Photo Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images/USA Today Sports via Reuters Connect
Josh Allen took a deep breath before addressing reporters Sunday night. The Buffalo Bills quarterback wore a look of frustration, all too familiar after another season ended in heartbreak against the Kansas City Chiefs.
“It’s not fun,” Allen admitted. “But to be the champs, you’ve got to beat the champs, and we didn’t do it tonight.”
The Chiefs have become a postseason nemesis for Buffalo, defeating the Bills in four of the last five playoffs. This marks the first time in NFL history that one team has eliminated the same opponent four times in a five-season span.
Despite erasing multiple deficits on Sunday, including an 11-point gap, the Bills fell short in a 32-29 loss at Arrowhead Stadium. As red and gold confetti blanketed the field, Bills players quietly packed up their gear, grappling with yet another missed opportunity.
Allen, still wearing his uniform, sat in front of his locker in silence after his press conference, reflecting on the outcome.
“You can either get it done or you can’t,” Allen said. “And we didn’t get it done.”
A Familiar Story
The loss extends Buffalo’s wait for a Super Bowl appearance, a drought that dates back to the 1993 season. The Bills’ 78 wins over the past six years, including playoffs, are the most by any team in NFL history without reaching a Super Bowl during that span.
Allen, whose seven postseason wins are the most by any quarterback without a Super Bowl appearance, struggled under pressure late in the game. The Chiefs blitzed him on fourth-and-5 from Buffalo’s 47-yard line with two minutes remaining. Allen scrambled and launched a pass toward tight end Dalton Kincaid, but it fell incomplete.
“It’s football,” Kincaid said. “Josh made a hell of an attempt just to get the ball up there. It just sucks not being able to bring it down.”
Allen finished 22-of-34 for 237 yards, two touchdowns, and 39 rushing yards on 11 carries. However, under pressure, he completed only 1 of 8 passes for four yards.
Missed Opportunities
The Bills’ second-half drives included two failed fourth-down attempts. One controversial play on fourth-and-1 saw Allen ruled short of the marker, a call upheld after review.
“Just short of the line was actually the first down, what it looked like to me when it was sitting next to me with the marker,” head coach Sean McDermott said. “Just inside that white stripe was the first down. And it looked like he got to it; that’s all I can say.”
The Bills’ defense, which allowed a season-high 32 points, struggled to contain the Chiefs. Kansas City scored touchdowns on three of their first four possessions and made key plays late in the game.
Starting cornerback Christian Benford left in the first quarter with a concussion, which McDermott acknowledged impacted the defense. Despite their struggles, the Bills stayed within striking distance but ultimately couldn’t capitalize.
“Didn’t do enough, didn’t make enough plays to win the game,” linebacker Terrel Bernard said. “It’s tough, man. It sucks, honestly, just thinking about all the work, all the effort, all the time you put into it, and then to not accomplish your ultimate goal. It sucks. So, we’ll take it, learn from it and get better.”
Searching for a Breakthrough
The Bills have been a consistent playoff presence but continue to fall short in their quest for a championship.
“[The Chiefs are] a good football team. They’ve won two Super Bowls, been to seven straight AFC Championship Games. That’s no excuse,” McDermott said. “This is a good football team. We’ve got to keep working to get over that hump, there is no doubt about it. We’ve won a lot of tough games this year against really good opponents, really good coaches. I’m proud of this football team.
“This is obviously a challenge for us. We’ll figure it out.”
The camaraderie in the locker room has been a bright spot this season, fueled by a mix of new leaders and contributors. However, the players know camaraderie alone isn’t enough.
“If you get this close, you definitely going to try to win it all,” safety Damar Hamlin said. “Just thinking about having to prepare for next season, it’s just thinking about everything that it took to get to this point feels like a heavy load to lift. So, you want to try to maximize while you’re here.”
Cornerback Rasul Douglas summed up the sentiment.
“We don’t accomplish s—. We don’t win a ring,” Douglas said. “None of that s— going to matter. Everybody got one goal, bro. Only one team handles the goal at the end of every year. All other 31 is just trying to get to that goal.”
The Bills will now turn their focus to the offseason, searching for ways to finally break through and achieve the ultimate goal. Until then, the frustration lingers.
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This report used information from ESPN.
