Greatest QB in Buffalo History? Jim Kelly or Josh Allen. Discuss.
November 14, 2024
For those that been around long enough.
31 comments
Do I get a discount if I take both?
Was there in the 90’s for all the good times and heartbreaks but Josh is my favourite and it’s only a matter of time before he has all the records other than 4 Super Bowl losses
Personally I’m taking Josh. Tho I assume people will make the argument for Kelly bc of the super bowls.
If he can get those three this weekend, I think I’ll be giving my vote to Allen.
As someone who fondly remembers the Jim Kelly era, I’m taking Josh and it’s really not even close.
Hope he can do it this weekend against the queefs
Breaking the record vs. KC would be amazing.
Jim Kelly was on a awsome Bills team. Andre Reed, Thurman Thomas, Bruce Smith, etc.
Josh Allen is the core of an awesome Bills team. He has good talent around him but he is the main spark.
Both are great for their respective times. I’ll always love Kelly having grown up watching him. I’m grateful I get to watch Allen play now.
Hard to say who is better. If TDs scored is the only metric then Allen will be better. I would really like to see Allen in a full kgun offense having Cook and Davis in the back field. Nevertheless, if Allen can bring home the trophy then he will easily be the best
Josh is way, way more talented than Jim.
Jim could move, and he also had a big arm, but neither his athleticism or arm strength could match Josh’s.
I don’t know if Josh is better at reading defenses and stuff like that. Probably not, as Josh is kinda of weak against disguised looks. But as far as physical skill goes, it’s not that close.
It’s not even really a discussion anymore
Josh
Jim Kelly with 244 over 11 seasons with the Bills (22 per season)
Josh Allen with 242 over 7 seasons with the Bills. (34.6 per season)
–
Once you take the number of seasons into account, there’s no comparison.
Making it to 4 Super Bowls puts Kelly ahead for me
I think even Jim Kelly would vote for Josh Allen
gonna crush that sunday.
Until Josh wins MVP or makes a super bowl, it’s still Jim. Times are different, you can’t compare stats between eras. Otherwise Tua is going to wind up being a better QB than Dan Marino.
It’s Josh for me but don’t let him know I think that… want him with the chip on his shoulder mentality until at least he wins the big one
Kelly took the team to 4 super bowls.
Statistically Josh is better but the passing game is very different these days. Until Josh gets the team to an SB it’s Kelly.
Slight nod to Kelly but it’s hard to say that when the man himself took one look at JA in practice and said he’s going to shatter my records and be better than me
I like them both.
I don’t think it’s fair to compare 30 years difference. Would you compare Josh Allen to QB’s from the 60’s and 70s.
Just look at how different RB’s were treated between the eras.
And RTP? wtf is that in 1990 lol.
Hell, look at how important backup QB’s were – we had 2 (and I assume most other teams did as well)
I think a lot of guys played hurt back then too. Being tough was really important because you were getting your ass kicked out there. (that’s the vibe I remember).
I’ve never been happier than I am with either of the QB’s. The post-Kelly era was one of the most depressing times as a Bills fan.
I think Allen is a blast to watch but with the 90’s Bills I felt I had more players to focus on other than just Kelly. And man those deep balls during the Kelly era were something special. Bebee or Lofton down the sidelines was something special.
RB’s in general were a LOT more fun to watch as well. Emmitt Smith, Barry Sanders, Marcus Allen, Walter Payton, Bo Jackson.
Just watch Thurman Thomas in super bowl XXV.
I mean RB’s were winning MVP all the time back then.
I get recency bias. I get statistical advantage (inflated or not). And I get arguments made about the relative quality of each QBs supporting casts. But I am pretty shocked as to how much of a landslide the responses here are for Allen. I think in terms of their full careers AND even comparing Kelly’s first 7 seasons to Allen’s, Kelly still holds the edge.
