Bills season ENDS in HEARTBREAK [again]: Turnovers, CONTROVERSIAL CALLS and RAW EMOTION from Buffalo

Summary

Buffalo Plus Podcast Recap

Episode: Bills season ENDS in HEARTBREAK [again]: Turnovers, CONTROVERSIAL CALLS and RAW EMOTION from Buffalo
Date: January 18, 2026
Hosts: Mike Catalana, Jenna Cottrell, Dan Fetes

---

Overview

In this emotionally charged episode, the Buffalo Plus team of Mike Catalana, Jenna Cottrell, and Dan Fetes break down the Buffalo Bills’ devastating overtime loss to the Denver Broncos, 33-30, in the AFC Divisional Playoffs. The hosts provide extensive analysis of costly turnovers, highly controversial officiating decisions, and the raw, visible emotion from Josh Allen and the team. They contextualize another heart-breaking playoff exit for Bills fans and discuss what went wrong, locker room reactions, officiating issues, and the franchise’s looming offseason questions in the aftermath.

---

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Heartbreak & Raw Emotions: Post-Game Locker Room

• The season ends in crushing fashion with Josh Allen and several teammates visibly emotional after the game.
• Josh Allen, emotionally at the podium:

  “It's extremely difficult. Feel like I… yeah, feel like I… let my teammates down tonight.” — Josh Allen (03:26)

• The hosts emphasize the unprecedented display of emotion from Allen and lineman Deion Dawkins, noting this loss felt different because “the guy they count on... made mistakes that cost his team” (Mike, 01:14).
• Teammates took the blame collectively and expressed gratitude for being part of the team, visibly shaken after the loss:

  “You just love this game so much. And when you come up short like this, it's gonna sting for a long time.” — Mike Catalana relaying locker room emotion (05:49)

2. Allen’s Performance: Greatness and Costly Mistakes

• Allen made spectacular plays—including a highlight-reel touchdown to Dalton Kincaid—but four turnovers, including crippling fumbles and interceptions, defined the game (04:13–04:34; 21:27).
• Discussion on Allen’s responsibility and leadership, with acknowledgment that despite his heroics, mistakes overwhelmed his game.
• Notable quote:

  “He's always going to make plays. It's just the negative ones that ended up hurting them so badly.” — Mike Catalana (04:34)

3. Five Turnovers: Analysis & Impact

• Every Bills turnover directly led to Broncos scoring chances, compounding the heartbreaking result.
• The fumble before halftime and a late interception were especially egregious, costing vital points (19:11, 20:10).
• Both James Cook (fumble) and Allen (multiple turnovers) were called out as the team’s best players contributing to their downfall:

  “When they are your best players and they turn the ball over each of the times, it really… is crushing.” — Mike Catalana (21:42)

• The hosts argue the offense pressed to compensate for mistakes, leading to further errors and lost composure.

4. Controversial Officiating: The "Catch" That Wasn't

• A potential game-winning Brandon Cooks reception was overturned for an interception in overtime—a sequence the hosts call rushed and inadequately explained by officials (09:08–13:56).
• Sean McDermott’s fiery reaction:

  “I'm standing up for Buffalo, damn it. I'm standing up for us. Because what went on is not… that is not how it should go down in my estimation, that play.” — Sean McDermott (10:25–12:25)

• The hosts and McDermott felt the ruling was not only wrong, but the process was “rushed” and disrespectful to the stakes involved.
• Frustration is aired about NFL inconsistency on what constitutes a catch:

  “I just won't understand what a catch is. Because that play could happen on Sunday in a Patriots game and be called completely differently...” — Dan Fates (13:56)

5. Penalty Controversies Down the Stretch

• Defensive pass interference called on Tre'Davious White set up the winning Broncos field goal, despite lenient officiating earlier (16:16).
• Trey White’s take:

  “I just think that it should be up to the players to decide the game. Man, with a game that's fought so hard… coaches… referees just, they just don’t know ball, man.” — Trey White (16:20)

• The team argues the referees shifted the standard late, throwing critical flags after letting players play most of the game—a “moving strike zone” analogy (18:16).

6. The Defense: Holding the Line Amidst Adversity

• The Bills’ defense, undermanned and decimated by injuries, made multiple stands that kept Buffalo in the game (23:15–28:18).
• Jenna:

  “The defense kept them in this game after Josh had the fumble… Massive. That keeps you in this game.” (23:15)

• Still, exhausted and banged-up, the defense yielded the decisive drive after the final controversial call.
• Defensive standouts: Ed Oliver, Dion Walker, and A.J. Epenesa, with Walker’s big interception noted (24:53, 32:44).
• The defense allowed just 17 “legit” points on real drives; 13 points came off short fields handed over by turnovers (26:28).

