‘I let team down’ – Allen in tears as Super Bowl wait goes on

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After the Denver Broncos defeated the Buffalo Bills, moving into a playoff run, quarterback Josh Allen was crying as he addressed the media.

The Broncos scored a field goal in overtime to give them a lead, but Allen’s fourth turnover in the Divisional Round game on Saturday gave them a 33-30 lead.

The NFL’s reigning Most Valuable Player is still able to compete in the biggest game despite winning seven straight games.

The 29-year-old also won eight play-off games without participating in a Super Bowl.

An emotional Allen remarked, “It’s very difficult. Tonight, I feel like I let my team-mates down.

Opportunities were missed throughout the game. I regret how it ended, and it will stay with me for a long time. “

    • 13 hours ago

Denver and the Bills battled it out for the top seed in the AFC, and Denver led 23-10 in the third quarter before the Bills twice came from behind to make it 30-30.

The Broncos won the overtime game to earn their third play-off victory since winning the Super Bowl for the third time in February 2016.

The 49ers’ Levi’s Stadium, which will host 60 Super Bowl this year, will be on Sunday, February 8th, at the same venue.

The Broncos will have to deal with losing quarterback Bo Nix, but Denver and Seattle will host the Conference Championship games for the weekend.

What went wrong with the Bills and Allen?

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The Kansas City Chiefs and AFC rivals Baltimore and Cincinnati both missed the post-season, but the team had already beaten the Bills in four of the previous five years.

Despite being the AFC’s sixth seed, Buffalo were still close favorites to win against a team that had won 13 of their previous 14 games and had a defense that led the league in sacks. However, the Bills suffered from turnovers, with Denver having one, while Buffalo had five overall.

In any of Allen’s six previous play-off appearances, Allen had two fumbles on either side of halftime, both of which were Denver field goals.

After Mecole Hardman’s touchdown run against Buffalo and touchdowns from Frank Crum and Lil’Jordan Humphrey, that increased the Broncos’ lead.

Before being let down in the third quarter, Allen also had 200 passes thrown without an interception. The 29-year-old regrouped to help Buffalo score 17 points without scoring thanks to touchdowns from Keon Coleman and Dalton Kincaid in the fourth quarter.

With 55 seconds left, a Marvin Mims score gave Denver the lead before 41-year-old Matt Prater scored the final field goal to put the game away.

However, Denver cornerback Ja’Quan McMillian made an interception in a contested catch with Brandin Cooks, even though the Buffalo defense was forced to stop on the first possession of the overtime.

Allen has lost all of his career’s three overtime losses, including all seven against Wil Lutz.

Sean McDermott of Buffalo also has the most play-off victories (eight) despite not winning a championship.

Rampant Seahawks defeat 49ers in a torn ligament

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Divisional rivals Seattle thwarted San Francisco’s efforts to become the third team to host a Super Bowl in their own stadium.

Wide receiver Rashid Shaheed returned the kickoff for a 95-yard touchdown, which was a stunning start for the Seahawks.

Sam Darnold, a former 49ers backup, made three rushing touchdown passes to league-leading receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba at the age of 28 before earning his first play-off victory.

The Seahawks once more prevented the injured-hit 49ers from scoring a touchdown after defeating San Francisco 13-3 in the regular season opener.

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    • three days ago

What play-off games are still open?

bracketed conference seed, all kick-off times GMT.

Divisional Round

18 January, Sunday,

Conference championships

Sunday, January 25th,

60 Super Bowl

NFL play-offs: 2025 season

Listen to SoundsWatch on iPlayer.

related subjects

  • Super Bowl
  • American Football

More on this story.

    • 16 August 2025

Scarlets cannot be distracted by X-factor Pollock

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Scarlets must not get tangled up in worries about “controversial” all-action England forward Henry Pollock in Northampton, according to Josh Macleod.

If Llanelli wants to be a knockout champion in European rugby, they must cause an upset in the Champions Cup.

Scarlets must win the tournament with a four-try bonus in order to place in the last 16 tie, while a win without a bonus would mean the consolation of dropping into the Challenge Cup.

The Saints are at the top of the Prem and are recovering from their weekend defeat at Bordeaux-Begles.

He’s the X-factor, and Pollock’s flanker Macleod remarked, “He’s X-factor, there’s no hiding from it.”

    • five days ago
    • 4 December 2025

Pool 4 of the European Champions Cup

Scarlets vs. Northampton Saints

Sunday, 18 January at 15: 15 GMT

As Saints attempt to bring their home record to 16 with the exception of two tries against Wales in Cardiff last year, Pollock will lead the charge.

The back-row forward is only in his second professional season, but he has already come to be one of the most recognizable figures in the pantomime and villain.

Scarlets will be wary of his explosive carrying after the Lions tourist responded to the Bordeaux crowd’s jeers last weekend with a double, the first of which was a remarkable chip, chase, and gather down the left wing.

