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 endure 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 is not enjoyable,” Allen mentioned concerning 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 completed or you’ll be able to’t. And we did not get it completed.”
One could not blame Allen, who could earn MVP honors for the primary time in his profession subsequent month, for feeling pissed off about falling to the Chiefs in yet one more must-win recreation. 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 towards 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. “…Everyone bought one purpose, bro. Just one staff handles the purpose on the finish of yearly. All different 31 is simply making an attempt to get to that purpose.”
Much 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 potential to win the most important video games on the most important levels might generate Buffalo-related sports activities headlines for months. Whereas the Payments had been on the improper facet of a controversial fourth-down ruling early within the contest’s fourth quarter, Allen had an opportunity to provide 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 underneath two minutes remaining. Had Kincaid accomplished the catch, the Payments would’ve been in area purpose vary with loads of time to seek for what might’ve grow to be a game-winning landing.
“In the event you get this shut, you undoubtedly going to attempt to win all of it,” Payments security Damar Hamlin added. “Simply fascinated with having to arrange for subsequent season, it is simply fascinated with all the pieces that it took to get so far looks like a heavy load to carry. So, you wish 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.