7. The Big Picture & Offseason Questions

• The wide receiver group was exposed as lacking talent; Brandon Cooks was acquired late and became a top target—indicative of roster issues (30:00–31:15).
• “They need to make massive changes to the wide receiver position,” emphasizes Mike (29:25).
• The futility of relying on Josh Allen to do more with less is discussed. The hosts urge GM Brandon Beane to find real, game-breaking weapons.
• Lingering emotions:

  “I'm sad. I really thought this team… this effing team, man. I was literally… I was ready for the intro: ‘What a game.’ I was ready.” — Jenna Cottrell (36:03)

---

Notable Quotes & Moments with Timestamps

• Josh Allen’s heartbreak:
  “It's extremely difficult. Feel like I… yeah, feel like I… let my teammates down tonight.” (03:26)
• Sean McDermott defends Buffalo:
  “I'm doing, I'm saying it because I'm standing up for Buffalo, damn it. I'm standing up for us…” (10:25)
• Trey White on the PI call:
  “I just think that it should be up to the players to decide the game… referees just, they just don’t know ball, man.” (16:20)
• Dan on officiating inconsistency:
  “I just won't understand what a catch is…” (13:56)
• Jenna on Allen’s importance:
  “The people that make fun of Josh Allen… don’t understand what he means to this team, what he means to this franchise…” (08:09)
• On the emotional toll:
  “That man is drained. Physically beaten up. Emotionally, mentally drained... He needs a break.” — Mike (34:14)

---

Important Segment Timestamps

• Opening heartbreak & Josh Allen’s emotions: 00:02 – 04:13
• Turnovers analysis: 19:11 – 21:27
• Brandon Cooks “catch” controversy: 09:08 – 14:48
• Penalty controversies: 15:37 – 18:18
• Defensive valiance & late failures: 23:15 – 28:18
• Roster needs & offseason takeaways: 29:20 – 32:36
• Closing raw emotions & reflection: 33:06 – 36:26

---

Takeaways

• The Bills’ 2025-26 season ended in familiar, excruciating fashion, marked by uncharacteristic turnovers from Josh Allen and game-altering officiating decisions.
• Emotional locker room scenes—especially Allen’s rare display of tears—drive home the human cost of repeated sports heartbreak for this franchise and fanbase.
• The team is united in defeat but must confront the urgent need to surround Allen with better talent, especially at receiver.
• Officiating controversies overshadowed what could have been a classic, leaving fans and the team alike feeling robbed.
• The podcast closes with the hosts and Buffalo community in collective mourning but with hope for a much-needed offseason reset.

---

For continued in-depth Bills analysis and offseason coverage, the Buffalo Plus team will remain active on their YouTube channel and beyond.

Transcript

[Mike Catalan]

It's extremely difficult. Feel like I, yeah, feel like I.

[Dan Fates]

Let my, let my teammates down tonight.

[Mike Catalan]

He said he feels like he let you guys down. How do you react when your quarterback has done so much for you, says that to you guys let us down.

[Sean McDermott]

But I'm doing, I'm saying it because I'm standing up for Buffalo, damn it. I'm standing up for us. Because what went on is not. That is not how it should go down.

[Dan Fates]

This is the Buffalo plus podcast.

[Jenna Cottrell]

All right, welcome back to the Buffalo plus podcast. Mike Catalan and Dan Fates. I am Jenna Cottrell. Please be sure to, like, comment, subscribe and share. The Bill season ending tonight here in Denver. 33:30 in overtime. We're going to get to the mistakes by made by the Bills, the five turnovers, all that stuff. The calls at the end of the game. Mike, this team, you heard from the players, they are gutted after yet another team for the Bills comes up short.

[Mike Catalan]

You guys at home, you guys have experienced this before with the Bills, they've lost in gut wrenching ways. They've lost in overtime, they've lost on the road. In these type of games, they've done all that. What made this different was they lost with Josh Allen making the biggest mistakes in this game. The guy they count on, he still made plays, but he made mistakes that cost his team. I'm not saying if they would have won the game, it would have been in spite of Josh Allen because he still made plays. But in these losses that they've had, go back to 13 seconds and every other one, Josh is still Josh. This was so many mistakes and even some throws that you know, he would want back. And that, I think, is what is so disappointing for this game.

[Dan Fates]

Yeah. So weird to still process.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Yeah.

[Dan Fates]

We're filming this at 8:50 Mountain Time, 10:00 Eastern Time. We'll get this up as soon as possible. But it just is a weird feeling when if they would have like rolled over down 13 and never made a push, yes, it would feel different. And then to come all the way back for the defense to play so great in the second half than to give up a touchdown drive with two minutes, with a minute to go, when they had made stops the last few games and they made plenty of stops. I think the defense was a big part of why the Bills were still in this game. It is so perplexing to sit here at the end and go, man, the Bills and Josh Allen shot themselves in the foot just one too many times today.

[Jenna Cottrell]

That was the thing, though. It Was. It's. And it's heartbreaking to watch because this team, you know, we talked about after the Jags win, like, hey, the injuries that this team has, it's coming off a short week of rest. But for the Bills to have to play so well and then play so poorly, but then get themselves back into this game and to have it at the end with some of those calls, too, and we can get into all of that and what Sean McDermott had to say, but I. I feel like we're still processing. I agree. But that is the most emotional I've ever seen. Josh Allen, and that's hard to watch.

[Dan Fates]

Here he is coming to the podium after the game.

[Mike Catalan]

It's extremely difficult. Feel like I. Yeah, feel like I.

[Dan Fates]

Let my teammates down tonight.

[Mike Catalan]

Just missed opportunities throughout the game.

[Dan Fates]

It's been a long season.

[Mike Catalan]

I hate how it ended, and that's.

[Dan Fates]

Gonna stick with me for a long time.

[Mike Catalan]

Yeah, I feel for the guy. He says he let his team down and, yeah, to some extent on this game, he did. But there's so much emotion in him because he said this season was hard and it was. So much was put on the guy. This is not making an excuse for him. It's the biggest moments in the biggest games. It's just we're so used to him coming through.

[Dan Fates]

And he did come through.

[Mike Catalan]

He did.

