{"id":685470,"date":"2026-01-18T01:22:24","date_gmt":"2026-01-18T01:22:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/685470\/"},"modified":"2026-01-18T01:22:24","modified_gmt":"2026-01-18T01:22:24","slug":"bills-season-ends-in-heartbreaking-fashion-after-2-defensive-penalties-in-ot-final-score-recap-photos","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/685470\/","title":{"rendered":"Bills\u2019 season ends in heartbreaking fashion after 2 defensive penalties in OT: Final score, recap, photos"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Buffalo Bills<\/a> take on the Denver Broncos in an AFC Divisional Round playoff game at 4:30 p.m., Saturday at Empower Field at Mile High Stadium in Denver, Colorado.<\/p>\n

The game will air on CBS<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\u201cSHOUT!\u201d A Buffalo Bills football podcast is available on Apple, Spotify, Google, Stitcher, and wherever you listen to podcasts.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

1\/32<\/p>\n

Buffalo Bills at Denver Broncos in AFC Divisional Round<\/p>\n

Note: Refresh this page throughout the Bills\u2019 game at the Broncos to see the latest updates<\/p>\n

Final Broncos 33, Bills 30 (overtime)<\/p>\n

The Buffalo Bills lose another playoff classic in heartbreaking fashion, falling to the Denver Broncos in overtime after two crucial defensive pass interference penalties tally 47 yards on the game-clinching drive.<\/p>\n

The back-breaker came on a flag on veteran cornerback Tre\u2019Davious White, who was whistled for grabbing Marvin Mims Jr., at the 2-yard line.<\/p>\n

Here\u2019s how the winning drive unfolded:<\/p>\n

Denver takes the ball at its own 20-yard line, needing just a field goal to win the game.<\/p>\n

Nix outlets to the rookie second-round pick RJ Harvey, who uses a nice cut to move the ball 24 yards near midfield.<\/p>\n

After an incomplete deep shot, Buffalo calls timeout with 6:09 remaining.<\/p>\n

Nix goes back to the same area of the field, and Courtland Sutton draws a defensive pass interference penalty on Taron Johnson. There are flags everywhere. It\u2019s going to be two fouls on the Bills.<\/p>\n

The pass interference penalty is a spot foul at the Buffalo 38-yard line. That\u2019s a 17-yard penalty.<\/p>\n

Nix is dropped for a 2-yard loss, then on 2nd-and-12, Nix comes up with the play of the game, taking a deep shot and drawing another defensive pass interference penalty, this one on Tre\u2019Davious White.<\/p>\n

That sets up the Broncos at the 2-yard line.<\/p>\n

That 30-yard penalty sets up Wil Lutz for the game-winning 24-yard field goal. <\/p>\n

White slams his helmet in front of the official and gets flagged for unsportsman-like conduct.<\/p>\n

The Bills season is over.<\/p>\n

SCORE UPDATE: Bills 30, Broncos 30, with 7:46 remaining in overtime<\/p>\n

Allen is winless in six overtime games, including an 0-2 mark in the postseason.<\/p>\n

Buffalo quicky faces a third-down situation. The Bills goes empty with five receivers, and Allen uses his legs to buy him some time and find Kincaid for a first down.<\/p>\n

Buffalo hands it to Cook on first down and picks up 3 yards. Denver calls timeout with 10:12 remaining.<\/p>\n

On 3rd-and-7, Allen dumps it off the Ray Davis, who scoots to the first-down marker. Kincaid throws a huge block on the edge right near the sticks.<\/p>\n

Another first-down run to Cook, who again gets nothing. On the ensuing play, Hardman can\u2019t haul in a well-thrown ball to bring up the third, third down play of the drive.<\/p>\n

On 3rd-and-10 from the Bills\u2019 36-yard line, Allen launches downfield to Cooks, but Ja\u2019quan McMillian wrestles it away from Cooks for the interception.<\/p>\n

It looked like Cooks may have had possession as he hits the ground, just as McMillian rips it away.<\/p>\n

Officials will peek to be sure, as the Broncos offense takes the field.<\/p>\n

The next score wins the game.<\/p>\n

SCORE UPDATE: Bills 30, Broncos 30 with 13:10 remaining in overtime<\/p>\n

Both teams will posses the ball. If the game is tied after each team\u2019s first possession, the next score will win the game.<\/p>\n