If you compare the latter (first seven years in Buffalo), they are remarkably similar in terms of relative value vs their peers. Jim went to 5 probowls and made 2 AP teams. Josh (perhaps unfairly) has made just 2 probowls and 1 AP team (second). Both have a Top 2 MVP finish. Kelly has a strong argument for being the best QB in football during two different seasons (1990 & 1991). Allen can certainly make that claim in 2020. Kelly has been a league leader in QB Rating (no longer the big deal it was at the time) and completion percentage. Allen is certainly light years more valuable as a runner and has proven to be more durable (best ability is availability) despite this being part of his game. They are similar in many ways (amazing arms, fearless slingers) and diametrically different in others. But they both seem to occupy a similar relative ranking of in the conversation of best QB at any given season but never unanimously so.
Barring catastrophe, Allen will end his career as the franchise’s greatest QB…he may take that mantle soon and he may already be there. But sentiments like “it’s really not even close” surprise me from people who watched the havoc that the #12 and the K-Gun Bills wreaked on the NFL.
It’s Josh. Kelly was carried by an amazing team
Allen would have a Super Bowl already if the team around him was as talented as the early 90’s Bills.
Kelly did do the play calling, so credit there. The K-gun was not a complicated offense, but it was just fast! From there, Josh is lightyears better. With luck, he will have 200 more TD than Kelly. Adding to that, Kelly is a shit human. I was a bouncer in the late 80s, and Kelly was a regular. I have bunches of stories about what a scumbag he was back then. Yeck, even when he got cancer. He could have done PSAs about the dangers of chewing tobacco and not a peep. Josh by a million!
I’m a 41 year old lifelong Bills fan. It’s Josh.
How about Josh win an AFC championship game, or 4?
Jim Kelly all the way, until Josh puts in all together
A. Josh needs to get us to another Super Bowl. B. Josh needs to win it for us. Then he will be the best QB in Bills history.
Had Norwood made that kick there would be no contest, as Kelly would be a (winning) Superbowl QB basking in reflected glory. But Norwood didn’t make the kick, so I think between Kelly and Allen it is now a toss-up.
Josh Allen is the better QB. Jim Kelly, as of now, is the more accomplished QB.
I think Tasker said it, whatever team wins the Super Bowl would be the greatest Bills team ever. Josh is better, but Jim went to 4 even though they didn’t win. So for me its Jim until Josh makes at least 1 appearance.
31 comments
Do I get a discount if I take both?
Was there in the 90’s for all the good times and heartbreaks but Josh is my favourite and it’s only a matter of time before he has all the records other than 4 Super Bowl losses
Personally I’m taking Josh. Tho I assume people will make the argument for Kelly bc of the super bowls.
If he can get those three this weekend, I think I’ll be giving my vote to Allen.
As someone who fondly remembers the Jim Kelly era, I’m taking Josh and it’s really not even close.
Hope he can do it this weekend against the queefs
Breaking the record vs. KC would be amazing.
Jim Kelly was on a awsome Bills team. Andre Reed, Thurman Thomas, Bruce Smith, etc.
Josh Allen is the core of an awesome Bills team. He has good talent around him but he is the main spark.
Both are great for their respective times. I’ll always love Kelly having grown up watching him. I’m grateful I get to watch Allen play now.
Hard to say who is better. If TDs scored is the only metric then Allen will be better. I would really like to see Allen in a full kgun offense having Cook and Davis in the back field. Nevertheless, if Allen can bring home the trophy then he will easily be the best
Josh is way, way more talented than Jim.
Jim could move, and he also had a big arm, but neither his athleticism or arm strength could match Josh’s.
I don’t know if Josh is better at reading defenses and stuff like that. Probably not, as Josh is kinda of weak against disguised looks. But as far as physical skill goes, it’s not that close.
It’s not even really a discussion anymore
Josh
Jim Kelly with 244 over 11 seasons with the Bills (22 per season)
Josh Allen with 242 over 7 seasons with the Bills. (34.6 per season)
–
Once you take the number of seasons into account, there’s no comparison.
Making it to 4 Super Bowls puts Kelly ahead for me
I think even Jim Kelly would vote for Josh Allen
gonna crush that sunday.
Until Josh wins MVP or makes a super bowl, it’s still Jim. Times are different, you can’t compare stats between eras. Otherwise Tua is going to wind up being a better QB than Dan Marino.
