“From Moss to Diggs: Can Josh Allen Prove He’s Elite Without a Star Receiver?”
Brady and Josh Allen both experienced significant boosts in their performance after adding top-tier receivers to their teams. This highlights why the New England Patriots are still searching for a No. 1 receiver to aid the development of their rookie quarterback, Drake Maye.
The Patriots brought in Hall of Famer Randy Moss before the 2007 season, despite Brady already having three championships and having led a mediocre receiving group to the 2006 AFC Championship Game. Moss elevated Brady’s game even further, catching a record 23 touchdown passes in the 2007 regular season, where Brady threw 50 touchdowns, leading to an undefeated regular season. The Brady-Moss duo combined for 39 touchdowns between 2007 and 2010.
Josh Allen saw a similar leap when the Buffalo Bills traded for Stefon Diggs before Allen’s third season. Allen threw 37 touchdowns in 2020, eight of which went to Diggs, propelling the Bills to the AFC Championship Game.
Eventually, both of these dynamic connections ended. The Patriots traded Moss early in the 2010 season, and the Bills sent Diggs to the Houston Texans this past offseason.
The Patriots, however, continued to win three more championships after Moss’s departure, with Brady raising the level of play for those around him. Now, Colin Cowherd of FS1 has issued a challenge to Allen: prove that he can succeed without his All-Pro receiver, just as Brady and Mahomes have done.
“This is what separates Brady and Mahomes from a lot of other guys,” Cowherd said on “The Herd” on Thursday. “They led their receivers; they were the offense regardless of who was on the team. Brady won Super Bowls before and after Moss. If Josh Allen is truly the second-best quarterback in the league, then he shouldn’t need a great receiver to excel. Stefon Diggs is great, but Allen needs to show he can succeed without him.”
So, what does Allen need to do to prove himself without Diggs? “At a minimum, he needs to get to the AFC Championship if he’s really the guy,” Cowherd added. “Mahomes has set the standard. The quality of receivers shouldn’t matter.”
In the end, Allen has the talent to lead his team on a deep playoff run, but it’s up to him to find that special ability Brady discovered with the Patriots.
“Brady kept winning titles after Moss,” Cowherd concluded. “Stefon Diggs is gone. That shouldn’t be an issue for Allen.”