Josh Allen’s emotions were palpable following the Bills’ heartbreaking loss to the Broncos.
After Denver’s kicker, Will Lutz, nailed a 24-yard field goal in overtime, effectively ending Buffalo’s season, Allen, visibly upset, took the blame. “It’s very difficult,” he shared in a press conference after the 33-30 defeat. “I feel like I let my teammates down tonight.”
In the game, Allen struggled despite previously not having any turnovers in his last six postseason appearances. He completed 25 out of 39 passes for 283 yards and three touchdowns. However, the game also saw him throw two interceptions and lose two fumbles, partly due to a strip sack by Broncos linebacker Nick Bonitto, contributing to the team’s total of five turnovers.
“Yeah, you can’t win with five turnovers,” he remarked. “If you shoot yourself in the foot like that, you don’t deserve to win a football game.”
Despite these missteps, there seemed to be hope for the Bills to capitalize on Allen’s earlier playoff success, but a few controversial calls shifted the momentum late in the game.
In the fourth quarter, a potential pass interference call on a throw to receiver Brandin Cooks in the end zone wasn’t made, forcing Buffalo to settle for a field goal rather than seeing if they could score from the 1-yard line.
Then in overtime, an interception call against cornerback Jaquan McMillian on a pass intended for Cooks raised eyebrows, as it appeared Cooks was down during the play.
When asked if he got any clarification on the interception call, Allen simply said, “No.” He added, “I mean, losing like that… anyway… losing in the playoffs is not fun.”
The game was a stark contrast from the Bills’ previous matchup against the Jaguars, where they had secured their first postseason road win in three decades. In that game, Allen had driven his team to a 27-24 victory with a late touchdown.
Now, once again, the Bills found themselves eliminated without reaching the Super Bowl, a recurring theme under head coach Sean McDermott, who joined in 2017, and Allen, drafted by Buffalo in 2018.
“I haven’t really talked to anyone but them,” said Allen. “I love my teammates and I’m very disappointed. We just missed opportunities throughout the game. It’s a long season, and it’s disappointing the way it ended. This experience will stay with me for a long time.”
Allen’s emotional reflections resonated with some teammates, including Dion Dawkins, who tearfully supported him. “He won’t let us down,” Dawkins expressed.
