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It’s a tale as old as the internet. A NFL player, especially a quarterback, has a few bad games and his team loses and fans start blaming his famous girlfriend.
Such is the case this week with actress Hailee Steinfeld and her boyfriend, Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen.
Steinfeld and Allen only began dating sometime around this past March, but in the grand tradition of football fans grasping at straws, she was already being called a “distraction” as early as May.
Now, 10 games into the Buffalo Bills’ season, Josh Allen is leading the NFL in interceptions with 11 and the team, which was expected by some to be a Super Bowl contender, is limping along at 5-5.
Also of note: Josh Allen is leading the NFL in touchdown passes with 19 and completing 70.3 percent of his passes, but that doesn’t matter apparently.
His career high for interceptions in a season is 15, so with seven games remaining Allen will probably surpass that, especially at his current rate.
The Bills, in every year where Josh Allen was the starter for the full season, have gone a combined 47-18. The worst season the team has had with him at the helm was his rookie year when he started 11 games and Buffalo went 5-6.
Naturally, Bills fans believe the reason for Allen’s struggles, and in turn the team’s, this year can be laid at the feet of Hailee Steinfeld.
@HaileeSteinfeld maybe is affecting josh allen performance
— Cky (@Claudia38862755) November 14, 2023
“He’s spent many off seasons with Jordan Palmer, this past off season he spent with Hailee Steinfeld, and making a few commercials,” one upset fan wrote on X (formerly Twitter).
This is now officially a Hailee Steinfeld hate account. Not because I want to be; because I HAVE to be. #BillsMafia #JoshAllen
— T.O. (@TO_Massey) November 14, 2023
“When is it acceptable to start pointing blame at @HaileeSteinfeld? #BillsMafia,” another fan asked.
Dads making @HaileeSteinfeld the scapegoat pic.twitter.com/BwfuObg6OX
— JennyH (@JRHerrm) November 14, 2023
“The new long hair EMO Josh Allen isn’t working out too well. Thanks Hailee Steinfeld!” read another post.
Bills fans aren’t the only ones turning on Josh Allen though.
The 27-year-old is also getting it from the media.
The Buffalo Bills are the oldest team in the NFL currently..
Is the man Josh Allen broken is a question that you HAVE to ask pic.twitter.com/CKIyvCPjex
— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) November 14, 2023
"At some point, Josh Allen is giving away games. … He reminds me of Brett Favre. Brett Favre might have been the most talented quarterback of his generation, but he lost a lot of games with recklessness and mistakes."
—@Espngreeny pic.twitter.com/83cvF1DRFV
— Get Up (@GetUpESPN) November 14, 2023
Perhaps Buffalo’s firing of offensive coordinator Ken Dorsey on Tuesday will turn things around for Allen and the Bills.
If not, expect the calls for Josh Allen to break up with Hailee Steinfeld to continue to grow. Because that makes total sense.