[Dan Fates]

Like, that's. That's what's also hard to, like, compartmentalize from this. That throw to Dawson Knox.

[Mike Catalan]

Fantastic. Or Don King or Don Kincaid for the touchdown.

[Dan Fates]

Insane.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Insane.

[Dan Fates]

And he still ran. And like the. Thank goodness the Bills didn't. And the league didn't banish the Tush push because they were so great at it once again. And he was using his legs and all these things, but that was hard to watch, Mike.

[Mike Catalan]

Yeah. And when they were down 13 after they had given up the sack and the field goal, Janet looks at me and says, I'm still confident in this team because I was and you were. And then before you know it, they go down, they get the score, shout out, Keon, he made a play. They got him a chance. He made a play. And then they get the ball back. He throws the pick after they ran the screen like those things, but they kept fighting back and to your point, making plays. So he's always going to make plays. It's just the negative ones that ended up hurting them so badly, even. But the last one was. It goes as an interception, but that was a. That was a crazy play.

[Dan Fates]

Here were Josh's teammates after the game when they were talking about Josh taking ownership and saying he let his teammates down.

[Mike Catalan]

He said he feels like he let you guys down. How do you react when your quarterback, who's done so much for you, says that to you guys?

[Trey White]

Let us down?

[Mike Catalan]

I think we all feel that way, you know. You know, you work so hard.

[Jenna Cottrell]

You.

[Mike Catalan]

Know, personally, just so thankful to be a part of this. I look back and like, man, what can I have done to be able to alleviate some of that pressure from him? You just love this game so much. And when you come up short like this, it's gonna steal for a long time.

[Jenna Cottrell]

You know, the raw emotion of that. And I think sometimes it's hard for us because, you know, you're sticking a microphone in the face of someone after they just had a season ending loss. And that's tough and we have to be respectful. But also the emotion of knowing for this team because they did go through so much this season, they battled so much adversity. Sean McDermott talked about what a tough team this was, how much he loves this team and the fact that now it is starting once again, looking at it of all right, it's going to take another year.

[Mike Catalan]

I've been a lot of these locker rooms after super bowl losses, tough losses, you guys too. You know, these. I'm looking at Deion and I give Deion this. He always talks to us after a game, win or lose. He always does. And when I'm saying that to him, you could see it in his eyes about Josh. I felt for him as just a person and I think all the reporters did. Look, we can ask, you know, tough questions. You could say all that in that moment. He starts to break down and everybody just thanked him. I mean, what more are you going to do? And you, you see it in his face. He's. And that's not. I mean, Deon is an emotional guy, but not, not like that. Usually he's pumping everybody back up.

[Dan Fates]

That's what's most jarring was like, we've been in these locker rooms, we've never seen Josh like that.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Never.

[Dan Fates]

We've never seen Deion like that. Obviously we haven't been around Brandon Cooks, but for a grown man to have a tear just falling out of his face, it was. You said it because I was on the side of the podium and could see Josh and Josh started to walk out and then he stopped and he was still behind in the hallway. That was behind the podium. And I texted you guys, I said, josh is crying. Like you could hear him crying. And he Took two minutes before he eventually walked out. That was Josh collecting himself.

[Mike Catalan]

Yeah.

[Dan Fates]

Like, talk about what it was like in the locker room and all of those emotions. But you and I said it. Jenna, I think you said it too. Like, it was tough to watch because you know how much this guy cares. You know how much he has sacrificed his body and put all this stuff on the line. And to come up short, again, sucks.

[Jenna Cottrell]

I literally tweeted out, like, the people that make fun of Josh Allen. And look, tonight, he had mistakes, and there are costly ones at that. But the people that make fun of him don't understand what he means to this team, what he means to this franchise, and what he means to the fans. And that's fine. They don't have to understand. But I think today, seeing the emotion from the entire group just further proves what type of a leader he is. And then also just the disappointment. And this team has had to deal with a lot of disappointment.

[Mike Catalan]

Yeah. And look, every team that loses, especially in this circumstance where the season ends abruptly. Right. That's the way it goes. Feels emotion. But this team has keeps fighting back and going again and fighting back and going again. And this was an up and down season all the way through. And then the joy that they had walking off the field in Jacksonville and then in this game, falling behind, like you said, and then them fighting back and then thinking they have made a play to Brandon Cooks that could have been. I mean, let's face it, if they get that catch, if it's called a catch. Oh, it's set up for the game winning field goal.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Absolutely.

[Mike Catalan]

And they win the game.

[Dan Fates]

So let's talk about that. Let's get into that. The most. I saw somebody on Twitter, social media, saying, like, the most controversial catch of all time. Like, it's up there with Des. Like, it's up there with. And again, I know you're probably sitting here saying the same exact thing. I don't know what a catch is. I just. I just don't. Okay. I don't understand. Not only the ruling on the field, but then the chaos and the lack of explanation afterwards. That, to me was the most frustrating part where it just felt like the whole overtime, it was like they were running out. They didn't have any commercial breaks. So I was like, hey, guys, we got to keep going at all times.

[Jenna Cottrell]

It truly felt like that, though, the pace of which they were making massive decisions.

[Mike Catalan]

I. I mean, to interrupt you, I'm thinking he didn't.

[Dan Fates]

He actually held off.

[Mike Catalan]

I did.

[Jenna Cottrell]

No, he. It's Fine.

[Mike Catalan]

Well, here's what I was going to say is last week in Jacksonville, they took eight minutes to decide the stupid snap before the field goal. Like they did not mind waiting standing on the field, do, do, do, do, do to make the call. And here it felt like, we gotta hurry up.

