Bills come to emotional Josh Allen’s defense after QB takes blame

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At one point, the Buffalo Bills almost seemed like a team of destiny.

Without Patrick Mahomes, Lamar Jackson or Joe Burrow in the playoffs, quarterback and reigning NFL MVP Josh Allen appeared to have the best possible path to finally reach the Super Bowl.

But after controversial officiating in overtime, the Bills’ season again ended in heartbreak with a 33-30 loss to Bo Nix and the Denver Broncos.

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Josh Allen of the Buffalo Bills walks off the field after being defeated by the Broncos in overtime of the AFC divisional playoff game at Empower Field at Mile High on January 17, 2026 in Denver. (Matthew Stockman/Getty Images)

This marks the sixth straight season the Bills have been blown out before playing the big game, and Josh Allen, who committed four turnovers, wore the loss and his emotions on his sleeve.

“It’s extremely difficult. Feel like I let my teammates down today,” Allen said in his postgame conference, wiping away tears while still in his jersey.

Offensive lineman Dion Dawkins has been blocking for Allen since the quarterback was drafted in 2018. Already emotional, he couldn’t bear to hear Allen take the blame.

Josh Allen of the Buffalo Bills walks off the field after the divisional playoff game at Empower Field At Mile High on January 17, 2026 in Denver, Colorado. (Logan Bowles/Getty Images)

Told that Allen felt he was letting his teammates down, Dawkins tearfully returned to his locker and ended his media session. But he whispered under his breath, “He did not fail us.”

Brandin Cooks, who was part of the controversial interception, also got teary-eyed when he heard Allen’s reflection on the play.

“Nah, nah. He’s carried us all year,” Cooks said. “The way I think about it is someone [has to] step up to relieve it from him. When you’re amazing and you feel like you have to do so much, you have the ability to be able to force some of those things. That’s what I think about Josh. He is the best quarterback in this league. Everyone else around him has to step up to play, so he doesn’t always have to be the one feeling, “Man, I’ve got to win this game.”

“We’re all in it together, you know? You work so hard. Personally, I’m just so grateful to be a part of this. Looking back, what could I have done to be able to take some of that pressure off him?”