Josh Allen has been eliminated from the playoffs for the seventh time in his career. The emotions of coming up short got to him at the podium of his final press conference for the 2025 season.
The Bills fell at Mile High to the Denver Broncos – losing 33-30 in overtime on a walk-off field goal after Allen chucked a controversial second interception.
For all the accolades that the reigning MVP has accumulated in his career, an AFC Championship and subsequent Super Bowl appearance has eluded him this entire time.
On Saturday, he may have had his worst performance across his entire professional career – fumbling the ball three times (losing two of them, recovering one) and tossing a pair of interceptions.
Allen’s inability to protect the ball directly led to 16 points off turnovers for Denver, who will next host the winner of the other AFC Divisional game between the New England Patriots and the Houston Texans.
After the game, Allen stepped up to the podium an emotional wreck – beginning to tear up almost instantly.
Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen couldn’t fight back the tears after a playoff loss to Denver
Allen lost three fumbles (giving up two, recovering one) and two interceptions in the loss
‘It’s extremely difficult. I feel like I let my teammates down tonight,’ Allen said through sobs.
Allen pointed to ‘missed opportunities throughout the game’ leading to the team’s eventual defeat.
‘It’s been a long season. I hate how it ended and that’s going to stick with me for a long time. . . . 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.’
When given a chance to point the finger at officials, especially for the overtime pick, Allen deflected.
‘Yeah, I mean, losing that way regardless, losing in the playoffs is not fun,’ Allen said. ‘If one or two plays go our way, it’s a different story.’
Allen did not take things easy on himself: ‘I love my teammates. I’m extremely sorry and disappointed in how this ended.’
His Buffalo teammates disagreed with such a negative assessment.
Offensive lineman Dion Dawkins began crying himself when hearing of Allen’s self-blame, saying, ‘He didn’t let us down,’ before turning around to his locker and ending his availability.
Allen blamed himself for the team’s defeat, with Denver scoring 16 points off his turnovers
Allen’s overtime pass for Brandin Cooks was picked, with Denver kicking a winning field goal
Brandin Cooks, who had the ball ripped away from him in that aforementioned controversial interception, also couldn’t stop the waterworks.
‘You work so hard, personally [I’m] just so thankful to be a part of this,’ Cooks told reporters.
‘I look back like “man what could I have done to alleviate some of that pressure from him.” You just love this game so much and when you come up short like this, it’s gonna sting for a long time. There’s no next week… just love it, you know?’
While Buffalo may be eliminated from the playoffs, the Broncos did not leave the game unscathed.
Denver starting quarterback Bo Nix suffered a broken ankle bone that has officially ended his season.
This means that, barring a late signing, the Broncos will be starting Jarrett Stidham – a quarterback who has not thrown a pass in an NFL game since 2023 – in the AFC Championship game.
