Josh Allen Faces Increased Pressure Heading Into 2025 Season
Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen is coming off an MVP season, but the road ahead may be more challenging than anticipated. As the team prepares for the 2025–26 season, questions remain about whether Allen has enough offensive support to reach the next level.
Although the Bills are considered one of the NFL’s strongest teams overall, some analysts are concerned about their lack of standout playmakers. ESPN’s Bill Barnwell recently ranked the Bills 28th in terms of offensive playmakers — a surprising spot for a team with such a productive offense.
Barnwell clarified that his ranking excludes Allen himself and focuses solely on the skill-position players around him. He described the current receiving corps as one of the least threatening in the league, despite improvements from wide receiver Khalil Shakir and a strong season from running back James Cook.
“Shakir continues to develop and averaged 2.4 yards per route run last season,” Barnwell wrote. “But nearly every other pass catcher on the team failed to make significant progress.” Cook, however, was a bright spot, showing a notable rebound in touchdown production.
On a more positive note, Buffalo’s secondary looks much more promising. According to Pro Football Focus, the Bills rank 14th in the league in terms of defensive backfield strength. Cornerback Christian Benford was praised for his high-level play, and the addition of rookie Maxwell Hairston — along with the return of a healthy Taron Johnson — bolsters the unit.
With a challenging but manageable schedule ahead, the Bills’ success this season may depend heavily on whether their current group of offensive weapons can rise to the occasion and support their star quarterback.
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