Josh Allen will start season finale but appearance will be 'very short-lived'

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) — Bills quarterback Josh Allen will start Sunday's game against the New England Patriots to extend the longest active streak among NFL quarterbacks to 115 games.

But with Buffalo's playoff position already locked in and little to compete for in Week 18, Allen's time on the field will be brief.

"He wants to be out there with his teammates and so he will be out there for a very, very short-lived amount of time and then he'll be off rather quickly there," coach Sean McDermott said Monday.

Allen has not missed a start since his rookie since in 2018 despite a variety of injuries. McDermott said the quarterback expressed his desire to preserve the streak that includes 10 postseason games, and is the 11th-longest in the NFL since 2000.

"I'm not surprised by it. The conversation we had, it was rather brief, but it was the first thing that he shared was that that was important to him," McDermott said. "He's been well decorated to this point and will continue to be well decorated as he moves forward and the honors he'll get and rightfully so. I think it's pretty cool when this type of stat, if you will, is one of the top things on his mind."

Some veteran players will be rested in the final regular season game, and the Bills lineup will be a blend of starters and backups, McDermott said, adding that safety Damar Hamlin and receiver Curtis Samuel could return from injuries that have kept them off the field for multiple weeks.

"We want to win this game, there's no doubt. At the same time try and get a little bit of rest. That's the obvious," he said. "And then also try and prepare a little bit if we can forecast a little bit who we might play. So it'll be a week that's focused on New England, but also moving our team forward as well."