However, the Saints also have a strong matchday lineup that includes Fraser Dingwall, Tommy Freeman, and Alex Mitchell from England.

You have to be concerned about the pitch because there are 14 other guys on it, Macleod said.

    • a day ago
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    • two days ago

Northampton are leading the way in England and last lost on home soil in Europe in 2023, while Scarlets are bottom of the United Rugby Championship (URC) and winless in Europe.

The bookmakers don’t rate a victory away from home, but Macleod insists that people move with faith.

We have a fighting chance, more than a fighting chance, he said, if everyone is on point and everyone performs.

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Broncos quarterback Nix breaks ankle in play-off win

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Bo Nix, the quarterback for the Denver Broncos, will miss the rest of the season after breaking his ankle in the Wildcats’ 33-point victory on Saturday.

The 25-year-old was ruled out for three plays after Wil Lutz, the kicker, made the winning field goal in overtime, according to head coach Sean Payton.

Despite the injury, Nix continued for two more plays to complete the victory, but he will now miss Denver’s attempt to win the Super Bowl for the first time in a decade.

Instead, Payton has confirmed that Jarrett Stidham will start the AFC Championship game against either the Houston Texans or the New England Patriots on Sunday.

The Broncos made their first AFC Championship game appearance since winning the Super Bowl in February 2016 with three touchdowns earlier that day.

With a regular season record of 14-3, Nix has been instrumental in Denver’s promotion to the top seed in the AFC.

The second-year quarterback has led eight game-winning drives this year, the most by a player under the age of 25.

In the Broncos’ best season since winning the Lombardi Trophy, he has thrown 25 touchdown passes, four rushing touchdown passes, and three 931 yards.

Stidham hasn’t attempted a pass in the NFL since the 2023 season, and he’s only played one game this year in Denver. He’s only attempted one pass once in his third year there.

Since Roger Staubach for the Dallas Cowboys in 1972, he will be the first quarterback to start in the conference championship for the first time in his first start.

What play-off games are still open?

bracketed conference seed, all kick-off times GMT.

Divisional Round

18 January, Sunday,

Conference championships

Sunday, January 25th,

60 Super Bowl

NFL play-offs: 2025 season

Listen to SoundsWatch on iPlayer.

related subjects

  • American Football

More on this story.

    • 29 seconds ago
    Josh Allen looking disappointed after the Buffalo Bills lose to the Denver Broncos in the NFL play-offs in 2026
    • 16 August 2025
    BBC Sport microphone and phone

Allen suffers more play-off heartache as Broncos beat Bills

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Josh Allen, the Denver Broncos’ quarterback, was dealt more play-off heartache as they defeated the Buffalo Bills in overtime to move one game clear of winning the Super Bowl.

Denver, who had the AFC’s top seed, led 23-10 at home in the third quarter before the Bills twice came from behind to make the score 30-30.

In overtime, Allen had a chance to win, but the Broncos won the divisional round game on Saturday 33-30 with an interception and field goal.

The NFL’s reigning Most Valuable Player is still in the sport’s biggest game despite reaching the play-offs in seven straight seasons and collecting eight play-off victories.

However, the Broncos won their third play-off game for the first time since February 2016 when they won it for the third time.

Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, which will host Super Bowl 60 this year, will host that game on Sunday, February 8th.

Denver can now anticipate the AFC Conference Championship game against the Houston Texans at home on Sunday (20:00 GMT) on Sunday.

What went wrong with Bills and Allen?

The Kansas City Chiefs and AFC rivals Baltimore and Cincinnati both missed out on this year, but the Bills did so in four of the previous five years.

Despite being the AFC’s sixth seed, Buffalo were still a close second to a team that had won 13 of their previous 14 games and had a defense that led the league in sacks, but it was turnovers that caused the Bills’ pain.

In any of Allen’s six previous play-off appearances, Allen had two fumbles on either side of halftime, both of which were Denver field goals.

After Mecole Hardman’s opener for Buffalo was cancelled by scores by Frank Crum and Lil’Jordan Humphrey, that increased the Broncos’ lead.

Allen also threw 200 passes without receiving an interception in the third quarter of this game, but the 29-year-old regrouped to help Buffalo turn away 17 points with touchdowns for Keon Coleman and Dalton Kincaid in the fourth quarter.

With 55 seconds left, a Marvin Mims score gave Denver the lead before 41-year-old Matt Prater scored the final field goal to put the game away.

However, Allen had a stop on the opening possession of overtime when Denver cornerback Ja’Quan McMillian made his fifth turnover of the day with an interception catch and Brandin Cooks.

Wil Lutz’s fourth field goal made it possible for Allen to lose all seven of his career’s overtime games, including all three against the clock.

The quarterback and head coach have the most play-off victories without a championship, with eight (plus).

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More on this story.

    • 16 August 2025
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