Conventional wisdom says quarterbacks need not involve themselves in scuffles.
Josh Allen doesn’t believe in that theory — and potentially may have paid the price.
The Bills’ superstar quarterback threw a shoulder into Giants linebacker Bobby Okereke and slightly connected with Giants defensive lineman Leonard Williams during a mini-brawl in the third quarter of the Bills’ controversial 14-9 win over the Giants on “Sunday Night Football.”
Allen said after the game he underwent X-rays on that same shoulder he lowered into Okereke, although he did not indicate he’s concerned about his shoulder going forward.
Things got a little hectic toward the end of the third quarter following a third-and-2 play at the Giants’ 5-yard line with the Giants ahead, 6-0.
Latavius Murray ran for 3 yards to collect the first down and, as the play ended, Dexter Lawrence shoved Bills offensive tackle Spencer Brown to the ground.
As the two continued to go at it, Williams and Okereke came over and Williams knocked Brown back to the turf.
That’s when Allen sped over and threw his right — and throwing — shoulder into Okereke, while briefly making contact with an unfazed Williams.
Okereke then seemingly held Allen and pulled him away from the action.
As all this happened, Giants pass rusher Kayvon Thibodeaux and Dion Dawkins also got into an altercation that featured Thibodeaux kicking the Bills offensive tackle.
The Bills ultimately scored on the drive when Allen found Deonte Hardy for a 3-yard touchdown pass on third-and-goal from the 3-yard line to take a 7-6 lead.
The quarterback then rallied the Bills again for a 12-play, 75-yard touchdown drive that gave Buffalo the 14-9 lead that held.
While Allen engineered those scoring plays, the quarterback did not play all that well.
He completed just 19 of 30 passes for 169 yards, two touchdowns and one interception.
In addition to the X-rays, Allen was checked for a concussion during the game but was cleared to return.
The Bills (4-2) visit the lowly Patriots (1-5) in Week 7.
“Just really wasn’t getting into a rhythm, pass and run game included,” Allen said. “We got to find ways to get off to a fast start, and I don’t think we’ve done that the last few games. At the end of the day, it’s a win. It’s an ugly one, we’ll take it. But there’s a lot of things we’ll learn from and get better at.”
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