Josh Allen has a knack for turning broken plays into highlights, but his improvisation can also put the ball at risk. Compared with elite quarterbacks such as Patrick Mahomes and Joe Burrow, Allen’s turnover rate raises questions about how much his aggressive style is overlooked.

That trade-off is part of what makes the Buffalo Bills quarterback so difficult to defend, and Hall of Fame wide receiver Cris Carter believes it deserves a closer look.

Carter isn’t questioning Allen’s talent. Instead, he wonders whether other quarterbacks would receive the same praise as Allen if they turned the ball over as often.

Cris Carter Challenges Media Bias in Josh Allen’s Quarterback Evaluation

Speaking on “Inside Football,” Carter first recalled discussing Allen with former NFL MVP Cam Newton. The former wide receiver then argued that the media would react differently if Newton played the same way and made the same mistakes.

“If Cam Newton scrambled for eight seconds and then threw a couple of Hail Marys and they got intercepted in consecutive weeks, people would be criticizing him,” Carter said.

The Hall of Famer then argued that Allen’s reputation shouldn’t shield him from questions about ball security, particularly with Buffalo’s defense struggling and its running game raising concerns of its own.

“So, when you look at Buffalo, let’s also look at their best player. Because when you have a defense like that, it’s not a great defense, you can’t turn the ball over. Your running backs got a problem dropping the ball. Now, you’re supposed to be the best player in the league. You cannot turn the ball over.”

Carter also compared Allen with Brett Favre, the Hall of Fame quarterback whose aggressive passing style often led to costly turnovers.

“The reason why people criticize Brett Favre so much is because he turned the ball over. He would throw the ball into a defensive meeting,” Carter said.

Notably, Favre finished his 20-year NFL career with 409 regular-season turnovers, including 336 interceptions and 73 lost fumbles. Josh Allen, meanwhile, has recorded 127 turnovers, with 97 interceptions and 30 lost fumbles, in 132 career regular-season games.

Although Carter acknowledged Allen’s ability, he argued that his accomplishments should not earn him a different standard of evaluation. “We should be open to having the same standard for these players, regardless of the name on the back,” he said.

Allen’s performance this season adds context to the debate. While the Bills QB ranks third in the league with a PFN QB Impact Score of 83.6, he has thrown four interceptions and been sacked 10 times.

After avoiding interceptions against Houston and Detroit, Allen threw four over the next three games against the Chargers, Patriots and Rams.

Despite those mistakes, Allen has continued to produce at a high level. He has thrown for 1,249 yards and seven touchdowns while adding eight rushing touchdowns, helping Buffalo open the season 4-1.

That production helps explain why Allen’s risky decisions are often viewed as part of his playmaking ability rather than a flaw in his game. His ability to escape pressure and extend plays can lead to big gains, but Carter believes the turnovers that come with that style deserve just as much attention as the highlights.

The Bills visit the Las Vegas Raiders on Sunday, giving Allen a chance to limit turnovers and lead his team to another win.