Each team gets three timeouts. Denver gets the ball first. Tre\u2019Davious White is back in the game.<\/p>\n

Nix calls out the defensive look and fires a pass through two guys and hits Courtland Sutton for a first down.<\/p>\n

On 3rd-and-10, Nix steps up in the pocket and throws off platform. His low throw was catchable gets trapped on the ground.<\/p>\n

Denver punts, and Buffalo can win it with only a field goal.<\/p>\n

The Bills take over at their own 8-yard line after the 54-yard punt.<\/p>\n

Fourth quarter score: Bills 30, Broncos 30<\/p>\n

SCORE UPDATE: Bills 30, Broncos 30, with :05 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter<\/p>\n

Matt Prater\u2019s 50-yard, game-tying field goal attempt from the left hash is absolutely drilled down the middle.<\/p>\n

Allen had 50 seconds and three timeouts to engineer an all-time comeback from his own 27-yard line.<\/p>\n

He doesn\u2019t quite deliver the walk-off win in regulation, but he did his job.<\/p>\n

Here\u2019s how it unfolded:<\/p>\n

Allen is under duress and flings it to Kincaid for 9 yards. Bills take their first timeout with 41 seconds to go.<\/p>\n

Allen then launches down the right sideline to Cooks, whose left wrist hits out of bounds before the second foot hits. On 3rd-and-1, Denver jumps offsides to move the chains.<\/p>\n

Allen throw off his back foot looking downfield for Coleman, and it\u2019s incomplete.<\/p>\n

Buffalo pulls out the hook-and-ladder, as Shakir flips it back to Ray Davis who carries it 24 yards into field-goal range. The play goes into the books for 27 yards to the 32-yard line.<\/p>\n

With 24 seconds to go in regulation, Allen launches to the end zone to Cooks, but Cooks slows up as the pass sails out of reach.<\/p>\n

On the next play, Allen\u2019s pass over the middle deflects off Shakir\u2019s hands and falls incomplete.<\/p>\n

On 3rd-and-10 with 16 seconds left, Allen overshoots Knox, who was open streaking across the deep middle of the field.<\/p>\n

Denver called timeout to give Prater a little extra time to think about the kick.<\/p>\n

SCORE UPDATE: Broncos 30, Bills 27 with :55 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter<\/p>\n

Denver has to go 38 yards with 2 minutes to go.<\/p>\n

Joey Bosa splits a pair of linemen and pressures Nix to force an incompletion. Exactly why the Bills acquired Bosa in the offseason.<\/p>\n

Cam Lewis comes up for a tackle to set up 3rd-and-4 with the clock under 80 seconds. Nix rolls right and has no where to throw the ball, but the quarterback uses his blockers to pick up the first down and slide at the 26-yard line. Tre\u2019Davious White is out of the game with an injury.<\/p>\n

On the next play, Nix attacks Dane Jackson, suddenly thrust into the game, and hits Mims for the 26-yard touchdown.<\/p>\n

Unbelievable how White\u2019s injury sets up the vulnerable opportunity on the perimeter.<\/p>\n

All it took was one play for the Broncos to take advantage.<\/p>\n

Allen will get one last chance to play hero.<\/p>\n

SCORE UPDATE: Bills 27, Broncos 23, with 2:00 remaining in the fourth quarter<\/p>\n

Denver has 12 comeback victories this season, but it will need a 13th for the AFC\u2019s No. 1 seed to extend its season.<\/p>\n

The Bills\u2019 defense continues to get pressure on Nix, setting up a 3rd-and-11. Man, the Bills rush four and Nix delivers a 25-yard completion to Courtland Sutton down to the Bills\u2019 40-yard line. Bobby Babich and Sean McDermott curiously elect to drop seven on that defensive call, and it bit them.<\/p>\n

We\u2019ve reached the 2-minute warning.<\/p>\n

SCORE UPDATE: Bills 27, Broncos 23 with 4:11 remaining in the fourth quarter<\/p>\n

James Cook goes over 100 yards for the game with another explosive run. He\u2019s got 105 yards on 18 carries. That second-quarter fumble feels like a lifetime ago.<\/p>\n

