Former Buffalo Bills receiver Stevie Johnson is making a bold prediction: This is Josh Allen’s year to finally win the Super Bowl. The reason has everything to do with one quarterback who is now out of the playoffs. The absence of the said player could have a substantial effect in the Super Bowl race this season.
According to TMZ, Johnson, who spent several seasons catching passes in Buffalo, believes Allen won’t say it publicly, but he knows the biggest obstacle has been removed. That obstacle is Patrick Mahomes. With Mahomes and the Chiefs eliminated from the playoffs, the path to the Super Bowl is now wide open.
“Internally, he knows exactly what we know, like, there’s no Patrick Mahomes,” Johnson explained. If you’ve watched the playoffs over the last few years, you know what Johnson means. The Bills and the Chiefs have become painful playoff rivals, and almost every time, Mahomes has been the one to end Buffalo’s season. This isn’t just about regular-season games but about legacy-defining playoff moments.
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Allen finally has a clear path without his biggest rival
Johnson doesn’t think Allen is worried about the other top AFC quarterbacks still playing. “I don’t think he’s worried about Joe Burrow or Lamar Jackson because he beat them a few times,” Johnson said. He believes the only real hurdle was always Mahomes. Johnson added that Mahomes is “basically the reason why Josh was winless on the road” in those critical matchups.
With the Chiefs, Bengals, and Ravens all eliminated, most people are now saying it’s Buffalo’s turn. Johnson completely agrees with that view. In other sports news, Tucker’s decision to join the Dodgers shows how star players choose winning situations.
“I think quietly, Josh understands that this is his year,” Johnson said. But don’t expect Allen to brag about it. Johnson knows Allen will stay humble and just focus on playing his game, which is exactly what elite players do. Johnson also pointed out that Allen doesn’t need to try and be Superman anymore.
Sure, Allen can take over a game with his strong arm or running ability, but Buffalo’s Super Bowl hopes don’t rest only on his shoulders. The team now has a balanced attack, led by James Cook’s strong running game. Meanwhile, West’s recent legal troubles remind us how challenging life after professional sports can be for some athletes.
When you have good receivers and a running back who can keep defenses honest, opponents can’t just focus on stopping Allen. That balance is what makes this team a real championship threat. The Bills face the Denver Broncos in the Divisional Round on Saturday in Denver.
Johnson isn’t worried about the outcome. He respects what the Broncos have done to get this far, but he doesn’t think they have enough weapons to stop Buffalo’s balanced offense. If the Bills stick to their game plan, especially without the pressure of facing Mahomes, we could see Allen play some truly spectacular football this January.
Published: Jan 17, 2026 11:15 am