Denver Broncos dump Josh Allen and Buffalo Bills OUT of NFL playoffs in time beyond regulation thriller
Josh Allen’s bid to land a first ever Super Bowl for Buffalo is over for another year after the Bills suffered a dramatic overtime loss to the Denver Broncos.
The Bills, who have not even made it to the NFL’s end-of-season showpiece since 1994, were beaten 33-30 in an all-time classic playoff battle in Denver, where the Broncos prevailed thanks to a game-winning field goal from kicker Wil Lutz.
It proved a frantic affair at Mile High on Saturday night, with both superstar Buffalo quarterback Allen – who now has a miserable 0-7 record in overtime – and his opposite number Bo Nix making uncharacteristic errors under center.
Allen produced a disastrous fumble right at the end of the first half which allowed the Broncos to kick a field goal and take a 20-10 lead into halftime, before he lost another just seconds into the third quarter.
When he later completed a touchdown pass to Keon Coleman to reduce the deficit to 23-17, Nix then threw a shambolic interception to hand the visitors a major boost.
That was before Allen followed with one of his own, gifting possession straight back to the Broncos when his deep ball downfield was intercepted by P.J. Locke.
Josh Allen’s bid to land a first ever Super Bowl for the Buffalo Bills is over for another year
The Denver Broncos dumped the Bills out of the playoffs thanks to a game-winning field goal from Wil Lutz (left) in overtime
Eventually, a 50-yard field goal from Buffalo’s Matt Prater in the dying seconds sent the game to overtime, after a Marvin Mims Jr touchdown had moved Denver 30-27 ahead inside the last minute.
The Bills won the coin toss and elected to kick first, before the Broncos failed to score on their resulting possession – meaning a field goal was all that was needed to send Buffalo through.
Yet that failed to materialize in stunning fashion when Ja’Quan McMillian intercepted another deep Allen pass to Brandin Cooks, albeit in highly controversial fashion.
Despite a number of fans claiming online that Cooks took the catch before McMillian retrieved the ball, the on-field officials deemed it an interception and Denver regained possession at a pivotal moment.
It marked a second interception of the game for Allen, who had recorded 182 straight attempts without one heading into Saturday’s game.
The crucial pick set Sean Payton’s men up to snatch victory, particularly after a costly pass interference call against Bills cornerback Taron Johnson helped them move into field-goal range.
The Broncos knew a successful kick would book their place in the AFC Championship game, and Lutz duly delivered from 23 yards to do exactly that and spark wild scenes at Mile High.
Allen produced two fumbles and as many interceptions on a rare off-night for the Bills
Broncos kicker Will Lutz eventually fired home the game-winning field goal in overtime
Allen and Buffalo have been left with a familiar feeling of disappointment in the NFL playoffs
As Denver celebrated their pulsating win, a crestfallen Allen looked completely despondent as he congratulated Nix and headed down the tunnel.
After arch-rival Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs failed to make the postseason, there was optimism in Buffalo that this could be the year Allen finally delivers both his and the franchise’s first Super Bowl.
Instead, it is a familiar feeling of disappointment for the Bills Mafia, who have to shelve those dreams until September once again.
Allen remains winless in overtime after seven attempts, while he is yet to make it to a Super Bowl over the course of his eight-year career in Buffalo.
The reigning NFL MVP, who turns 30 in May, will need to go back to the drawing board this offseason and regroup ahead of the 2026 season.
The Broncos, meanwhile, are set to contest their first AFC Championship game since 2015 – when they beat the Carolina Panthers at Super Bowl 50.