[Jenna Cottrell]

That's. Sean literally said, I called the timeout just to slow things down. And here is what Sean McDermott had to say after the game. The full context of what he was talking about. His issues with the decision making by the referees and his take on what he saw.

[Sean McDermott]

Yeah, so obviously I don't have the power to challenge. Right. We're in overtime. So the flag is not. The flag is not an option to throw it down. So I called a timeout to try and get the process to slow down because it seemed like the process was not slowing down. It was rather. It was a rather rapid unfolding of the review, if there was a review. And so I called a timeout to try and slow it down. It would just. It would seem logical to me. It would seem logical to me that it would make a lot of sense that the head official would walk over and want to go and take a look at it just to make sure that everybody from here who is in the stadium to there are on the same page. That's too big of a play in my estimation. Too big of a play in a play that decided the game potentially as well, to not even slow it down. And that's why I had to call the timeout. It's not what I wanted to do, but I had to do it in order to make sure that I understood what was going on and that they did take a look at it. And it's hard for me to. And I've had a chance to look at. It's hard for me to understand why it was ruled the way it was ruled. And if it is ruled that way, then why wasn't it slowed down? Just to make sure that we have this right. That would have made a lot of sense to me to make sure that we have this thing right. Because that, that's a pivotal play in the game. We have the ball at the 20, maybe kicking a game winning field goal right there. So I'll just leave it at that. But I'm doing, I'm saying it because I'm standing up for Buffalo, damn it. I'm standing up for us. Because what went on is not. That is not how it should go down in my estimation, that play. These guys spent three hours out there playing football, pouring their guts out to not even say, hey, let's just slow this thing down. That's why I'm bothered.

[Mike Catalan]

In your eyes. Was it catch down by contact?

[Sean McDermott]

In my eyes it was. Yes, in my eyes it was. But even if it wasn't, okay, let's just say that, and I'm being objective. Even if it wasn't, the players are owed to me. Hey, let's stop it. Let's slow it down. Let's put the head referee and give him a chance to look at the monitor just to make sure. Just to make sure.

[Jenna Cottrell]

I love Sean saying I'm standing up for Buffalo, though, because to me, whether it was an interception or a catch, it did feel like the whole entire process of that was rushed.

[Mike Catalan]

It's exactly right what you're saying, because he even said, hey, they could call it what they're going to call it. But it felt like it was like, hurry up, guys. And then it's done. And then, you know, then they. Now the result of it ended up, if, you know, with the. With the interception basically ends up being a punt. And then they let him drive down the field so they still had a chance. But if that is called a catch. And in my mind, I'm watching him, I'm seeing the ball in his hands. He hits the ground being touched. I figure the play ends and it wouldn't be a fumble. But the. Carl Jeffers, the official, when he was interviewed by the pool reporter, said the completion of the catch was not made by the receiver. The ball came out as before, he completed it, and the defender completed the play by the ball going in his hands. In my mind, he catches it, hits the ground being touched. The ball comes out, but it's already down. That's not what they called.

[Dan Fates]

I just. I'll never unders. I just won't understand what a catch is. Because that play could happen on Sunday in a Patriots game and be called completely differently because it's some subjective rule of what a catch is.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Yeah.

[Dan Fates]

And again, if you want to call that on the field is one thing, but the fact that you have to have a head coach run down the field and use a timeout because he's going, what is happening? We review spots, we review, you know, the digital reviews, we review all of these things, and in overtime of a divisional playoff game to just be like, yeah, guys, let's go. Come on.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Yeah, Agreed. Egregious. And that's what I said, and Sean McDermott said it in the sound bite, but he cannot do a challenge because it's overtime. Coaches, there are no challenges during overtime because everything is reviewed. But you're right. It just felt so quick to make that decision. And then there were already the Broncos offense out on the field.

[Mike Catalan]

Yeah, that was what was stunning. Like they're just going and then. Then they finally held them up.

[Dan Fates]

But it was so. It was so simple. We have seen that a hundred times a season that there's a turnover and they just wait. They wait after touchdowns for the extra point. They stand out there. This was like, come on, guys, let's play. Come on, we're gonna, we're gonna keep.

[Mike Catalan]

Playing for Buffalo fans. And I was there for this one. It reminds me of no goal with the, with the stars, because that whole season they had called that, and the next thing you know, when that happened to win the Stanley cup, they just said, oh, it's over. Bring out the cup and it's done. And you never got a chance to have it adjudicated the way it should have been. Maybe they would have kept the same call, but it would have felt a little more thorough if they had not just rushed through the whole thing.

[Jenna Cottrell]

And then later on in that drive, obviously the penalties on Trey White, the roughing, the passer call, Johnson.

[Mike Catalan]

Yeah, they.

[Dan Fates]

I kept looking up at the scoreboard throughout the game and kept going. There's only been five penalties.

[Mike Catalan]

Yeah.

[Dan Fates]

Called all game. And it was a great game. It was a great game. And then to sit there at the end, and here's what Trey White has to say, because I think he says it better than I do. When he was asked about his pass interference call that set up the game winning field goal for the Broncos, he was asked about that call. Here's his answer.

[Mike Catalan]

The interference at the end, was that a pure ticky tack foul?

