The Buffalo Bills' season is over, and for the fourth time in six seasons, it ends in a playoff loss decided by one score.
Buffalo was defeated 33-30 by the Denver Broncos in the divisional round of the playoffs, marking yet another season in which they fall short of the Super Bowl.
But this year is different. The Bills didn't have to go through Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs, who missed the postseason and have been the constant thorn in the side of Buffalo in the postseason. On top of that, the Cincinnati Bengals and Baltimore Ravens failed to make the postseason, as well, leaving the field of quarterbacks in the AFC as Trevor Lawrence, Bo Nix, Drake Maye, Aaron Rodgers, C.J. Stroud, and Justin Herbert. Excluding Rodgers, the Bills faced a field of quarterbacks with a combined three playoff wins entering the playoffs.
I'm as big a Josh Allen guy as there is. Having said that, there is no excusing how he played against Denver, and it may have cost the Bills their best shot at a Super Bowl.
Josh Allen played his worst playoff game as a pro
Allen had arguably the worst postseason performance of his career. While he threw three touchdowns, he also had two fumbles lost, one of which was the worst you will ever see in the waning seconds of the first half. Scrambling and trying to get yards, Allen was hit while loosely carrying the ball and was stripped. The Broncos recovered and kicked a field goal to close out the half with a 20-10 lead. If Allen doesn't fumble, the Bills likely win, considering they had to kick a field goal of their own to send the game to overtime.
Allen also threw two interceptions, one of which came directly after Deone Walker picked off Bo Nix to potentially set up the Bills to take the lead while down 23-17. While the strip sack to kickoff the second half was on his blindside and just a great play by Nik Bonitto, and the second interception was a ticky-tack call that could have been ruled a Brandin Cooks catch, a player of Allen's caliber is expected to play better. Two of his four turnovers were blatantly his fault, and they cost the Bills a trip to the AFC Championship Game, and potentially the Super Bowl.
More NFL news:
Latest prediction sees Chargers stealing $24 million Pro Bowl star from AFC foe
- Jaguars should go all in on Maxx Crosby trade with Las Vegas Raiders
- Ravens $19 million All-Pro labeled top cut candidate ahead of new league year
- Chargers sign former Ravens offensive lineman after injury-riddled season
- Broncos defender pokes the bear, takes unprompted jab at Josh Allen