Why is Josh Allen starting for Bills in Week 18? Explaining the QB's 'very, very important' consecutive starts streak

Why is Josh Allen starting for Bills in Week 18? Explaining the QB's 'very, very important' consecutive starts streak originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

Week 18 is the final week of the 2025 regular season and is the final chance for teams to solidify their playoff positioning.

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The Buffalo Bills have clinched a playoff berth and are locked into a wild-card spot. The Bills can be anywhere from the No. 5 seed to the No. 7 seed in the playoffs, depending on what happens with three games in Week 18.

Buffalo heads into the week with the No. 7 seed. Many teams are expected to rest players to prepare for the playoffs, but star quarterback Josh Allen is expected to play for the Bills against the New York Jets in their regular season finale. While playoff seeding is important, there is another big reason that Allen is playing.

Here is more on why Allen is starting in Week 18.

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Why is Josh Allen starting vs. Jets in Week 18?

Allen is starting in Week 18 because he has the second-longest active consecutive start streak in the NFL. He trails Philip Rivers, but with the veteran QB set to be the backup in the final game of the season for the Indianapolis Colts, the Bills QB would then have the longest active consecutive start streak.

Historically, Allen has the ninth-longest streak of consecutive starts. He would move into a tie for eighth-place with a start in Week 18 against the Jets. The streak would also remain alive if, like last year, Allen took one snap and then left the game to rest for the playoffs.

While not related to the streak, this will also be the final regular-season game played in Highmark Stadium. In 2026, Buffalo will move next door to the brand new stadium, aptly named "New Highmark Stadium."

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About the consecutive start streak and what it means to him, Allen said, "I think it is important to me just because maybe some little ailments or bumps and bruises that I've played through. I take a lot of pride in being out there for my teammates. I think that's kind of the main thing is I just feel like I've sacrificed a lot to be on that football field just because I love it so much and it's my favorite thing to do is play this game."

MORE: Updated AFC, NFC playoff picture in Week 18

Most consecutive starts by an NFL QB

Here are the consecutive starts streaks by a quarterback spanning at least 100 games, excluding playoffs.

Allen currently sits ninth for most consecutive starts, not including the playoffs. Week 18 against the Jets would be his 122nd consecutive start, which would move him into a tie for eighth with Joe Flacco. Allen could move into sole possession of seventh if he maintains his streak into 2026.

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Brett Favre made 297 consecutive starts over a span of 19 seasons, 54 more than the NFL's second-longest streak. Tom Brady, meanwhile, had three different streaks of at least 110 games, with the latter two separated by only his "Deflategate" suspension.

Philip Rivers added three more games to his start streak in 2025, coming out of retirement for three games against the Colts. He was benched in favor of rookie Riley Leonard in Week 18, though, so that streak will officially come to an end at 243 games.

One of the biggest impediments to consecutive starts streaks in this era is the concept of resting players in Week 18 if nothing is on the line. For example, Patrick Mahomes hasn't missed a start since 2019 but has seen his streak reset to zero at multiple points because the Chiefs decided to sit him out of their final regular season game.

Last year, Allen started Week 18, played one snap and then was removed from the game to keep the streak alive.

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Josh Allen contract incentive

Allen is playing in the first year of a new six-year, $330 million deal. The Buffalo quarterback has contract incentives for regular-season snaps, Super Bowl snaps and a Super Bowl win, per Spotrac. Allen had long hit the regular season snap requirement of 60% of snaps so he will have a cool $500,000 bonus coming his way.

Allen does not have a specific incentive for consecutive games started.

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