Two games into the 2026 NFL season, Josh Allen isn't just playing well — he's rewriting record books.
The Wyoming product and Buffalo Bills quarterback has been utterly dominant to open the year, throwing for 582 yards and accounting for nine total touchdowns across wins over the Houston Texans (36-31) and Detroit Lions (41-31). That two-game stretch ranks among the most productive starts in NFL history, and the numbers only tell part of the story.
The Numbers Are Staggering
In Week 1 against Houston's vaunted defense, Allen carved up the Texans for 334 passing yards, two passing touchdowns, and two rushing scores. That would have been a career-defining performance for most quarterbacks. For Allen, it was a warm-up act.
Week 2 was the headliner. On Thursday Night Football, Allen christened Buffalo's new Highmark Stadium with a five-touchdown masterpiece — three through the air, two on the ground — torching Detroit for 248 passing yards and 69 rushing yards in a 41-31 Bills victory. He did it while reportedly fighting flu-like symptoms, a detail that drew scrutiny toward the Bills organization for not listing him on the injury report but did nothing to diminish the performance itself.
The Bills became the first team to accomplish a specific historical benchmark in that game — one the franchise announced within minutes of the final whistle — cementing the night as something beyond a routine Week 2 win.
MVP Conversation Is Already Over (Sort Of)
The betting markets haven't been subtle. Allen entered the week as the +260 favorite on FanDuel Sportsbook to win NFL MVP, per CBS Sports, and that number figures to tighten further after the Lions performance. Bleacher Report confirmed his odds as the clear frontrunner following the Thursday night game, with Caleb Williams the distant second choice per Yahoo Sports.
Former Super Bowl-winning quarterback Russell Wilson publicly predicted Allen will take home MVP honors. CBS Sports went further, declaring the award "already Allen's to lose" after just two weeks. The unanimous nature of that sentiment — oddsmakers, analysts, and former players all pointing the same direction — is notable this early in the season.
Around the Wyoming Alumni Network
Allen's spotlight is understandably blinding, but other Cowboys were active in Week 1. Saints defensive end Carl Granderson recorded a sack in New Orleans' 30-31 loss to Detroit, and the former Wyoming pass-rusher drew attention beyond the box score — he publicly outlined how the Saints plan to handle Ravens QB Lamar Jackson ahead of their Week 2 matchup, drawing early-week buzz in Baltimore.
Cardinals safety Andrew Wingard hauled in an interception during Arizona's 26-14 win over the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 1, while Marcus Epps (Eagles) and Treyton Welch (Saints) also appeared in their respective Week 1 contests.
But make no mistake: this is Allen's fortnight. The Laramie product is playing at a level that transcends weekly storylines. Through two games, the argument that he's the best player in professional football is looking less like a hot take and more like a simple statement of fact.
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