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As he has done so many times, Buffalo Bills MVP quarterback Josh Allen rushed out of the pocket onto the snowy turf at Highmark Stadium, surveying the field through snow flurries as defenders crashed into him.
It was a 14-3 game in favor of Joe Burrow and the Cincinnati Bengals, a game in which the Bills needed to win to keep their AFC East Division hopes alive while maintaining a strong playoff case. So, as Allen does, he finds a way to get the job done despite the circumstances.
Somehow he noticed his trusty receiver, Khalil Shakir, rushing around the end zone on fourth-and-4 from the Cincinnati 11-yard line. But anyone in Western New York, and watching at home, wouldn’t have batted an eyelid if Allen hadn’t thrown a pass to the No. 10 jersey that he saw go through the Bengals secondary — why risk a turnover?
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Khalil Shakir of the Buffalo Bills celebrates a touchdown against the Cincinnati Bengals during the second quarter at Highmark Stadium on December 7, 2025 in Orchard Park, New York. (Jamie Schwaberow/Getty Images)
But not Allen. With a gun for an arm and a confidence that always seemed bigger than the moment itself, he threw a seed to Shakir, hitting him between the numbers for a much-needed Bills touchdown in the second quarter.
Surprised? Shakir is not at that stage of his career.
“I think he did it so much that I’m used to it,” Shakir smiled as he told PK Press Club Digital about his fourth touchdown of the season, while also noting his partnership with Kelley Blue Book.
LIX STAR SUPER BOWL QUARTERBACKS FIGHT AT CRUCIAL POINT OF 2025 SEASON
Whether it’s his arm, his legs, or preferably both, it seems like Allen is making those highlight plays every week for the Bills. After all, winning the MVP award means going above and beyond, and Allen has been the embodiment of that for this franchise since he was a first-round pick in 2018.
Shakir couldn’t be more confident in saying his quarterback is the best player in the NFL, but Allen will even tell you that winning the MVP and hoping for a Super Bowl for his Bills requires everyone to do their part.
Shakir, who signed a four-year extension with the Bills in February, understands his role. Always expect to receive the ball, even if you have multiple defenders in snowy conditions as you slip and slide across the turf.
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“In those moments of scrambled play, being a skillful player on the field just to make yourself available to him as much as possible,” Shakir explained. “He’s the best player in the entire league and he has the ability to make these crazy plays literally any time he wants to. Knowing that he trusts us to make those catches, I think that gives him comfort in making those types of throws.”
Shakir was a fifth-round draft pick of the Boise State Bills in 2022, and last year saw his best production with 821 yards on 76 receptions (100 targets). He’s proven to be a reliable target for Allen, boosting that confidence factor after totaling 611 yards on 39 grabs in 2023.
Confidence is the only way games like Sunday’s against the Bengals can work, and it’s something Shakir is proud of.
“I had a shallow route and then I tried to run to the sideline and it was blocked, so I just started running down the field. Then I look around and there’s all these white jerseys around me and I turn around and the ball is right there,” he said of the touchdown.
“The fact that Josh has the ability to put the ball anywhere he wants because he’s so good, it’s insane. So, like I’ve said 1,000 times, it’s an honor to share the court with him. He’s incredible.”
Josh Allen and Khalil Shakir of the Buffalo Bills face the Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field on November 26, 2023 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)
Allen will rely on Shakir and other pass catchers to get the job done in the remaining four games to secure another shot at the franchise’s first Super Bowl.
“Being on the field with him, it’s important that we get to where we need to be, to the places we need to be on certain plays because we know the ball is going to be on the money every time,” Shakir said of his quarterback.
SMART MONEY MOVEMENTS
It’s every professional athlete’s dream to get that second contract, which usually means large sums of money hitting the bank account.
But Shakir knows that retaining wealth is just as important as earning it. He did a fun campaign with Kelley Blue Book, the industry standard for vehicle evaluation and ratings, because it highlights that he’s still driving his 2021 Subaru despite its big expansion.
Khalil Shakir of the Buffalo Bills celebrates with Josh Allen after scoring a touchdown in the third quarter of the game against the Carolina Panthers at Bank of America Stadium on October 26, 2025 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Matt Kelley/Getty Images)
Shakir is a practical guy, though, and with his wife, Sayler, and new baby girl, Sunny Haven, to care for off the field, he doesn’t always need to flaunt his finances.
“It was something that was a perfect fit for how they do their research and make their informed decision,” Shakir said when asked about his partnership with Kelley Blue Book. “This is exactly the lifestyle I like to live and it aligns with being financially smart with your money.”
