Once again, Josh Allen and the Buffalo Bills’ season ends short of the Super Bowl, with the Kansas City Chiefs eliminating them from the playoffs by winning the AFC Championship 32-29. This marks the fourth time since 2020 that quarterback Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs have knocked the Bills out in the postseason. On ESPN’s NFL Primetime, co-host Booger McFarland remarked that Allen must be questioning whether he picked the wrong era to be an NFL quarterback, as Mahomes continues to reign as the league’s elite.
McFarland drew parallels between Allen’s journey and that of NBA stars in the 1990s who faced relentless challenges from Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls. “Josh Allen in the back of his mind has to wonder, ‘What do I have to do?’” he stated. “He played a good game today… He needs more offensive weapons, but ultimately, this falls on the quarterback. Wins go to the quarterback, losses go to the quarterback. I think Josh Allen has to ask himself, ‘Was I born in the wrong era?’ Because Mahomes is not going anywhere… At some point, [the Bills] have to figure out a way to get over the hump…”
“I think Josh Allen has to ask himself, ‘Was I born in the wrong era?’ ‘Cause Mahomes is not going anywhere… [The Bills] gotta figure out a way to get over the hump…” – Booger McFarland, who also compared the situation to Michael Jordan vs other NBA stars in the ’90s. #NFL pic.twitter.com/x7YhovBV2l
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) January 27, 2025
As McFarland highlighted, Allen played well, and if a play or two had gone the other way, the Bills might have triumphed—a sentiment that could apply to any tightly contested sporting event. Allen succinctly summarized his feelings after the game: “It’s not fun. But to be the champs, you gotta beat the champs. And we didn’t do it tonight,” he said.
“It’s not fun. But to be the champs, you gotta beat the champs. And we didn’t do it tonight.”
Josh Allenpic.twitter.com/2LMxMCNeUp
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) January 27, 2025
Returning to McFarland’s observation regarding Allen feeling out of place in his era, it’s worth noting that every generation has its dominant team. The Green Bay Packers, Pittsburgh Steelers, San Francisco 49ers, Dallas Cowboys, and New England Patriots all created formidable dynasties. Now, the Bills have a full offseason to contemplate how to advance beyond Mahomes and the Chiefs.