That\u2019s also three-straight plays of 10 or more yards by the Bills\u2019 offense.<\/p>\n

James Cook not on the field on a 3rd-and-5, but Allen follows a convoy of linemen to the edge and picks up the first down. Buffalo flooded its receivers to the left side of the formation and set up the run to the other side of the field.<\/p>\n

Allen\u2019s third-down pass to Shakir hits the turf before he can pick it cleanly off the ground.<\/p>\n

Prater is back on for a 31-yard field goal, and the kick is good.<\/p>\n

SCORE UPDATE: Bills 24, Broncos 23, with 11:50 remaining in the fourth quarter<\/p>\n

The Bills are trying to pull off an improbable feat if it can hang on and beat the Broncos.<\/p>\n

In NFL history, road teams in the playoffs that are minus-3 in turnovers are 1-85. The only win was by the Raiders in 1977 against the Colts.<\/p>\n

Buffalo gets a defensive stop and will get the ball with a chance to pad its lead.<\/p>\n

SCORE UPDATE: Bills 24, Broncos 23, with 13:24 remaining in the fourth quarter<\/p>\n

Shakir splits two defenders for a 46-yard catch-and-run on the first play of fourth quarter. That\u2019s the longest pass play from scrimmage on the day.<\/p>\n

Allen misses Samuel high on the roll-out to the right. Then on 3rd-and-7 from the Denver 14-yard line, Allen looks left toward Kincaid the whole way and comes up with the contested touchdown catch with Talanoa Hufanga in coverage. Kincaid was matched up one-on-one with the former All-Pro safety.<\/p>\n

Third quarter score: Broncos 23, Bills 17<\/p>\n

James Cooks get to the edge and picks up another 12 yards on the ground as the third quarter comes to a close.<\/p>\n

Quarterbacks swap ill-advised turnovers<\/p>\n

Josh Allen commits his third turnover of the game, throwing an interception on the heels of Walker\u2019s takeaway.<\/p>\n

Allen was looking for Curtis Samuel down the deep middle, but P.J. Locke stepped in front of the pass and returned it 30 yards to the Broncos\u2019 38-yard line.<\/p>\n

Marvin Mims gallops 19 yards after leaking out to the edge on a 3rd-and-8 call. Then, facing another third-and-long, Nix tries to flick a pass with no great option.<\/p>\n

Denver elected to punt at the Buffalo 40-yard line instead of attempting a 58-yard field goal.<\/p>\n

That\u2019s two takeaways resulting in no points, and Buffalo gains possession with a chance to take the lead.<\/p>\n

SCORE UPDATE: Broncos 23, Bills 17, with 6:49 remaining in the third quarter<\/p>\n

And that\u2019s how important the defensive stand was on the prior possession.<\/p>\n

The Bills drive 73 yards on nine plays to come within six with plenty of time to right the ship. Dalton Kincaid\u2019s 25-yard catch and run on his first reception helped open up the Denver defense.<\/p>\n

Keon Coleman, who dropped a pass in the end zone (on a play that drew a flag), hauls in a 10-yard touchdown pass from Allen to cap the series.<\/p>\n

Then, rookie defensive tackle Deone Walker snags a pass at the line of scrimmage to force a critical turnover and set the Bills\u2019 offense up inside Denver territory.<\/p>\n

SCORE UPDATE: Broncos 23, Bills 10 with 11:35 remaining in the third quarter<\/p>\n

Another turnover for Allen to open the second half, as Bonitto comes from behind and strip-sacks Allen. Shakir was supposed to chip him, but he pushes him, and Bonitto comes up with his second takeaway.<\/p>\n

That\u2019s two lost fumbles over the last three snaps, and it\u2019s three turnovers on five drives for the Bills.<\/p>\n

Gifted with excellent field position, Denver is stopped in the red zone, and Lutz trots onto the field for another short field goal. He sneaks it just inside the right upright.<\/p>\n

A huge defensive stand for the Bills\u2019 defense to keep this at a two-score margin.<\/p>\n

Halftime: Broncos 20, Bills 10<\/p>\n

Buffalo stays aggressive in the closing seconds of the half, and it ends in disastrous fashion.<\/p>\n

