“People Used to Say That About Peyton Manning” – Mike Tomlin Slams Critics Over Josh Allen Disrespect

Former Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin has faith that Josh Allen can win a Super Bowl.

“People Used to Say That About Peyton Manning” – Mike Tomlin Slams Critics Over Josh Allen Disrespect

Josh Allen (Image via IMAGO)

Josh Allen is off to another flying start. The Buffalo Bills are 2-0 ahead of their big Week 3 clash against the Los Angeles Chargers at the new Highmark Stadium.

As always, Allen is among the favorites to win the league’s best player award, rubbing shoulders with Patrick Mahomes, Lamar Jackson and Bijan Robinson. It will be Allen’s second time winning the prestigious trophy.

But a quarterback’s pedigree isn’t always defined by their individual performances. It boils down to how many championships he wins before his retirement.

Among the active quarterbacks, Mahomes has won 3 championships, and Aaron Rodgers, Matthew Stafford, Joe Flacco, Jalen Hurts, and Sam Darnold have won one ring. Allen remains without a ring. For that specific reason, many analysts still refuse to count him in the same bracket as his peers or the great quarterbacks across the ages.

Mike Tomlin has a message for them. The Super Bowl-winning head coach of the Pittsburgh Steelers, Tomlin, reminded them that Peyton Manning, considered a generational talent, didn’t win a ring until his ninth NFL season. He had won multiple best player awards by his seventh year, but it took him until 2006 (debuted in 1998) to secure his first championship with the Indianapolis Colts.

Manning waited another nine years, switching to the Denver Broncos to win a second ring before retiring in 2015. Allen is 30 years old and in his prime. Sure, he has to compete with Mahomes, Jackson, Hurts, Darnold, Joe Burrow, Justin Herbert, and Caleb Williams, but he has the grit to win the Bills their first Super Bowl in franchise history.

Sometimes my response to some of that is, ‘Keep watching.’  You know, he’s writing that story. Man, we’re at the tip top of the food chain, man. Everybody doesn’t get to win. Man, it is hard…in this business. He’s in the midst of writing his story. I remember people used to say that about Peyton Manning a generation ago until he got it done. Well, shoot, he had some real combat in an effort to get that done.

Mike Tomlin said on Chris Simms podcast

Buffalo defeated the Houston Texans and the Detroit Lions in their first two opening games. The offense scored at least 36 points both times. Allen threw 40 completions for 582 yards, 5 touchdowns, and zero interceptions. He also rushed 20 times for 92 yards and scored 4 touchdowns.

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Jim Harbaugh gives his honest opinion on Josh Allen

The Chargers are on the opposite end of the win meter. They are 0-2 after losing to the Arizona Cardinals and the Las Vegas Raiders.

"People Used to Say That About Peyton Manning" - Mike Tomlin Slams Critics Over Josh Allen Disrespect
Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen (Image via IMAGO)

Both Arizona and Vegas employ less-than-mobile quarterbacks who prefer to stay in the pocket rather than venture out of it to gain extra yardage. Josh Allen is exactly the opposite. He loves making powerful runs and has already scored four touchdowns using his legs.

Chargers head coach Jim Harbaugh was a great scrambler when he played quarterback in the NFL. He understands how Allen operates.

Play-making style, great at seeing the field. Does a tremendous job as a passer. Extreme, great arm talent. His ability to run, get the ball in the end zone — both ways — as a dual-threat [quarterback].

Jim Harbaugh said when reporters asked him about Josh Allen. (H/T Chargers official website)

Allen has played for the Chargers on three separate occasions. He lost the first fixture in 2018, but has won the last two. This fixture was last played in 2023. Allen threw 15 of 21 passes for 237 yards, one touchdown, and one interception. Buffalo won by two points. Overall, Allen has a passer rating of 82.2 with 639 yards, 3 touchdowns, and 4 interceptions against the AFC West franchise.

That being said, Allen is wary of the Chargers’ defense, which has conceded at least 26 points per game in the first two weeks.

I think that they’ve got some real talent. Khalil Mack one of best pass rushers of last 20 years. Still plays at high level. DBs are savvy. Derwin James not afraid to lay the boom.

Allen said via Bills reporter Alex Brasky

According to the Chargers’ official website, the Bolts will enter as 7-point underdogs against the Bills before kickoff.

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