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It’s safe to say Josh Allen has earned Bill Belichick’s respect over the past few years.
With the Bills and Patriots set to square off this weekend, Belichick was asked about Allen’s progression. Believe it or not, he compared the talented quarterback to Patriots legend Tom Brady.
Belichick basically explained that Allen got his attention by showing he can sustain his elite level of play.
“Just kind of like Brady,” Belichick said. “Once Brady got to a certain point there in 2003, that’s pretty much the way it was the rest of his career. It wasn’t really like that in 2002. It wasn’t like that in 2001. It certainly wasn’t like that in 2000. Once he got to a certain point there, about the midseason of the 2003 season and then the playoffs. From then on, it was his level of performance and play and consistency was at the very top of the league. Different style of play.
“Once those quarterbacks, usually when they get to that point, they’re able to sustain it. Sometimes you just don’t know what the growth pattern is going to be. It doesn’t really matter where [Josh Allen] was or where he is right now. He’s pretty good. Real good.”
Bill Belichick compares the leap Josh Allen made in his third season to Tom Brady in 2003 pic.twitter.com/19e6IvZjv1
— NBC Sports Boston’s Patriots Coverage (@NBCSPatriots) December 27, 2023
That right there is huge praise.
Last time the Bills and Patriots met, Allen had 265 passing yards, two touchdowns and an interception.
We’ll see if Belichick’s defense can throw a few curveballs at Allen this Sunday.