Allen takes off and has the ball stripped from his right hand from behind by Nik Bonitto. It\u2019s picked up by Denver with 2 seconds to go, setting up Lutz for a 50-yard field goal.<\/p>\n

The kick puts the Broncos up 10 at the break, scoring 10 points in the final 22 seconds.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe gotta take care of the ball,\u201d Bills coach Sean McDermott told CBS leaving the field at the halftime.<\/p>\n

Just one catch by a Buffalo tight end in the first half, as the Bills have found success on the ground with James Cook and Allen, but the both lost fumbles that led to 10 Denver points.<\/p>\n

Those are the difference with 30 minutes to go.<\/p>\n

Second quarter<\/p>\n

SCORE UPDATE: Broncos 17, Bills 10, with :22 seconds remaining in the second quarter<\/p>\n

On the other side of the 2-minute warn, Nix gets the first down with a pin-point pass to Mims.<\/p>\n

Nix then angles toward the sideline and picks up another first down with less than a minute to go in the first half.<\/p>\n

Denver is not yet in field-goal range, and a holding penalty puts it off schedule. CBS reports Broncos wide receiver Troy Franklin is questionable to return with a hamstring injury.<\/p>\n

Denver calls timeout with 44 seconds to go.<\/p>\n

On 3rd-and-10 from the Buffalo 44-yard line, Nix finds Mims sitting in the zone for 15 yards. Denver uses its final timeout with 32 seconds to go.<\/p>\n

Ed Oliver blows up the next play as soon as the snap happens. Nix dirts the ball with Shaq Thompson bearing down on him.<\/p>\n

Then, Nix rolls right, plants and launches toward Lil\u2019Jordan Humphrey in the end zone. Safety Darnell Savage Jr. gets beat two plays after Cam Lewis exits.<\/p>\n

SCORE UPDATE: Bills 10, Broncos 10, with 2:13 remaining in the second quarter<\/p>\n

Alec Anderson is in at center while McGovern is in the locker room being evaluated for a concussion.<\/p>\n

Allen takes a deep shot to Brandin Cooks but is long on the throw. James Cook gets 9 on the next play. The Bills are finding success on the ground here in the first half, which bodes well for the offense.<\/p>\n

Cook then takes a swing pass for 24 yards to cross midfield. Allen then hits Dawson Knox crossing underneath the defense for an easy pitch and catch.<\/p>\n

Allen is sacked for the first time this afternoon. Shakir gets the 7 yards Allen lost; then on 3rd-and-10 from the Denver 30-yard line, Allen hits Cooks on a timing pattern to the outside at the 15-yard line. Great call by Joe Brady there with Surtain taking the inside away and safety help over the top.<\/p>\n

The Bills face another third down after a low snap by Anderson (he hit his own leg snapping out of the gun). On 3rd-and-9, Allen is flushed from the pocket but stands and delivers a throw to the back of the end zone, where Keon Coleman inexplicably drops a touchdown. (The score would have been negated by a holding penalty.)<\/p>\n

Matt Prater, the former Denver kicker, ties the game just before the 2-minute warning.<\/p>\n

Broncos grab lead after Cook fumble<\/p>\n

SCORE UPDATE: Broncos 10, Bills 7 with 9:33 remaining in the second quarter<\/p>\n

After the Bills force a three-and-out, Allen takes off from his own 40-yard line and picks up 26 yards on the scramble.<\/p>\n

But on the next play, Cook loses a fumble to squander a scoring chance early in the second quarter. Connor McGovern was down after the fumble and was helped off the field by trainers.<\/p>\n

Cook led the NFL in rushing, but he also had the most fumbles in the regular season with six.<\/p>\n

Denver appears poised to capitalize on the turnover.<\/p>\n

Bo Nix recognizes the single-high coverage and completes a 27-yard pass to Marvin Mims Jr., down to the Bills\u2019 16-yard line.<\/p>\n

A few plays later, Nix hits offensive lineman Frank Crum, who reported in as an eligible receiver, for the touchdown.<\/p>\n

Crum, like Allen, play college ball at Wyoming.<\/p>\n

First quarter score: Bills 7, Broncos 3<\/p>\n

SCORE UPDATE: \tBills 7, Broncos 3 with :05 seconds remaining in the first quarter<\/p>\n

