After eight seasons as the quarterback for the Buffalo Bills, Josh Allen finds himself at a career crossroads. Despite leading the franchise to seven consecutive playoff appearances, the four-time Pro Bowler has yet to reach the Super Bowl. This persistent postseason struggle prompted analyst Jason McIntyre to offer a bold perspective during a recent appearance on the "The Herd" podcast with host Colin Cowherd.
McIntyre argues that Allen should consider leaving Buffalo to improve his chances of winning a championship, suggesting the Bills currently lack the necessary infrastructure to support their star quarterback. According to McIntyre, the team's supporting cast has continued to decline, and he expressed concerns regarding the leadership structure, specifically noting the transition to a first-time head coach in former offensive coordinator Brady. "I think Allen's got to leave Buffalo to win a Super Bowl," McIntyre stated.
To illustrate his point, McIntyre drew a direct parallel to the career of Matthew Stafford, who started his NFL journey with the Detroit Lions in 2009. Stafford spent 12 seasons with the Lions, making only three playoff appearances due to a lack of adequate support. Following a trade to the Los Angeles Rams in 2021, Stafford immediately helped his new team win Super Bowl LVI. Stafford, who recently signed a one-year extension worth $55,000,000, remains a benchmark for players seeking greener pastures to achieve postseason success. The Rams saw further progress last season, reaching the NFC Championship game before falling to the Seahawks.
Allen’s most recent postseason campaign concluded with a 33-30 overtime loss to the Denver Broncos in the divisional round. Over the course of that season, the quarterback tallied 3,668 passing yards and 25 touchdowns, supplemented by 579 rushing yards and 14 rushing touchdowns. Despite his playoff frustrations, Allen remains highly regarded by league personnel. Earlier this month, ESPN released a list of the top 10 quarterbacks heading into the upcoming season, ranking him as the No. 1 quarterback heading into 2026, placing him ahead of three-time Super Bowl champion Patrick Mahomes.
On this week's episode of ESPN's "First Take," 2 of the show's analysts discussed the ranking, while Stephen A. Smith defended it, describing Allen as an "absolute stud" who has proven his worth even while facing a 0-4 postseason record against Mahomes. As the debate over his future continues, Allen and the Bills are preparing for their season opener against the Houston Texans, scheduled for September 13, with 5 months of preparation behind them.
Moving off McDermott, and I understand, people were out on him.
Didn't get to the playoffs as often because he never had this supporting cast.
