The Buffalo Bills' 2025-26 season came to a heartbreaking end in overtime, falling to the Denver Broncos, 33-30.
Here's what the players said after the Divisional Round loss:
Bills share their love for QB1
Left tackle Dion Dawkins was overcome with emotion in the locker room after hearing what quarterback Josh Allen said at the podium in his press conference.
"I feel like I let my teammates down," Allen said.
"Let us down?" Dawkins asked, confirming that's what his quarterback said before covering his eyes filled with tears and turning around, facing his locker.
Allen threw for 283 yards and three touchdowns on Saturday. He finished with a 64.1 completion percentage, two interceptions and two fumbles. On the ground, Allen had 12 attempts for 66 yards. The turnovers were crushing, though, and Allen said the loss and the way the Bills lost will stick with him for some time.
"No, it's not on him," head coach Sean McDermott said. "We had opportunities, all of us, and I'm extremely proud of him. He's a tremendous person, tremendous leader, tremendous quarterback."
Wide receiver Brandin Cooks said that Allen isn't alone in how he feels. He said everyone in the locker room feels that way. Specifically, for him, Cooks said he already reflected back on plays he was a part of, analyzing how he could've been better for his team and quarterback.
"We wouldn't be here without Josh Allen," right tackle Spencer Brown said. "That's the leader he is, he's going to take the blame and be the front face for what happened here … He's a leader, that's who he is and that's what he's going to say, but we know we wouldn't have a shot in hell to win a football game without him there. Love the guy."
"He's the reason why we're here," cornerback Taron Johnson said of his quarterback and Buffalo making it to the Divisional Round, win or lose. "Everything that he's done throughout the season, throughout these playoffs, has helped us win games … He's still, to me, the greatest quarterback in the NFL."
Allen said he didn't say a lot to the team so far before his press conference except one message: "I love my teammates."
Reflecting on final defensive penalties in overtime
Two defensive pass interference calls went in favor of Denver at the end of the game in overtime.
Johnson drew the first penalty, which pushed the Broncos into Buffalo territory at the 36-yard-line. It wasn't an ideal position for them to be in still, though they were technically in field goal range. The Bills still had a chance, even if they hung on by a thread at that point.
After a loss of two, bringing up second-and-12 for Denver, quarterback Bo Nix took another deep shot down the field. Cornerback Tre'Davious White attempted to keep wide receiver Marvin Mims Jr. off the ball, but ultimately caused another flag to fly out of the referee's hand.
"Take the guy to the ground, finish the play and … I don't look back for the ball, especially on the defensive side of the ball – which you don't have to when you're out of phase [and] I was out of phase," White said. "I didn't touch him before the ball got there. I feel like I finished the play like I'm coached to do."
The pass interference penalty put the Broncos at the eight-yard-line. After Nix took a knee and a loss of three yards, preparing for the field goal, White was still frustrated with the previous call. He threw his helmet to the ground while disagreeing with the official. This led to an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty, only sealing Buffalo's fate further.
"Bang-bang plays. That was tough," Johnson said.
With the result of the game in the books, Johnson tried his best to put those plays behind and look ahead — even if it's months away.
"Just do our best to keep our heads up," Johnson said. "Bounce back next year."