[Trey White]

I mean, I believe so. I thought that, you know, I didn't interfere with the guy. When the ball got there, I swiped through, knocked the ball down and fell on top of him. And you know, I just think that the crowd probably played a big time factor in it. And also, referees are human, man. And you know, people make mistakes. And I just, I just think that it should be up to the players to decide the game. Man, with a game that's fought so hard, come down to the wire, plays like that, I mean, that's a professional bang bang play. As a defensive back, man, that's what you want. Take the guy to the ground and finish the play. And referees just, they just don't know ball, man. I just think that, you know, whenever a guy don't look back for the ball, especially on the defensive side of the ball, which you don't have to when you're out of phase, which I was out of phase. And I caught back up with the guy and played through his hands. Once the ball got there. I didn't touch him before the ball got there. I feel like I finished through the pocket, like, you know, like I'm coached to do. That's what it was. And I just think that they just had bad adjustment on that plate.

[Dan Fates]

Let the players decide the game.

[Mike Catalan]

And you're right. And there were calls like the one to Cook's that could have been interference. They let him play. And then going the other way, like, you slow those down. And I have seen Denver fans showing clips in the slow mo. And Trey hits him a step early and maybe there's a little handcuff. Yes. It's the same thing on the other side. I like when they let them play. And here in the biggest moment, they decided to do it twice.

[Jenna Cottrell]

But that's my issue is earlier on, when Brandon Cooks is the one getting contact, it's like, oh, no flag. But then later when the game's on the line, they're like, you know what?

[Mike Catalan]

Now, I don't think any of them should have been penalties.

[Jenna Cottrell]

I.

[Mike Catalan]

Right. I agree with you. I'm agreeing.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Yeah. My issue is just when they decide to throw the play, it's like, why are you now throwing this in the biggest moment when all of the precedent that you set earlier in the game is that it's not a flag?

[Dan Fates]

If a ball is a ball or a strike is a strike in the first inning of a baseball game, you don't care. But that strike zone should not change in the 10th inning. That is what I felt like happened. Because you know what? I thought they let them play. I thought they missed a ton of. I thought they missed a ton of holding calls. I thought guys were getting grabbed left and right. Awesome. It was a fun game. The players were deciding it. I thought Deion Walker got held on a play. I thought Spencer Brown grabbed one of the guys on the.

[Mike Catalan]

There was Osiris Torrance grabbed a guy on a running play. They let it go.

[Dan Fates]

And guess what? It went the other way, too. I kept thinking, like, Russo's getting grabbed and he's walking back to the huddle going like this. Awesome. Let him play again. I know the Bills had five turnovers. They shot themselves in the foot. You don't deserve to win a playoff game. Five turnovers. But we're sitting here not talking as much about the five turnovers and talking about plays that happened right here by guys that, as Trey White says, there's don't know ball.

[Mike Catalan]

Let's talk about the turnovers and the issues. I think the most egregious one was giving up the three points before half. You know, Sean's been criticized for not taking chances late in halfs. I normally would say, go ahead, you want to take a chance. You have Josh Allen as your quarterback. You have to trust your quarterback to be smarter than that 100%.

[Jenna Cottrell]

And I don't blame Sean.

[Mike Catalan]

No, he goes for it. He says if we get some yardage, get out of bounds and when Josh is running there, just slide and go to halftime.

[Dan Fates]

100%. That if you're upset about Sean McDermott running a play, that is hindsight, especially.

[Mike Catalan]

When the ball is like Josh Allen.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Josh Allen needs to make a better decision.

[Dan Fates]

There he takes a kneel. There you're going. Come on. Why didn't let Josh rip? 130 yards down the field, Cooks had been winning. But you never ever thought Josh would turn into Houston playoff Josh and carrying the ball like Lashawn McCoy out in the middle of the field and it.

[Mike Catalan]

Goes backwards 10 yards and it lets him kick the field goal.

[Dan Fates]

That was. That was brutal, Josh. I mean, again, that's not Sean. That was Josh.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Yeah, I agree.

[Mike Catalan]

The other interception was after they did the screen to Shakir. They went backwards. A play had worked a few times, and then he. He takes the shot. He was laid on the throw. Safety made a good play. He was laid on the throw. You could see wasn't just those. He also, you know, he missed Dawson Knox at the end of the game. I think Knox could have scored. If he doesn't score, he's still close enough. I think he would have scored.

[Dan Fates]

Knox was not.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Not agreed.

[Dan Fates]

Knox was not happy.

[Mike Catalan]

He was open.

[Dan Fates]

He was open and he doesn't usually show emotion like that. Yeah, that was. I can't believe it.

[Mike Catalan]

Load of Shakir on the other throw. It bounced and Shakir to making the play.

[Dan Fates]

So he.

[Mike Catalan]

He just was. He was not sharp. He still made plays, but he was not sharp.

[Dan Fates]

And he was. Cole Beasley tweeted, he's in the zone now. Watch out.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Yeah.

[Dan Fates]

And he was. And there were times where I thought early in the first half he was.

[Jenna Cottrell]

8 for 10 or Dalton Kincaid.

[Dan Fates]

And I'm sitting there, I'm going to. Josh is slotted, as he calls it, like he's. Like the ball is just coming out of his hands.

[Mike Catalan]

Shakira so good.

[Dan Fates]

Like, all of these things. Like, he made a couple of throws. He double clutched on the one to Ray Davis.

[Mike Catalan]

Yeah.

[Dan Fates]

Where I was like, I don't like double clutching on bubble screens. And he threw it by the guy's ear hole. Where I was like, dude, he's just feeling it right now. And he. A lot of that, I think, was to make up for some of the earlier mistakes. But, yeah, it is what you do.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Get worried about the pressing when you have that many mistakes. But it is tough in this game because Josh Allen, obviously with four turnovers, and then James Cook with one as well. And those are your best players on offense that are making those really terrible mistakes.

