The Buffalo Bills have had a hectic few days following their overtime loss to the Denver Broncos in the Divisional Round of the NFL playoffs.
This game seemed like the perfect opportunity for the Bills to make a Super Bowl run after several seasons of falling short in or before the AFC Championship Game, but ultimately they came up short, dropping a 33‑30 contest after several controversial plays down the stretch.
On Monday, the Bills made the surprising decision to fire head coach Sean McDermott — a move owner Terry Pegula did not communicate to Josh Allen or the rest of the roster until it was finalized.
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Pegula spoke to the media alongside general manager Brandon Beane on Wednesday morning. While addressing several topics, he shared the immediate message he delivered to Allen, who was visibly emotional after the postseason loss.
"I want to take you into the locker room after that game," Pegula said. "I looked around. The first thing I noticed was our quarterback — his head was down, crying. I looked at the other players, I looked at their faces, and our coaches. I walked over to Josh. He didn’t even acknowledge I was there. The first thing I said to him was, 'That was a catch.' We all know what I’m talking about. He didn’t even acknowledge me. He just sat there sobbing. He was listless. He gave everything he had to try and win that game, and looking around, so did all the other players on the team."
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Pegula was referencing the deep pass Allen threw to wide receiver Brandin Cooks in overtime. Cooks appeared to catch the ball as he fell to the ground tangled with a Broncos defensive back, but Ja’Quan McMillian ultimately came away with possession.
The officials quickly ruled it an interception for Denver, despite debate over whether it should have been ruled a catch — a call that could have dramatically changed the outcome of the game.
Buffalo will now have to move on, and it seems they are starting to do so as they begin the search for a new head coach. It promises to be a pivotal offseason for GM Brandon Beane, who will look to bolster a roster with clear gaps — particularly at the wide receiver position, an area that has drawn criticism over the past two seasons due to minimal production.
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