Two Bills Drive

‘During his media scrum on Friday, Allen was asked a bunch of serious questions about the challenge of facing the Chiefs, the importance of the play of some of his teammates leading up to the game and other important topics that he’s grown used to talking about.’

‘”I thought he had it,” McDermott said per Pro Football Talk. “Just short of the line was actually the first down, what it looked like to me when it was sitting next to me with the marker. Just inside that white stripe was the first down. And it looked like he got to it. That’s all I can say.”‘

‘”Here we go, baby,” he told them before the offense took the field. “What an opportunity, man. Go outside, play some f—- football with some friends. Have some fun, fly around, make some f—- plays. Play for each other.”‘

‘Allen was seen making his way off the field during the Chiefs’ postgame celebration and his exit came with some very awkward timing as he had to walk past the AFC championship signs and stage that were being brought out for the trophy presentation.’

‘As CBS showed the replay, Tony Romo offered the same assessment saying, “That shoulda been caught.”‘

‘“You know Tony there, you got a hand on the facemask but you really don’t have a grab and a turn on it, I’d like to see them stay off of that one,” Steratore told announcer Tony Romo.’

‘While the crowd at Arrowhead Stadium erupted in joy, Jim Nantz on the CBS broadcast quickly said there was a flag on the play, giving Bills fans a little bit hope during a very dark moment. But then talk of the flag quickly went away as refs apparently didn’t throw one and no penalty was called.’

‘The Bills turned the ball over on downs, and the Chiefs salted the game away with two first downs. There were multiple lead changes throughout the contest, but once again, Kansas City pulled out a victory. As the Chiefs closed out the win, Allen was seen taking in the pain of defeat on the sideline.’

‘Despite the outcome, a crowd of Bills fans still lined up outside in the freezing temperatures in Buffalo, N.Y., to give the Bills a warm welcome when they arrived back home. Fans were there in the early hours on Monday morning decked out in Bills gear to show their support for their team, even if they lost.’

‘”I felt like he gained it by about a third of the football, Jim. That was just my take on the play. Tough, tough play,” said Steratore to Jim Nantz.

‘Patrick Mahomes and company were able to outlast Josh Allen and the Buffalo Bills on Sunday at Arrowhead in the AFC championship, holding on to win 32–29.’

‘CBS had a camera on the Bills sideline during that final play and it locked in on Allen, whose immediate reaction was rightfully pretty heartbreaking.’

‘”It’s not fun,” a visibly upset Allen told the media. “But to be the champs, you got to beat the champs and we didn’t do it tonight.”‘

‘According to Opta Stats, the Bills became the first team in NFL history to reach the playoffs and win a postseason game in five consecutive seasons but fail to reach the Super Bowl during that span.’