Josh Allen’s recent engagement to Hailee Steinfeld is the spark behind a season that could see him end up holding the Super Bowl trophy and being crowned NFL MVP.
The Buffalo Bills quarterback is in the form of his career and according to his teammate Dion Dawkins, life off the field is playing a central part in that.
‘There´s something about it,’ Dawkins said Wednesday, referring to the quarterback´s romance with Steinfeld.
‘When you’re in this world that we´re in, and a lot of people pulling at you and a lot of sources of ups and downs of a roller coaster, and you have that one stable person that you can rely on and go home and hug and get a laugh no matter what, I think that’s dope,’ Dawkins said. ‘And that´s what I think is going on.’
Allen didn´t deny it.
‘She´s been a huge part. The morale, the support. When I get home, she´s my biggest fan, my biggest supporter. She´s just the best,’ Allen told The Associated Press.
Josh Allen has credited fiancee Hailee Steinfeld with his stunning form this season
Allen and Steinfeld recently announced their engagement after a Buffalo Bills bye week
Allen and the Bills (11-3) have been on a roll for much of this season and host the New England Patriots (3-11) on Sunday. With five games remaining, Buffalo clinched its fifth straight AFC East title, defeated AFC-leading Kansas City (13-1) and is coming off a 48-42 win over Detroit (12-2).
What´s curious is how the quarterback has stepped up his game to an even higher level since proposing to Steinfeld on Nov. 22 during the Bills’ bye week.
In the three games since, Allen has combined for 14 touchdowns – seven passing, six rushing and one receiving on a pass he completed to Amari Cooper, who lateraled it back to the quarterback.
And it would’ve been 15 TDs if his basketball-like chest pass over a flat-footed Detroit defender to a wide-open tight end Dalton Kincaid in the end zone had not been negated by an offensive holding penalty.
Overall, Allen´s 37 total TDs are tied for the NFL lead with Lamar Jackson and Joe Burrow. On Sunday, he became the first NFL player to throw at least three touchdown passes and rush for at least two more in consecutive games.
The Bills, meanwhile, have combined for 90 points in their past two, including a 44-42 loss to the Los Angeles Rams, and scored 30 or more in eight straight to match a single-season NFL record last set by Denver in 2013.
Offensive coordinator Joe Brady joked that he wants to incorporate some of Allen´s trick plays into practice to show they´re actually part of the game plan.
‘It would make us look like better coaches,’ Brady said.
In the three games since getting engaged, Allen has combined for 14 touchdowns
The influence Steinfeld has had upon Allen has even been noticed by his Bills teammates
‘But I mean, that´s him, right? He throws passes to himself. And then he can chest pass, and we´ll see what´s next,’ he added. ‘He´s having a lot of fun playing out there. He´s in great control, great command, all the confidence in the world in him, and why not?’
Allen´s relationship with Steinfeld began in the spring of 2023, when pictures emerged of the two having dinner in New York City.
Steinfeld, who was nominated for an Academy Award for her role in the 2010 remake of ‘True Grit,’ has since become a regular at Bills games. The couple have posted pictures of themselves in Paris and hosting a Halloween party.
Without mentioning Steinfeld, the 28-year-old Allen acknowledged he´s playing the best football of his seven-year NFL career while enjoying himself at the same time.
‘I´m just playing this game, the same game that I´ve been playing since I was a little kid. And that´s kind of what it comes down to,’ Allen said. ‘What I get to do is really fun, and I want to have as much fun as possible.’
Dawkins sees that positive energy rubbing off on the team.
‘Everybody´s smiling. We’re not just smiling because it´s Christmas. We´re not just smiling because we´re winning, but because the energy is right,’ he said. ‘Josh is the head of our football team. When that is right, everything is right.’
