Bills postgame interviews: Josh Allen, others get emotional as season ends with OT loss to Broncos

Another NFL season has come and gone without Josh Allen making a Super Bowl appearance.

The Buffalo Bills nearly overcame five turnovers in Saturday's AFC divisional matchup against the Denver Broncos, forcing overtime, but it was Sean Payton's team that came out on top, 33-30. Allen, who had two fumbles and two interceptions, enters another offseason of “what-ifs.”

The loss clearly hurt the superstar quarterback, as he was in tears while speaking to reporters after the game, taking responsibility for Buffalo's season-ending defeat.

Here's what Allen said in his postgame press conference after the loss, and how other Buffalo players were also emotional.

MORE BILLS-BRONCOS: 

• How five turnovers, including four from Josh Allen, doomed Buffalo
• Defensive pass interference calls set up Broncos' game-winning kick
• Ja'Quan McMillian wrestles ball from Brandin Cooks for key OT interception
• Meet the 325-pound offensive lineman who scored a playoff TD for Broncos
• Latest injury updates on hospitalized Bills LB Dorian Williams
• Inside Bills hook-and-ladder play that helped set up overtime

Josh Allen emotional press conference

Allen kept the Bills hanging around in Saturday's playoff matchup, but ultimately, Buffalo had too many mistakes to overcome. James Cook fumbles once, Allen fumbled twice and had an interception in regulation, then in overtime, he threw a second on a deep ball to Brandin Cooks.

That interception set up the Broncos' game-winning field-goal, which also benefitted from multiple Bills penalties.

Allen took the podium in the moments following the 33-30 loss and was already in tears.

"It's extremely difficult," Allen said. "Feel like I let my teammates down tonight."

— ESPN (@espn) January 18, 2026

Allen also said "it's been a long season," and the loss was "going to stick with me for a long time."

"You can't win with five turnovers," Allen said. "You shoot yourself in the foot, you don't deserve to win football games."

— Alaina Getzenberg (@agetzenberg) January 18, 2026

Reactions from other Bills players

Allen wasn't the only Bills player with an emotional reaction to Saturday's close playoff loss. Offensive lineman Dion Dawkins directly responded to Allen's comments blaming himself for the loss.

"He didn’t let us down," Dawkins told reporters about Allen, fighting back tears. "We're thankful for him."

— Cameron Wolfe (@CameronWolfe) January 18, 2026

Dion Dawkins very emotional when asked what he'd tell Josh Allen after the #Bills QB said he feels like he let his team down in loss to Denver. pic.twitter.com/82Yo6jdiyQ

— Jon Scott (@JonScottTV) January 18, 2026

Brandin Cooks, who had the ball ripped from his arms in overtime for Allen's second interception, was another Buffalo player nearly in tears postgame.

Cooks said he believed he caught the pass that was ruled a pick, adding with tears going down his face that "it's going to sting for a long time."

"You work so hard," Cooks said. "What could I have done to alleviate some of that pressure?"  

— Jon Scott (@JonScottTV) January 18, 2026

Head coach Sean McDermott brought some emotion in his postgame press conference, but a different kind: anger.

McDermott reflected his frustration with the pass interference calls on the Bills on their last defensive drive, as well as the Cooks catch that became an interception.

"I’m standing up for Buffalo," McDermott said. "I’m standing up for us. What went on is not how it should have went down in my estimation.” 

— Cameron Wolfe (@CameronWolfe) January 18, 2026

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