“Bills Mafia, hold your breath!” That’s what fans must have thought as Josh Allen, Buffalo’s MVP-caliber quarterback, lay motionless on the field after a bone-crushing hit from Ravens lineman Travis Jones.

The heart-stopping moment unfolded during Sunday night’s clash between the Bills and Ravens. Allen, who’s been lighting up the NFL with a 75% completion rate and seven touchdowns this season, found himself in the crosshairs of Baltimore’s fierce defense during a trick play gone wrong.

As reported by Tanner Phifer on social media, “Buffalo Training staff taking a look at QB Josh Allen now, likely evaluating a head injury?” The play that led to this scary situation was a risky call by Bills’ offensive coordinator Joe Brady. Curtis Samuel took a direct snap and attempted to flip it back to Allen, but the lateral went awry.

Allen was eventually strip-sacked by Kyle Van Noy before he was crushed by Travis Jones. The sight of Allen walking off under his power provided some relief, but questions lingered about the wisdom of exposing the franchise quarterback to such danger.

This incident comes at a time when the Bills’ defense is already struggling. The Buffalo Bills’ defense posted a first half that they’d like to forget in their Week 4 bout with the Baltimore Ravens. With key players sidelined, including Taron Johnson and Matt Milano, the team can ill afford to lose Allen as well.

Trick or treat? When offensive creativity turns costly.

The failed trick play that put Allen at risk exemplifies the fine line NFL teams walk between innovation and recklessness. Brady’s decision to dial up such a high-risk play when the Bills were already trailing has raised eyebrows.

The Ravens, already dominating, capitalized on the mistake. They had been averaging 10.4 yards per play as it gained an impressive 281 yards in the first half alone.

The Bills’ depleted defense was already struggling to contain Baltimore’s offense. Tackling was an issue as Baltimore found frequent success on screen passes. The most glaring example? A second-quarter third-and-14 screen to running back Justice Hill that the 26-year-old converted into a first down.

With Allen miraculously returning to the game, the Bills dodged a bullet. But this close call serves as a stark reminder of the risks involved in aggressive play calling. As Buffalo moves forward, they’ll need to weigh the potential rewards of trickery against the very real danger of losing their star quarterback.