The January music remained the identical for quarterback Josh Allen and the Buffalo Payments, as Buffalo as soon as once more entered the playoffs with Tremendous Bowl expectations solely to undergo a loss to the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs.
Following the 32-29 defeat at Kansas Metropolis’s Arrowhead Stadium in Sunday’s AFC Championship Sport, Allen spoke brazenly about his emotions of disappointment.
“It isn’t enjoyable,” Allen mentioned in regards to the loss, as shared by Alaina Getzenberg of ESPN. “However to be the champs, you have to beat the champs, and we did not do it tonight. …You possibly can both get it finished or you’ll be able to’t. And we did not get it finished.”
One could not blame Allen, who could earn MVP honors for the primary time in his profession subsequent month, for feeling annoyed about falling to the Chiefs in one more must-win sport. Mike Gavin of NBC Connecticut famous that Allen is 4-1 versus fellow signal-caller Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs in regular-season play however has now gone 0-4 in opposition to Mahomes and Co. within the playoffs since January 2021.
“We do not accomplish s—. We do not win a hoop,” Buffalo cornerback Rasul Douglas mentioned after the defeat. “…All people acquired one purpose, bro. Just one group handles the purpose on the finish of yearly. All different 31 is simply making an attempt to get to that purpose.”
Just like how some wonder if Lamar Jackson will ever information the Baltimore Ravens previous an in-his-prime Mahomes throughout a postseason, questions on Allen’s capacity to win the most important video games on the most important levels might generate Buffalo-related sports activities headlines for months. Whereas the Payments have been on the flawed aspect of a controversial fourth-down ruling early within the contest’s fourth quarter, Allen had an opportunity to supply a legacy drive with the guests trailing by three factors and three:33 left in regulation.
Nonetheless, Buffalo tight finish Dalton Kincaid was unable to safe a fourth-down prayer of a pass with beneath two minutes remaining. Had Kincaid accomplished the catch, the Payments would’ve been in subject purpose vary with loads of time to seek for what might’ve turn out to be a game-winning landing.
“In the event you get this shut, you positively going to attempt to win all of it,” Payments security Damar Hamlin added. “Simply fascinated by having to organize for subsequent season, it is simply fascinated by all the pieces that it took to get so far looks like a heavy load to elevate. So, you need to attempt to maximize when you’re right here.”
As of Monday morning, DraftKings Sportsbook had the Payments tied for second among the many betting favorites at +650 odds to win Tremendous Bowl LX in February 2026. It appears possible that Mahomes and the Chiefs will as soon as once more stand between Buffalo and a Tremendous Bowl berth subsequent winter.