Josh Allen Blames Himself After Bills Fall 13–12 to Eagles/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen took full responsibility for a missed 2-point conversion in the closing seconds of a 13–12 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles. The failed throw to Khalil Shakir sealed the defeat, dropping the Bills to the AFC’s No. 7 seed. While Allen downplayed any injury concerns, he admitted, “I didn’t make that last play.”
Quick Look: Game at a Glance
- Final Score: Eagles 13, Bills 12
- Deciding Moment: Josh Allen missed a 2-point attempt to Khalil Shakir with 5 seconds left
- Allen’s Stats: 23-of-35, 262 passing yards, 2 rushing TDs
- AFC Implications: Bills drop to 7th seed; Patriots win AFC East
- Injury Watch: Allen hit repeatedly but says he’s “good”; X-rays negative
- McDermott’s Take: “He’s the best quarterback in the league”
- Franchise Milestone: Allen becomes first NFL player with 300 total TDs before age 30
Deep Dive: Allen Shoulders Blame in Bills’ Heartbreaking 13–12 Loss
ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. — After putting the Buffalo Bills in position for a dramatic win, Josh Allen sat at the postgame podium, visibly frustrated, reflecting on the final throw that slipped away — and perhaps with it, a chance at a stronger playoff position.
With 5 seconds remaining and trailing by one, Buffalo went for a 2-point conversion to win. Allen rolled left, saw Khalil Shakir open in the back of the end zone, and let it fly. But the ball sailed just out of reach — a foot too far.
“Yeah, I just missed,” Allen admitted. “Rolling left, I’ve got to get him a better ball.”
Though Allen’s late-game heroics — two rushing touchdowns in the fourth quarter — gave the Bills a shot to win, it was that final misfire that defined the game.
“I didn’t make that last play,” Allen said, correcting himself after first using “we.”
No Playoff Elimination, But a Costly Loss
While the loss doesn’t knock Buffalo (11–5) out of the playoffs — they clinched a berth last week — it handed the AFC East title to the New England Patriots, ending the Bills’ five-year run as division champs.
Buffalo now sits in the AFC’s No. 7 seed, a far cry from the home-field advantage they hoped to secure.
Tough Night Under Pressure
Allen was under constant pressure, sacked five times and hit numerous others. He still managed to pass for 262 yards and rush for two scores, showing his trademark toughness and will to win.
Despite the battering, Allen insisted he was not injured, even after visiting the X-ray room postgame.
“I’m good,” Allen said, brushing off concerns.
He also clarified that the right foot injury from last week’s game against Cleveland was not a factor:
“Zero,” he said when asked if it affected his play.
Coach McDermott Stands by His QB
Head coach Sean McDermott stood firmly by his quarterback, praising Allen’s resilience, competitiveness, and overall ability — especially after a game in which Allen became the first player in NFL history to reach 300 total touchdowns before turning 30.
“He’s the best quarterback in the league,” McDermott said. “I’d take him 1,000 out of 1,000 times to make that throw.”
McDermott acknowledged watching Allen closely for signs of injury and being prepared to pull him if needed — though doing so would have been easier said than done.
“To get 17 off the field, I’d have to wrestle him,” the coach joked.
Final Thoughts: Allen Takes the Heat, Moves Forward
For Allen, the pain wasn’t just about the scoreboard — it was about letting down his teammates, coaches, and the fans.
“We can learn a lot from this experience,” he said. “I’d rather have won and learned from that too, but again, I got to make a play.”
The quarterback, now in his prime and carrying the weight of a franchise on his back, knows better than anyone how narrow the margins are in the NFL.
Up Next
The Bills will close out the regular season with a crucial game as they fight to improve their playoff seeding and gain momentum heading into the postseason.
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