Bills’ season ends with heartbreaking overtime loss to Broncos (full coverage)

The Buffalo Bills’ postseason run came to an early end again with a 33-30 overtime loss to the Denver Broncos in the AFC Divisional Round on Saturday night at Empower Field.

Buffalo forced overtime on a 50-yard field goal by Matt Prater with five seconds remaining in regulation, but Denver capitalized on turnovers and penalties to secure the win on a 24-yard walk-off field goal by Will Lutz.

Josh Allen accounted for three touchdowns but struggled with ball security, turning the ball over four times. He completed 25-of-39 passes for 283 yards with three touchdown passes and two interceptions while adding 66 rushing yards on 12 carries. James Cook rushed for 117 yards on 24 attempts but also lost a fumble.

The Bills rallied in the second half, scoring 17 straight points to briefly take a 24-23 lead early in the fourth quarter on touchdown passes from Allen to Keon Coleman and Dalton Kincaid. Buffalo extended the lead to 27-23 on a field goal, but Denver answered with a 26-yard touchdown pass from Bo Nix to Marvin Mims Jr.

After forcing a punt in overtime, Buffalo’s opening possession ended with an interception at the Denver 20-yard line. The Broncos drove 64 yards on their ensuing possession, aided by multiple defensive penalties, to set up Lutz’s game-winner.

Bo Nix threw for 279 yards and three touchdowns, while Mims finished with eight catches for 93 yards and a score. Denver was limited to 70 rushing yards.

Box Score | Game Highlights

GAME RECAP LINKS

Bills 30, Broncos 33 | Final Score, recap + highlights (BuffaloBills.com)
Josh Allen’s 4 turnovers lead to collapse in Denver, Bills eliminated in OT – observations (Syracuse.com)
Rapid reaction as Allen, Bills fail shamefully to Broncos in Divisional Round (SI.com)
Buffalo loses heartbreaker to Denver in overtime. Bills vs. Broncos score, highlights, stats (D&C.com)
Bills AFC playoffs 2026: Buffalo eliminated with Divisional Round loss to the Denver Broncos (BuffaloRumblings.com)
Fans Were Split on Crucial Interception Call That Helped Broncos Win in Overtime (SI.com)

POSTGAME PRESS CONFERENCES

Final. pic.twitter.com/k4RAZIYKZf
— Buffalo Bills (@BuffaloBills) January 18, 2026

Josh Allen is now 0-3 in OT games in the playoffs 😳

This ties Aaron Rodgers and Peyton Manning for the most OT losses without a win by a starting QB in NFL postseason history. pic.twitter.com/9Gh0af2evO
— ESPN Insights (@ESPNInsights) January 18, 2026

Buffalo Bills last 8 season results:

Lost Wild Card
Lost Wild Card
Lost AFC Championship
Lost Divisional Round
Lost Divisional Round
Lost Divisional Round
Lost AFC Championship
Lost Divisional Round pic.twitter.com/XbCPyJfonQ
— Barstool Sports (@barstoolsports) January 18, 2026

This was ruled an interception. pic.twitter.com/VAdn3FVZID
— Sneaky Joe (@SneakyJoeSports) January 18, 2026

Here is the full video.

Sean McDermott is not happy with how the Brandin Cooks play was called or handled @WKBW pic.twitter.com/HVu1rvzQw5
— Matthew Bové (@Matt_Bove) January 18, 2026

Bills HC Sean McDermott had more to say well after the game ended via a pool report:

“That play is not even close. That's a catch all the way. I sat in my locker and I looked at it probably 20 times, and nobody can convince me that that ball is not caught and in possession of…
— Sal Capaccio 🏈 (@SalSports) January 18, 2026

53 yards in penalties on an OT drive in the playoffs

That’s just bad officiating.
— Dan Orlovsky (@danorlovsky7) January 18, 2026

Atrocious performance by the Bills, pretty much top to bottom.

Five TOVs (four by Josh) basically lost this game. They scored every single drive they didn't turn it over.

Two long DPIs on the final drive to just gift Denver the win. Countless missed chances. Awful loss.
— Carson Breber (@Carsobi) January 18, 2026

Most playoff wins without a Super Bowl appearance…

🔹Among head coaches: Sean McDermott (8)
🔹Among starting QB: Josh Allen (8)

Allen is now 8-7 in his playoff career. McDermott is 8-8.
— NFL Researcher (@NFL_Researcher) January 18, 2026

Back to back seasons Josh Allen's final pass landed in his receiver's hands.
— Sneaky Joe (@SneakyJoeSports) January 18, 2026

The Broncos are now 14-2 in home games with Carl Cheffers as a referee, side judge or head official.

