For the seventh time in his career, Josh Allen saw his season come to a gut-wrenching end in the playoffs.
Saturday night at Mile High Stadium ended with the Buffalo Bills falling 33-30 in overtime to the Denver Broncos on a walk-off field goal.
A controversial second interception by Allen loomed large, but the loss felt bigger than a single play.
For all his MVP honors and regular-season dominance, an AFC Championship and a shot at the Super Bowl have continued to elude Allen.
And on this night, even he admitted his performance wasn’t up to his own high standards.
Turnovers Turn the Tide
Allen’s night was marred by mistakes that would haunt any quarterback.
He fumbled three times, losing two, and threw two interceptions.
Those turnovers directly handed Denver 16 points, swinging momentum in the Broncos’ favor and setting up their next showdown against the winner of New England and Houston.
“It’s extremely difficult. I feel like I let my teammates down tonight,” Allen said at his postgame press conference, his voice breaking as tears welled.
“You can’t win with five turnovers. I fumbled twice, threw two picks.
When you shoot yourself in the foot like that, you don’t deserve to win football games.”
Allen Accepts Responsibility
Even when asked about the controversial calls, Allen refused to deflect blame.
“Losing in the playoffs is not fun.
If one or two plays go our way, it’s a different story,” he said.
Yet he returned focus to himself and his teammates: “I love my teammates.
I’m extremely sorry and disappointed in how this ended.”
It was raw honesty from a superstar quarterback who has carried the Bills to so many playoff appearances but never the promised Lombardi Trophy.
Teammates Rally Around Their Leader
Allen wasn’t alone in the emotional aftermath.
Buffalo offensive lineman Dion Dawkins broke down upon hearing Allen’s self-criticism.
“He didn’t let us down,” Dawkins said, tears streaming, before retreating to his locker.
Wide receiver Brandin Cooks, who had been involved in the controversial interception, echoed the sentiment.
“You work so hard, personally [I’m] just so thankful to be a part of this,” Cooks said.
“I look back like, ‘man, what could I have done to alleviate some of that pressure from him.’
You love this game, and when you come up short, it’s going to sting for a long time.
There’s no next week… just love it.”
Denver Celebrates But Faces Its Own Setback
While the Bills’ season ended, the Broncos emerged victorious but not unscathed.
Denver starting quarterback Bo Nix suffered a broken ankle late in the game, officially ending his season.
That leaves backup Jarrett Stidham — who hasn’t thrown an NFL pass since 2023 — as the starting quarterback for the AFC Championship game.
The Broncos’ dramatic win now comes with a sobering twist: triumph shadowed by the sudden loss of their star quarterback.
What Comes Next?
The Bills’ 2025 season ends in heartbreak, but Allen and his teammates will carry the lessons — and the pain — into the offseason.
Denver, meanwhile, moves forward into the AFC Championship with an unexpected quarterback situation.
Both teams leave Mile High forever marked by a night of intensity, emotion, and the cruel twists of playoff football.
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