DENVER — Josh Allen was crying even before he took the podium to take questions from the media.
“It’s very difficult,” Allen said, still in full uniform and barely able to speak, after the Buffalo Bills’ 33-30 overtime loss to the Denver Broncos. “I felt like I let my teammates down tonight.”
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The Bills have made the playoffs seven times under Allen, and Saturday’s loss in the divisional round marked the seventh time in this era that they have failed to reach the Super Bowl. The stakes appear to be higher this time. There’s no Patrick Mahomes waiting for the Bills in the AFC Championship Game. Lamar Jackson or Joe Burrow aren’t on the AFC scene either. The road hasn’t been easy for the Bills, who didn’t win the AFC East and must win three road games to advance to the Super Bowl. But they still have the best quarterback in the playoffs. That seemed to be their shot, especially when they led for most of the fourth quarter against the Broncos, or when they took the ball and shot to win the game in overtime.
While Allen was strong at times on Saturday, he also made some key mistakes. He had four turnovers, which was huge in the overtime loss. Allen failed to lead the scoring in overtime that would have put the Bills in the AFC Championship Game.
“Missed opportunities the whole game. It’s been a long season. Hated how it ended,” Allen said. “It’s going to stay with me for a long time.”
Shortly after Allen spoke to the media, Bills left tackle Dion Dawkins also became emotional. He was told Allen said he thought he let his teammates down.
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“He didn’t let us down,” Dawkins said, repeating the question and shaking his head.
Dawkins’ eyes filled with tears. He dropped his head and started crying, then turned and went into his locker. Nothing more needs to be said.
Josh Allen walks off the field after the Bills’ playoff loss to the Broncos. (Photo by AAron Ontiveroz/Denver Post)
(AAron Ontiveroz via Getty Images)
Josh Allen still looking for his first Super Bowl
As time goes on, the details of the Bills’ performance time and time again in the postseason will fade away. People won’t remember Saturday night’s game when the Bills defense gave up a go-ahead lead in the final minutes of regulation (or when Allen rallied downfield to tie the game with five seconds remaining), nor will they remember the two huge defensive pass interference penalties that allowed the Broncos to get an easy field goal in overtime to win the game.
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The only thing Allen will be remembered for is if he wins a Super Bowl. Do you remember the details of all 10 of Dan Marino’s career playoff losses? Probably not.
The importance of that was evident in Allen’s postgame emotions and those of his teammates. Even considering the Bills’ season ended abruptly with an overtime loss, it’s the darkest place you’ll find in a locker room. The theme remains consistent: it’s not Allen’s fault. They all felt the loss and also felt his pain.
“He’s been holding us up all year long,” receiver Brandin Cooks said. “My thought is, someone stepping up can take some of the trouble out of him. When you’re good and you feel like you have to do a lot of things, you have an opportunity to force some of those things. That’s how I feel about Josh. He’s the greatest quarterback in this league. Everybody else around him has to step up and be able to make plays so that he doesn’t always have to feel like, ‘Man, I have to win this game.'”
Cooks was again asked about Allen and the pressure he faces. A minute earlier, he spoke sadly but quietly about a controversial call in overtime that included a question about whether he controlled a catch that was ruled a Broncos interception. Now, Cooks’ eyes are beginning to fill with tears as he talks about Allen, who has been his teammate since signing with the Bills on Nov. 25. His lower lip trembled and his voice trembled when he spoke of Ellen. As he spoke, tears rolled down his face.
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“You know, you know, I think we all feel that way, you work so hard and I’m personally so grateful to be a part of it, I look back and think, man, what can I do to take the pressure off him?” Cooks said.
Alan had a rough day
The best comparison of Allen’s career so far may be that of a man who played in a demolished stadium just a short walk from where Allen’s season ended on Saturday.
At least in the 1980s and early 1990s, John Elway could understand what Allen was being asked to do. Elway will be tasked with taking a Broncos team that doesn’t have many superstar players around him to new heights. He did go to four Super Bowls in that era, but lost them all before Mike Shanahan arrived and got help around Elway.
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Beyond the Super Bowl appearance, there are similarities between Allen and him. We’ll see if Allen gets those titles later in his career like Elway did to take away most of the heartache.
It all seemed so far away in Denver, as Allen sat dazed in his locker long after the game, long after most of his teammates were already on their way to the bus home. In many of the Bills’ playoff losses, it’s hard to blame Allen. He’s been great for much of his postseason career, while the rest of the Bills haven’t always been able to stick to their goals. Allen was far from perfect on Saturday.
He made a horrific fumble toward the end of the first half, scrambling in the final seconds without a timeout and well short of the end zone. He had the ball in his right hand and was easily poked out by Nik Bonitto. The Broncos recovered and scored with two seconds left. Those three points were huge in a game that went into overtime.
“Can’t do that,” Allen said.
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Allen was sacked early in the third quarter, although the Bills did little to slow down Bonito in the pass rush. Allen was intercepted twice, including a contested downfield interception to Cooks on third down. That happened at the end of a Bills possession that would have won the game. Allen’s critics will say that was his chance to win, but he didn’t. Or they’ll point to his four turnovers in the three-point game.
“When you shoot yourself in the foot like that, you don’t deserve to win football games,” Allen said.
Allen still kept Buffalo in the game. He passed for 283 yards and two touchdowns and rushed for 66 yards. He took more punishment, like he did against the Jaguars in the wild-card win. Allen talked about it being a long season and it will be until the Bills get him more help.
Life as an NFL quarterback isn’t always fair. Losses are rarely blamed solely on cornerback, offensive lineman or any other position. Allen is an MVP quarterback, but the growing narrative surrounding his career now is that he wasn’t great enough to lead the Bills to the Super Bowl. The burden of being in this position is unimaginable to anyone.
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“We wouldn’t be here without Josh Allen,” offensive tackle Spencer Brown said. “That’s who he is as a leader and he’s going to take responsibility and be the voice of what’s going on here today.
“I love this guy.”
Allen will turn 30 this offseason. He will have more chances to lead the Bills to the Super Bowl, but it may be more difficult in the future. The Patriots captured the AFC East title and have second-year quarterback Derek Meyer who shouldn’t be disappearing anytime soon. Mahomes, Jackson and Burrow could all be back in the playoff picture next season, though there are concerns about Mahomes’ health and the Ravens and Bengals have plenty of questions coming off tough seasons. Even a Super Bowl is hard to come by. Allen already knew. Maybe that’s why Saturday’s loss seemed more serious than other playoff disappointments.
“I haven’t had much of a conversation other than how much I love my teammates and I’m very sorry and disappointed with how this ended,” Allen said.