[Mike Catalan]

Cook started out, was running really well. They were getting a lot out of James Cook. And then that fumble really turned things. That was a big hit. Ball came out. You just. When they are your best players and they turn the ball over each of the times, it really. It really is crushing. I will say this. And by the way, they used the hook and ladder play and it worked again.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Yes.

[Dan Fates]

They should run it every drive.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Sorry, I got scared. This.

[Mike Catalan]

I gotta say, I think Joe Brady called. I mean, we just talked about the screen. I think he called a pretty good game. Look what they're piecing together. Who's out there? They made plays. They got guys down the field. You know, like, the play to Kincaid was great for the touchdown. Kincaid woke up in that second half. Yes. Made a lot of plays for them.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Yeah, the first half you're like, where is he?

[Mike Catalan]

You know, Keon making a play. They did get individual plays out of.

[Dan Fates]

Guys, but yes, credit to Keon. Great individual effort, horrendous drop. And I want that. That was a horrendous. I understand. It was a holding. Nobody was happier about a holding call on his own team than Keon Coleman because that was a brutal drop.

[Mike Catalan]

Yeah, he should have caught it in the end zone. It ended up being that they didn't go 10 yards farther back and they made the field goal, but you got to catch the ball.

[Dan Fates]

I want to talk a little bit about the defense and, Jen, I want to get your opinion first because you always set us up. So when. The last pod of the season here. What was your thoughts on the defense? Because every postseason loss is always the narrative of this or that. And Sean McDermott, what was your thoughts on how the defense performed?

[Jenna Cottrell]

The defense kept them in this game after Josh had the fumble. And for the Bills defense to. To have them settle for a field goal, I was like, that's Massive. That keeps you in this game.

[Dan Fates]

I thought that changed the game.

[Jenna Cottrell]

I agree. Because I was like, okay.

[Dan Fates]

I was like, score, stop, score. Josh gets hit on the second play and fumbles. And you're like, well, this is it.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Yeah.

[Dan Fates]

And they hold them.

[Jenna Cottrell]

They could have buried them there. The Broncos could have buried the Bills there. But the Bills defense stood up, made them settle for the field goal like I talked about. And I think that energized this team. And I understand if you want to say, hey. But also it's like the Bills were down. It was tied right before half, 22 seconds left on the clock. And then the bullshit that happened. I'm like, that's a really. You're putting your defense in a tough spot.

[Dan Fates]

The bullshit that happened was one. Cam Lewis goes out for cramping.

[Mike Catalan]

And they immediately picked on Savage.

[Dan Fates]

Yeah. Darnell Savage, like that sucked.

[Mike Catalan]

And then in the last drive, Trey went out of the game.

[Dan Fates]

They went right at Dane Jackson and.

[Mike Catalan]

It went right at Dane Jackson threw a touchdown, threw one ball.

[Dan Fates]

Bonix threw one ball and it was that one to Min.

[Jenna Cottrell]

I. I saw a tweet like Bonix is carving them up. And I'm like, are we watching the same game?

[Mike Catalan]

That last drive was good.

[Jenna Cottrell]

I'm. It was. It was before that last drive though.

[Mike Catalan]

I'm talking about drive.

[Jenna Cottrell]

I was like, bonicks. No.

[Mike Catalan]

And I give Sean Payton credit because they recognize those things right away. And they went at those guys. I mean, on the next play.

[Dan Fates]

On the next play.

[Mike Catalan]

And got him twice.

[Jenna Cottrell]

I mean, that is what you are supposed to do. And that's what good teams take advantage of. And I understand that. I just felt like the Bills defense kept them in this game. Thought they got a lot of tipped passes as well. AJ Epanessa getting in on the mix. Dion Walker with the interception like Bo Nicks.

[Dan Fates]

Wasn't good. No, he made that he made to Mims was right in my lap. Phenomenal throw.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Yeah.

[Mike Catalan]

He ran the ball effectively. Got them first downs on that drive. That's why he had the two drives. He had the drive to take the lead and then he had the drive after the Cooks catch, slash interception to take him down and kick the field goal. Aided by two huge penalties. Three huge penalties and he broke his.

[Dan Fates]

Ankle and he's out for the season.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Which also just pisses me off.

[Mike Catalan]

That's confirmed, right?

[Jenna Cottrell]

Yeah. No, Sean. Sean Payton said we're going to get out ahead of this. He fractured his ankle. He's out. He has surgery on Tuesday.

[Dan Fates]

The second to last play or the kneel down. They're not. People are speculating.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Oh. I thought it was the second to last play, but either way, the tackle.

[Dan Fates]

By Bishop, whether it was a Trey White one, anything like that.

[Mike Catalan]

Wow.

[Jenna Cottrell]

I am now rooting for Houston because I can't stomach the idea of the Patriots being in the AFC Championship. And also, can I. Can I. Can I say that I want the AFC to get smoked in the Super Bowl? Is that okay?

[Mike Catalan]

Yeah. It's funny because. Is this a safe space if Denver wins? It's. Who's the quarterback?

[Dan Fates]

Jared Stidham.

[Mike Catalan]

Jared Stidham. Oh, my God. Jared Stidham. Could be. Well, it'd be the Patriots or the Texans. So.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Yeah, serious question now, this team, we talked about how they're just offensively, really wide receiver wise. There was not enough talent on this roster. What?

