ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. — In the wake of a heart-wrenching Week 17 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles, Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen didn’t look for excuses. Despite a game defined by a missed field goal and a late-game fumble that swung the momentum in favor of Philadelphia, Allen stood before the media and pointed the finger squarely at himself.
The Bills fell 24-21 in a defensive slugfest that had massive implications for the AFC playoff seeding. While fans and analysts were quick to criticize a controversial “non-call” on a potential pass interference in the fourth quarter, Allen refused to let the officiating or his teammates take the heat for the outcome.
“It starts and ends with me,” Allen told reporters during his post-game press conference. “I had opportunities to put us in the end zone in the first half, and I didn’t get it done. My job is to lead this offense and put points on the board. When we lose a close one like this, it’s on the quarterback. I have to be better for this team.”
Allen’s comments come at a time when the Bills (10-6) are under intense pressure. The loss prevents them from clinching their division ahead of the final week, setting up a “win-and-in” scenario for the AFC East title in Week 18. Despite throwing for 285 yards and two touchdowns, Allen was haunted by a critical interception late in the second quarter and several missed connections on third down.
Head coach Sean McDermott praised his quarterback’s leadership, even while acknowledging the team’s collective struggles. “That’s who Josh is. He’s a leader who carries the weight of this franchise on his shoulders,” McDermott said. “But this was a team loss. We had breakdowns in all three phases, and we have to clean that up before next week.”
The Bills’ locker room appears to be rallying around their captain’s accountability. Several players, including wide receiver Stefon Diggs, noted that Allen’s willingness to take the blame motivates the rest of the roster to elevate their play.
As Buffalo prepares for a high-stakes regular-season finale, the focus remains on whether Allen can translate this accountability into a flawless Week 18 performance. For a team with Super Bowl aspirations, the margin for error has officially vanished, and the Bills will need their star quarterback to be at his absolute best to secure a home playoff game.
