The Buffalo Bills' season once again ended earlier than they anticipated. The AFC playoff field presented one of the easiest paths possible for the Bills. No Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs? No Joe Burrow and the Cincinnati Bengals? This was the perfect opportunity for the Bills to finally make it back into the big game.
Instead, the Bills lost another heartbreaker in the playoffs. Buffalo forced overtime, but lost 33-30 to the Denver Broncos to get eliminated from the playoffs. Buffalo couldn't even make it to the AFC Championship Game. Unfortunately, it was due to self-inflicted wounds. Quarterback Josh Allen did his best to carry the team, but his four turnovers loomed large.
After the game, Allen was overcome with emotion when beginning his postgame press conference. Choked up and fighting back tears, Allen said, "feel like I let my teammates down tonight."
In the locker room, reporters let Bills offensive tackle Dion Dawkins know that Allen took the blame for the loss. Dawkins broke down and said "he didn't let us down." The video comes courtesy of WGRZ's Jon Scott.
Dion Dawkins very emotional when asked what he'd tell Josh Allen after the #Bills QB said he feels like he let his team down in loss to Denver. pic.twitter.com/82Yo6jdiyQ
— Jon Scott (@JonScottTV) January 18, 2026
Dion Dawkins emotionally absolves Josh Allen of blame after Bills' latest playoff collapse
For Bills fans, it has to be rough to hear Allen and Dawkins talk through tears about falling short of a Super Bowl once again.
Allen, being the leader that he is, wanted to take the blame for the loss. After all, he is the captain. But it's not too difficult to place the blame on him, considering he had four turnovers in the game. Sure, as much as he helped lead the Bills to a late 27-23 lead, he did have three turnovers in regulation, two of them in the third quarter. The fourth turnover arrived in the form of an interception in overtime, but that was more Brandin Cooks having the ball ripped out of his hands during a catch.
This loss may sting more than most for the Bills and their fanbase. Sure, the four losses to the Chiefs sting. But this was Buffalo's best path to a Lombardi Trophy. Mahomes wasn't standing in their way. They would have faced either the New England Patriots or Houston Texans in the AFC Championship Game, both of whom have their flaws. Instead, the Bills are sent home. Not only that, but they see the Broncos have to move forward with Jarrett Stidham as their starting quarterback after Bo Nix suffered a season-ending broken ankle in overtime.
If the reactions from Allen and Dawkins prove anything, it's that this latest playoff loss is going to linger for quite some time.