Josh Allen showed up in the interview room late Sunday evening, then heaved a long, discouraged sigh before the reporters began asking questions.
Moments earlier, Allen and the Buffalo Bills had just failed for a fourth time in as many occasions against Patrick Mahomes’ Chiefs in the playoffs, in a 32-29 loss.
In five seasons, Allen and the Bills have been shown the exit door four times by Mahomes and the Chiefs.
2020: defeat in the association final. 2021: defeat in division final. 2023: defeat in division final. And now, Allen and the Bills can add another conference final loss in the 2024 season.
The failures keep coming and the situation is not getting any easier to swallow. Despite the barrage of questions, Allen was a man of few words Sunday night.
“It’s not pleasant. To be champions, you have to beat the champions and we didn’t do that tonight,” Allen dryly admitted after searching for words for a few seconds.
“We may or may not succeed…we didn’t succeed. »
In total, the Bills gained 384 yards offensively, reached the end zone four times and scored 29 points. But in the end, their efforts will not have led to the hoped-for result.
“The guys made plays tonight. We needed to make one more play, score one more point than them, but we didn’t get it done tonight,” Allen added.
“We gave everything we had,” said coach Sean McDermott. I told the guys I was proud of them. This team gave everything. You saw it, until the last game. I appreciated that. »
Fourth attempts with a bitter taste
-Throughout this other highly charged matchup, the Bills were victims of trouble in fourth down situations. These fourth downs, if converted, would possibly have changed the course of history and perhaps the Bills would have won the meeting with the Philadelphia Eagles.
First there was the Bills’ conversion attempt with just under 13 minutes left in the final quarter. Positioned at the Chiefs’ 41, Buffalo tried to get a first down with a sneak from Allen.
An incredibly close game was initially ruled short by the referees, who confirmed their decision on video replay. That turnover opened the door for a Mahomes touchdown to give Kansas City a seven-point lead.
“With the image we had in the stadium – I don’t know if it was the same on television – I think he had it,” McDermott defended. The first down marker was just before the line. In my eyes, next to the marker, just inside that white line, that was the first down. It looked like he had reached it… that’s all I can say. »
“We were ahead by one point and it was a chance to add points, to possibly lead by more than one possession. It’s a big decision. »
The Bills then blew their last chance to come back late in the fourth quarter, this time with a fourth and five to go. With the pressure on Allen, the quarterback attempted a pass to Dalton Kincaid at midfield.
The tight end dove for the ball and came within inches of making the catch, but the ball hit his right arm before crashing to the ground.
Thus dashed the Bills’ Super Bowl hopes.
“He gave everything. I like Dalton Kincaid, he makes this kind of reception more often than the other way around. He’ll make the next catch,” McDermott said.
“It hurts, when you come up short in a Super Bowl… the game was decided by a matter of inches. »