[Dan Fates]

I'm sorry, I just want to have one more.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Okay.

[Dan Fates]

Comment on the defense.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Yes.

[Mike Catalan]

They.

[Dan Fates]

When it went to overtime, there were 13 points off of turnovers. They had allowed 17 points on legitimate drives. And I want that to be crystal clear of what that was Josh gave them. They got six points off fumbles in short field.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Yep.

[Dan Fates]

Okay. And the Cook fumble, they drove down the field. Like I just.

[Mike Catalan]

That needs.

[Dan Fates]

And they're. Again, you lose the first kickoff, the opening kickoff.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Dorian Williams.

[Mike Catalan]

Car.

[Dan Fates]

Ash. Car crash with Dorian Williams.

[Mike Catalan]

Yeah.

[Dan Fates]

Like, scary stuff. And you're. Balin Spector's out there, guys.

[Mike Catalan]

Yeah. Well, to your point, because of the Jordan Poyer injury and then Cam getting hurt in the game, you end up with Savage, who was on the practice squad before, and then you end up with Dane Jackson, who has not played.

[Dan Fates]

Because Max is out.

[Mike Catalan]

Because Max is out. And I mean, other teams have injuries, too, but it just highlighted in these moments when you talk about what they gave up. The defense really balled out for that second half. Like you said, they got the stops, the three and outs to get the ball right back. They got the stop to start overtime, which was.

[Jenna Cottrell]

They did.

[Dan Fates]

I guess I just look at this and the PC version is. The PC version is like they showed some cajones. They. They put him on the table. And I just think that, like, what they were able to do was impressive because when the offense was turning the ball over and shooting themselves in the foot, the defense held it together. I understand the Savage interception or the Savage touchdown on him sucked like all that right before the half, but I just thought the defense kept them in this game from getting it to be a blowout early in the second half to allow Josh to put it together and figure it out. At times, I thought the defense was great.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Yeah, they steadied the ship. They really did. And they kept the Bills in this game. And I think that's why it's.

[Dan Fates]

It's.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Yeah, I just. I know there's a lot of narratives about Shawn McDermott, how he's not a good coach and whatever, but the fight that this team had and the fact that they were even in this game with five turnovers, I think says a lot about a. The way the defense could bounce back, but also the fact that they. They had no quit in them.

[Mike Catalan]

Not at all. No, they did. It was. You know, again, it's a fight. You can't turn it over that many times and win yet. They still almost did it with a. With a break after mistake after mistake after mistake. You also had Larry Ogon Joby going offsides on a play where the Bills forced to fumble and ended up only being a field goal. But it was still three points that they shouldn't have given up as he jumped offside. So they made enough mistakes. Joey Bosa just always inside, always on the inside. And allow Bo Nix. And then he takes.

[Jenna Cottrell]

He's a liability. Yes.

[Dan Fates]

Every time, right?

[Mike Catalan]

Yeah.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Yeah. All right, let's talk big picture.

[Dan Fates]

They need to overhaul the offense. Mike, you like Brandon Cooks, the possibility of coming back.

[Mike Catalan]

The only reason I said that is they need to make massive changes to the wide receiver position. And I'm not sure who's going to be back. I think a guy like Brandon Cooks gave them something that they did not have. Now, you want to go out and get a guy who's eight years younger or a draft pick, fine. You want to spend the resources. I'm saying is, you see a guy with speed who knows how to play in the NFL can still make plays for this offense at, what, 30? What is he, 33 years old, 34? Whatever he is. I'm just saying is that shows you go, so. But it's on Brandon Bean.

[Jenna Cottrell]

I was going to say it's on.

[Mike Catalan]

Brandon Bean to make them better. I'm just saying is Brandon Cooks showed a lot, I thought, in the last few games to show you what's possible out there. If you give Josh Allen the kind of weapon who can actually run past people on the field.

[Jenna Cottrell]

That is my frustration level as well, though. Why are. Why is a guy you. You brought onto your team in week 13 having to make such big plays and big moments?

[Mike Catalan]

Yeah. Because they didn't have anybody else that.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Was going to do it. I know.

[Mike Catalan]

Yeah.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Nicole Hardman, all that. It's just the frustrations of, like, this team. Josh did not play his best game today. We all know that. But he has carried this team for most of this.

[Mike Catalan]

Carried the whole franchise, carried everything.

[Jenna Cottrell]

And just I, I, we always said this last year like, Josh can do more with less. We learned that last year. But why would you want to double down on that? It's just infuriating. It really is. Especially when you look at the AFC picture and how wide open and how much parody there was this year. And Obviously hindsight is 20 20, but, but it's like this was such a great opportunity for this franchise and it slips through their fingers yet again.

[Mike Catalan]

I'm just saying, you get a glimmer of what that can do for this offense. A legitimate NFL receiver who can run.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Yeah, absolutely.

[Mike Catalan]

Stretch the field, go out because it's stressing the defense. You guys are on the field. It's kind of wild when you see a Bills player behind the defense absolutely plays. So go get, go use the draft pick. Go get a free. Whatever it is to take to get.

[Jenna Cottrell]

But not A.J. brown. Sorry. I just want that on the record.

[Mike Catalan]

I don't think he'd be a good football for the Bills, but that's, we got a lot of time to talk about that, but they need that kind of help for this guy.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Where do you, where are this, where are they at now?

