Josh Allen has been accused of trying to deceive referees with a ‘ridiculous’ flop during the Buffalo Bills‘ defeat to the LA Rams on Sunday.
The Bills were handed their first loss in eight games at SoFi Stadium, where the Rams edged a thrilling contest to prevail 44-42 and boost their own playoff hopes.
As Buffalo’s unbeaten run came to an end in LA, Allen was seen trying to earn a roughing-the-passer call after a comical exchange with Rams defensive end Braden Fiske.
In footage which has gone viral online, the Bills quarterback and new fiance of actress Hailee Steinfeld initiates the slightest of helmet-to-helmet contacts with Fiske before theatrically throwing his head back and appealing for a penalty.
Allen, who had already received two roughing-the-passer calls in the game, was not given a third despite his best efforts.
And after seeing the clip, Fox Sports host Nick Wright concluded that the 28-year-old is the real ‘sacred cow’ for NFL officials in a controversial comparison with Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes.
Folks love to act like Mahomes is some sacred cow for NFL refs, when in reality, since he came into the league no one has gotten more roughing the passer penalties than Josh, and today he’s gotten 2 ridiculous ones and tried to flop his way into a 3rd. pic.twitter.com/0plBLDDDXF
— nick wright (@getnickwright) December 8, 2024
Wright shared the video of Allen’s encounter with Fiske and said: ‘Folks love to act like Mahomes is some sacred cow for NFL refs, when in reality, since he came into the league no one has gotten more roughing the passer penalties than Josh, and today he’s gotten 2 ridiculous ones and tried to flop his way into a 3rd.’
Since his rookie season in 2018, Allen has been afforded a total of 36 roughing-the-passer calls – which, as Wright claims, is the most of any quarterback in the league during that time.
Mahomes, whose rookie year also came in 2018, has received 28 over the past six-and-a-half seasons.
NFL fans often fume that the Chiefs superstar receives special treatment from referees, but a number of fans agree with Wright’s stance on Allen being the true ‘sacred cow’.
‘It’s the one blemish on his game tbh,’ one user said about the flopping allegations aimed at Allen.
Another wrote: ‘As long as the narrative is against Mahomes and the Chiefs they are fine with complaining about it.’
While one joked: ‘Dude is at least the GOAT flopper. No one comes close’.
However, others are still adamant that Mahomes and the Chiefs are the biggest beneficiaries of controversial decisions, while playing down Allen’s interaction with Fiske on Sunday.
One fan replied to Wright: ‘Bruh he’s smiling, he’s clearly trolling. Not your best take FS1 Bills guy’.
‘He’s just having fun out there,’ said another.
While a third put: ‘Mahomes is the biggest flopper in the sport. He’s the LeBron of the NFL and gets ridiculous calls every week.’
