Josh Allen and the Buffalo Bills edged the Jacksonville Jaguars 27-24 in the opening round of the playoffs Sunday, a back-and-forth contest that featured four lead changes in the fourth quarter. Allen delivered a standout performance, drawing praise from analysts and former players across social media.
Josh Allen Receives Praise After Dominant Performance
Against the Jaguars, Allen completed 28 of his 35 pass attempts for 273 yards with 1 touchdown pass and no interceptions. The star passer also rushed for 33 yards and 2 scores.
Allen was especially clutch at the end of the game. With the Bills trailing 24-20 late in the fourth quarter, Allen rushed up the middle for a fourth-down conversion. The quarterback then rushed up the middle again for the game-winning score.
After the game, several former players and analysts took to social media to praise Allen.
Emmanuel Acho posted Allen’s stats while saying that “great quarterbacks do great things,” and calling Allen “amazing.”
Josh Allen: 308 total yards, 3 total touchdowns, no turnovers.
Great Quarterbacks do great things and they WIN!!! Josh is amazing, shoutout to the Bills 🔥🔥🔥 #BillsMafia
— Emmanuel Acho (@EmmanuelAcho) January 11, 2026
Marcus Spears, meanwhile, referred to Allen as “Superman” and said the quarterback “trusted the plan.”
17=SuperMan! Played within himself and didn’t get greedy! Trusted the Plan
— Marcus Spears (@mspears96) January 11, 2026
Meanwhile, Ryan Clark said Allen is “different” and the “best player” in the AFC playoffs. Nick Wright predicted that the Bills would make it to the Super Bowl, while Jon Gruden called Allen the “beast of the east.”
One team has Josh Allen & the other one did not. Pretty simple. That’s one for Allen & Buffalo. Now waiting for the next young QB to run down. Best player in the AFC playoffs. Got to put them on his back! He did today. 3 more. Dude is different!
— Ryan Clark (@Realrclark25) January 11, 2026
Bills & Josh earned every last bit of that.
That’s a phenomenal, gutsy win against a really good Jags team.
The Bills are going to the Super Bowl for the first time since 1993.
— nick wright (@getnickwright) January 11, 2026
Josh Allen the BEAST of the East!
80%, 275 yards and ran for 35 to shred Jacksonville. Has anyone ever seen a quarterback sneak for a 9 yard touchdown let alone in a playoff game?
What a gutsy win for the Bills. pic.twitter.com/yrrcI1tOSr
— Jon Gruden (@BarstoolGruden) January 11, 2026
Allen Looking to Get to Super Bowl for First Time
Allen has been to the conference championship twice in his career but lost both times.
With no Patrick Mahomes, Joe Burrow, or Lamar Jackson in the playoffs this season, it seems like there’s no better time for Allen to go all the way. And if the quarterback keeps playing how he did on Sunday, it’s hard to imagine any team taking the Bills down.
The Bills will find out who they will play in the divisional round after Sunday night’s game concludes. If the New England Patriots win, the Bills will play the top-seeded Denver Broncos. If the Los Angeles Chargers win, the Bills will take on the winner of Monday’s Pittsburgh Steelers-Houston Texans game.