James Cook eats up 24 yards on the first play from scrimmage.<\/p>\n

Josh Allen has some helmet communications issues and calls timeout. On the next play, Cook again gets loose for a 10-yard chunk gain, delivering a shoulder-to-shoulder hit on Pat Surtain, who exits the field and heads into the medical tent.<\/p>\n

Last year\u2019s defensive player of the year is out.<\/p>\n

Allen then throws a strike to Khalil Shakir for another first down on the 11-yard completion.<\/p>\n

On 3rd-and-6, Surtain comes back on the field, Allen scrambles up the middle and appears to get the first down at the 2-yard line.<\/p>\n

The Bills weren\u2019t awarded the first down, but on the next play, Buffalo pushes Allen for final yard to get a fresh set of downs.<\/p>\n

Cook is met for a short loss on 1st-and-goal. On the Bills\u2019 seventh snap inside the 20-yard line, Allen swings one out to Mecole Hardman Jr. for the walk-in touchdown.<\/p>\n

So it\u2019s Hardman, a recent call-up, who comes up big for a team that has lost three WRs to IR in the last nine days.<\/p>\n

SCORE UPDATE: Broncos 3, Bills 0 with 7:29 remaining in the first quarter<\/p>\n

Denver chews up nearly half the opening quarter with a 14-play drive resulting in a 28-yard field goal by Wil Lutz.<\/p>\n

The Bills thought it may have had a recovered fumble, but Larry Ogunjobi jumped early on the snap.<\/p>\n

Pregame<\/p>\n

The Bills look to return to the AFC Championship Game for the second year in a row Sunday when it faces the AFC\u2019s No. 1 seed on its home field.<\/p>\n

At the heart of the Bills\u2019 Super Bowl run is Josh Allen, the former MVP who carries the added pressure of finally getting over the playoff hump in a year where he is head and shoulders the most seasoned, gifted quarterback remaining in the AFC playoff field.<\/p>\n

But Allen is banged up. He was evaluated for a concussion in last week\u2019s game in Jacksonville and had his knee twisted and hand catch a helmet following through on a throw. All that on top of a right foot injury he\u2019s been playing through for weeks.<\/p>\n

There\u2019s another appetizing storyline surrounding Allen: Former Broncos GM John Elway has called passing on drafting the star quarterback in 2018 the biggest regret of his time as a top team executive.<\/p>\n

The quarterback can take a crucial step toward reaching the apex of the sport with a win against the franchise Elway lifted to similarly extraordinary heights.<\/p>\n

To do that, protecting Allen against a defense that led the NFL with 68 sacks is the obvious key. But tight ends Dalton Kincaid and Dawson Knox could be important X factors for the Bills, who are down wide receivers Gabe Davis and Tyrell Shavers after both suffered season-ending knee injuries in last week\u2019s Wild Card victory against the Jaguars.<\/p>\n

The Broncos finished the regular season with the NFL\u2019s No. 3 scoring defense but are vulnerable in the middle of the field and rank among the bottom 10 teams in the league for most yards allowed to tight ends this season.<\/p>\n

Saturday\u2019s game also marks the return of standout defensive tackle Ed Oliver<\/a>, who has been out since tearing his biceps muscle back in October. Oliver will reportedly be limited in how many snaps he plays.<\/p>\n

Among the notable the Bills\u2019 inactives:<\/p>\n

RB Ty JohnsonLB Terrel BernardS Jordan PoyerCB Maxwell Hairston<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"The Buffalo Bills take on the Denver Broncos in an AFC Divisional Round playoff game at 4:30 p.m.,…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":685471,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":"","_share_on_mastodon":"0"},"categories":[2048],"tags":[265,215,214,53,2086,7,6],"class_list":{"0":"post-685470","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-buffalo-bills","8":"tag-american-football","9":"tag-bills","10":"tag-buffalo","11":"tag-buffalo-bills","12":"tag-buffalobills","13":"tag-football","14":"tag-nfl"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/channels.im\/@nfl\/115913489218905181","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/685470","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=685470"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/685470\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/685471"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=685470"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=685470"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=685470"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}