(H/T @EvanHAbrams)
— Darren Rovell (@darrenrovell) January 18, 2026

The entirety of my timeline is people bashing the refs. The Bills did it to themselves with all the turnovers, but the refs fingerprints are all over this one

No PI on Cooks at end of 4th but numerous soft ones for the Broncos at the end. Just ruined an all time classic game
— Michael F. Florio (@MichaelFFlorio) January 18, 2026

Disgusting way to end the game. They call PI on 2 of the last 3 plays. Inexcusable bullshit by the officials. Can't decide a game like that
— Sal Maiorana (@salmaiorana) January 18, 2026

Three calls go against the Bills. All three. Terrible
— Pete Prisco (@PriscoCBS) January 18, 2026

Bills are the sole reason the Bills lost that game but I truly would like to understand how the Brandin Cooks catch was a pick. Like it is failing to register in the brain up here.
— Travis Yost (@travisyost) January 18, 2026

Joey Bosa just lost it in the tunnel. pic.twitter.com/5tCWGeLlLZ
— James Palmer (@JamesPalmerTV) January 18, 2026

An extremely emotional Josh Allen fighting back tears. pic.twitter.com/nOcyR8WDCa
— James Palmer (@JamesPalmerTV) January 18, 2026

An emotional Brandin Cooks defended Josh Allen after the game: “He carried us all season.” pic.twitter.com/YQS0MImDtj
— Matt Parrino (@MattParrino) January 18, 2026

Bills LT Dion Dawkins couldn’t hold back his tears after being told Josh Allen said he felt he let his team down.

Dawkins whispered through tears: “he didn’t let us down.”

A very emotional Bills locker room: pic.twitter.com/36TjHAwQBG
— Cameron Wolfe (@CameronWolfe) January 18, 2026

man pic.twitter.com/jHjPaHsOGy
— Benjamin Solak (@BenjaminSolak) January 18, 2026

Bills might need a new GM. No excuse to not have a single skill player next to Josh Allen who can play in all situations. Returns on their 1st picks aren't enough.
— Hayden Winks (@HaydenWinks) January 18, 2026

Josh Allen went 0/9 with 2 INTs on passes of more than 20+ air yards. That's tied for the most attempts without a completion for any QB since at least 2016@NextGenStats
— Carl Jones (@Jones11_) January 18, 2026

All of our heads are spinning so it’s hard to put together concise thoughts. Here’s where I’m at.
The Cooks play was nonsense and I have no idea how it wasn’t more thoroughly reviewed. But they lost because of the turnovers. The offense (led by Allen) made way too many mistakes.
— Matthew Bové (@Matt_Bove) January 18, 2026

It’s criminal what the refs have done to the Bills in this game
— Frank Fleming (@NjTank99) January 18, 2026

How is this not pass interference on the Broncos??

Riley Moss CLEARLY held his arm…

The Bills are getting SCREWED by the refs 🤦‍♂️pic.twitter.com/YmBbrrI7Gn
— Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman) January 18, 2026

Hated that someone had to lose that one. Absolutely feel for Josh.
— Tracy Wolfson (@tracywolfson) January 18, 2026

I just think in a game like that every fan deserved an explanation. What happened? Why not take a closer look? Instead we just have to take Gene at his word.
— Nate Geary (@NateGearySports) January 18, 2026

The Bills either choke or get screwed over in the postseason and today, both happened simultaneously…
— Mike Bundt (@Mike_Bundt) January 18, 2026

Only Buffalo would lose that way. I didn’t love two of those calls but if there’s ever been a cursed franchise…
— Colin Cowherd (@colincowherd) January 18, 2026

I LOVE Josh Allen at the podium. When your best player cares that much it matters. He knows he was below the line and it’s not on his teammates. That’s accountability. They put him in spots to win and he wasn’t his best self! Much respect!

The refs helped Denver a bit too!
— Ryan Clark (@Realrclark25) January 18, 2026

Stunner: Broncos coach Sean Payton just announced QB Bo Nix broke a bone in his ankle and is out for the season.
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) January 18, 2026

Josh Allen deserves blame. He did not play well.

But the WR problems were not overblown.

Allen was 20/25 for 247 yards & a TD when throwing to his TEs, RBs, & Khalil Shakir.

When targeting the Bills four other WRs he was 5/14 for 36 yards with 1 TD & 2 INT.
— Matthew Bové (@Matt_Bove) January 18, 2026

Feel absolutely awful for Josh Allen…seems like the same ending every single year for him.

Forget all the turnovers…this is the one throw he’s going to want back all off-season. Would’ve been a walk in TD to win the game. #billsmafia pic.twitter.com/sQ2PPm4iQL
— Chase Daniel (@ChaseDaniel) January 18, 2026