll take those four or five kind of dumb decisions’ based on he makes a lot of plays doing those same kind of we might call it like, ‘No, no, no, yes’ plays. You might call a dumb decision, but it works out for him as much as it doesn’t work out.

“I’ll take that Josh Allen every single day. Continue to be you and give us those special plays and when you make a bad decision … we’re going to live with it and just go keep playing.”

Warner had the same philosophy.

“I said, ‘I don’t care how many interceptions I throw because I’m going to make more plays than I’m going to make mistakes. Most of the time, I’m going to put pressure on the defense. I’m going to be confident in what I know I can do as a player and am going to attack all the time and I believe that will always be better for us than me playing tentative and me checking it down,’ ” he said.

“I believe that’s how Josh plays … When I looked at his interceptions, there were only four or five where I really felt like he was trying to do way too much and making a play that he should never have made … That’s normal. The other ones, just things happen sometimes.”

Warner agreed with the conventional wisdom when Allen was drafted out of Wyoming that it is difficult to teach accuracy. He credits the Bills quarterback for overcoming that pre-draft criticism.

“Let’s just be honest, we’ve never seen anybody go from a below 60% passer in college to a guy that’s high 60s and where he’s at right now,” Warner said. “So much goes into technique and details and decision-making, and you don’t usually see that kind of a jump. You kind of are what you are when you get to that point. And that’s where I give Josh so much credit. He’s worked on those things. There were certain things that I liked about him, anyway. He had a good base. To me, throwing the football is so much about your base and, and leading with your legs.”

Warner added that Allen’s accuracy rate also is helped by some shorter pass routes called.

“His ability to be accurate on so many different kinds of throws is what’s really impressive,” he said. “Maybe it was in there and somebody just had to help bring it out or the system where he’s gotten more comfortable. But we don’t see that very often.”

Warner believes it is accurate to suggest Allen is having a MVP-like season. But his experience in winning twice illustrates how you become MVP.

“I think he’s right in the middle of it,” Warner said. “I’ve been around too long and playing and analyzing that four games in, who cares? I mean, he is in the mix. I think he’s in the mix every year. The one thing I know about the business is that it’s kind of more about what you do late than it’s what you do early … It’s kind of like college football rankings, right? Doesn’t really matter where you are at the beginning, although it’s nice to kind of set you up, but it’s how you play late.”

Warner believes the hits to Allen’s reputation after the Jets game should be long forgotten if he continues to play at a high level.

“The statement that they made over Miami (a 48-20 win with Allen throwing four touchdowns and running for a fifth) speaks with more volume than the loss that they had to the Jets. I think that’s what you’re looking for. Some signature wins that overshadow the games where you’re average or not so good.”

That brings us to Warner expectations for Sunday’s game with the Jaguars.

“I expect Buffalo to play really, really well,” Warner said. “I expect them to play well every time I watch them play … My questions are with Jacksonville. I don’t know what to expect. (Quarterback) Trevor Lawrence and company could come out and score 40 points and I wouldn’t be surprised because I think they have the capabilities. They could come out and score nine points like they did against the Chiefs and I wouldn’t be surprised. Same with the defense. They could come out and have a really good performance against Buffalo or they could give up 40 points. I just have no idea who Jacksonville is, and it starts kind of with Trevor. Trevor has these dramatic highs and lows and really good games and … very average games. With a lack of consistency, I don’t know what to expect.”

“I go in thinking that Buffalo is probably going to win this game handedly, based on what I’ve seen over the last few weeks, but would not be surprised if Jacksonville came out, played well and won this game.”