It’s Josh for me but don’t let him know I think that… want him with the chip on his shoulder mentality until at least he wins the big one
Kelly took the team to 4 super bowls.
Statistically Josh is better but the passing game is very different these days. Until Josh gets the team to an SB it’s Kelly.
Slight nod to Kelly but it’s hard to say that when the man himself took one look at JA in practice and said he’s going to shatter my records and be better than me
I like them both.
I don’t think it’s fair to compare 30 years difference. Would you compare Josh Allen to QB’s from the 60’s and 70s.
Just look at how different RB’s were treated between the eras.
And RTP? wtf is that in 1990 lol.
Hell, look at how important backup QB’s were – we had 2 (and I assume most other teams did as well)
I think a lot of guys played hurt back then too. Being tough was really important because you were getting your ass kicked out there. (that’s the vibe I remember).
I’ve never been happier than I am with either of the QB’s. The post-Kelly era was one of the most depressing times as a Bills fan.
I think Allen is a blast to watch but with the 90’s Bills I felt I had more players to focus on other than just Kelly. And man those deep balls during the Kelly era were something special. Bebee or Lofton down the sidelines was something special.
RB’s in general were a LOT more fun to watch as well. Emmitt Smith, Barry Sanders, Marcus Allen, Walter Payton, Bo Jackson.
Just watch Thurman Thomas in super bowl XXV.
I mean RB’s were winning MVP all the time back then.
I get recency bias. I get statistical advantage (inflated or not). And I get arguments made about the relative quality of each QBs supporting casts. But I am pretty shocked as to how much of a landslide the responses here are for Allen. I think in terms of their full careers AND even comparing Kelly’s first 7 seasons to Allen’s, Kelly still holds the edge.
If you compare the latter (first seven years in Buffalo), they are remarkably similar in terms of relative value vs their peers. Jim went to 5 probowls and made 2 AP teams. Josh (perhaps unfairly) has made just 2 probowls and 1 AP team (second). Both have a Top 2 MVP finish. Kelly has a strong argument for being the best QB in football during two different seasons (1990 & 1991). Allen can certainly make that claim in 2020. Kelly has been a league leader in QB Rating (no longer the big deal it was at the time) and completion percentage. Allen is certainly light years more valuable as a runner and has proven to be more durable (best ability is availability) despite this being part of his game. They are similar in many ways (amazing arms, fearless slingers) and diametrically different in others. But they both seem to occupy a similar relative ranking of in the conversation of best QB at any given season but never unanimously so.
Barring catastrophe, Allen will end his career as the franchise’s greatest QB…he may take that mantle soon and he may already be there. But sentiments like “it’s really not even close” surprise me from people who watched the havoc that the #12 and the K-Gun Bills wreaked on the NFL.
It’s Josh. Kelly was carried by an amazing team
Allen would have a Super Bowl already if the team around him was as talented as the early 90’s Bills.
Kelly did do the play calling, so credit there. The K-gun was not a complicated offense, but it was just fast! From there, Josh is lightyears better. With luck, he will have 200 more TD than Kelly. Adding to that, Kelly is a shit human. I was a bouncer in the late 80s, and Kelly was a regular. I have bunches of stories about what a scumbag he was back then. Yeck, even when he got cancer. He could have done PSAs about the dangers of chewing tobacco and not a peep. Josh by a million!
I’m a 41 year old lifelong Bills fan. It’s Josh.
How about Josh win an AFC championship game, or 4?
Jim Kelly all the way, until Josh puts in all together
A. Josh needs to get us to another Super Bowl. B. Josh needs to win it for us. Then he will be the best QB in Bills history.
Had Norwood made that kick there would be no contest, as Kelly would be a (winning) Superbowl QB basking in reflected glory. But Norwood didn’t make the kick, so I think between Kelly and Allen it is now a toss-up.
Josh Allen is the better QB.
Jim Kelly, as of now, is the more accomplished QB.
I think Tasker said it, whatever team wins the Super Bowl would be the greatest Bills team ever. Josh is better, but Jim went to 4 even though they didn’t win. So for me its Jim until Josh makes at least 1 appearance.