[Mike Catalan]

Oh, this one's, this one's going to hurt. They're going to need to just close ranks here. Josh is going to get ripped. Sean, like you said, Sean's. I'm talking about nationally. Like, if you pay any attention to that stuff, that's all you're going to hear. It's going to be sickening for Bills fans to watch whatever is left of the playoffs after seeing this game and seeing whoever ends up winning the Super Bowl. It's going to be another year where they didn't get where they wanted to go. They got, you know, a lot of changes I think they can make in the off season. But I still think, honestly, that is one thing.

[Jenna Cottrell]

If you're looking at the glass half full, like they got this far with subpar talent. I mean, James Cook, phenomenal. But in terms of the wide receivers, I think that becomes a glaring issue and we've talked about all season, a lot of the things that are your Achilles heel during the year show up in the playoffs and for this team, like, you get some legitimate weapons around Josh, like this, this team can do good things.

[Mike Catalan]

Yeah. Well, they spent a lot of draft capital on the defense and got very little out of it. Deion Walker looks like he's a player.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Yes.

[Mike Catalan]

He'll get more and more going in next year. Hey, I want to shout out to Ed Oliver, too. Played. Played a lot of snaps. That's tough.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Played way more than I was expecting.

[Mike Catalan]

And then getting himself back onto the field. I know he wanted to help. That cannot be easy to be doing that. But they did miss him a ton during the whole year.

[Dan Fates]

Sucks.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Yeah, it does.

[Dan Fates]

There were so many times when I said this team was dead and they always found a way and Josh and the defense, like, found a way. And then to have it be like.

[Jenna Cottrell]

That and those ticky, tacky calls down the stretch added insult to injury.

[Mike Catalan]

Well, if you're just a regular fan watching this for entertainment, I think you're annoyed at that because you've seen this great game and you're like, really? Now you're gonna call this all time.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Game and you're gonna end it like that?

[Mike Catalan]

Yeah. But my, My takeaway of this game is just watching, like you said, watching Josh walk in that room afterward, that's hard.

[Jenna Cottrell]

That's hard to watch for a guy.

[Mike Catalan]

Who'S put so much into this.

[Dan Fates]

With four minutes to go, I was going, how lucky are we? We're so lucky where we get to watch Josh Allen play football.

[Mike Catalan]

Yeah.

[Dan Fates]

Human beings have been around for thousands of years, and I thought we are lucky to get to watch Josh Allen play quarterback. And I did not expect in that span to where we are now to be like, we're asking the pool reporter to get questions to the referee. And tears.

[Mike Catalan]

I just, I was thinking about Josh today and how down he is with all he's accomplished. He needs. He needs a break. The guy needs a break. And fortunately for him, a big moment in his life is coming. Hopefully everything goes really well. He's gonna be a father. Yeah, I think he's going to. But that man is drained. Physically beaten up. Emotionally, mentally drained.

[Dan Fates]

I think that was it this season.

[Mike Catalan]

Took so much out of it.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Absolutely.

[Dan Fates]

He was holding it together.

[Jenna Cottrell]

And it's.

[Dan Fates]

It's like when you're in a relationship and it's like you got to be strong for the other person sometimes. Shout out, my wife. It's like, my wife. It's. I just feel like then it's like you.

[Jenna Cottrell]

When you hit your breaking point.

[Dan Fates]

Yeah, the damn breaks.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Yeah.

[Dan Fates]

You know, and that was.

[Jenna Cottrell]

There was too much on Josh this.

[Mike Catalan]

Season, by the way.

[Dan Fates]

Bingo.

[Mike Catalan]

He's got foot, ankle, finger, Finger got hit in the head. What else does he have? Whatever else he has, he is beaten up. I don't know if any of it requires anything other than rest. The man needs rest. Become a dad. Play some golf. Take a break. He needs a break.

[Jenna Cottrell]

I'm sad.

[Mike Catalan]

Yep.

[Dan Fates]

Appreciate everybody that's followed along.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Yeah, we like this so much. We really do.

[Mike Catalan]

Obviously, you guys all know we got plenty of content coming non football season. No, I just want everybody to know that we are going to be talking about this team. We're going to be talking about what they can do in the off season. We're going to be going to Elmo's and have steak and talk to them.

[Jenna Cottrell]

About the draft combine and all that.

[Mike Catalan]

Stuff that we do. But for right now, I think everybody just needs a break.

[Jenna Cottrell]

I don't want to break.

[Dan Fates]

I could just break, but I'm sad.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Yeah, I'm sad. I really thought this team. I was like this effing team, man. I was literally, I was getting ready for the intro. I was gonna say, what a game. I was ready.

[Mike Catalan]

Dan would have allowed it for this.

[Dan Fates]

Yeah, he would have allowed a cigarette. I still need a cigarette. It's just a sad cigarette.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Yeah. Oh, that's such a sad cigarette. Dan doesn't smoke, but by the way.

[Dan Fates]

Yeah, I think I need to make that clear. I do not smoke.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Yeah, yeah. No, but.

[Mike Catalan]

But he might tonight.

[Jenna Cottrell]

Sad cigarette. All right. For Mike and Dan, I am Jenna. Please be sure to, like, comment, subscribe and share. Like Mike said, we'll have plenty more coverage coming up on the Buffalo Plus YouTube channel, as well as Sean McDermott and Brandon Bean's end of the season press conference. We'll have our takeaways from that as well. But for now, thank you for watching. We'll catch you next time here on the Buffalo plus channel.

[Dan Fates]

This is the Buffalo plus podcast.