Heartbreak for Allen as Broncos beat Bills in playoff thriller
Allen threw two interceptions as top-seeded Denver rallied from the brink of defeat late in the fourth quarter and pushed through a season-ending injury for their own quarterback to clinch the crucial divisional round clash.
The Bills have never won a Super Bowl despite reaching four consecutive editions in the 1990s, and defeat to the Broncos was the seventh time their reigning Most Valuable Player quarterback has fallen short in the postseason.
"I feel like I let my team-mates down tonight," said Allen, wiping away tears in the post-game press conference.
"I hate how it ended... when you shoot yourself in the foot like that you don't deserve to win football games," said the quarterback, who also gave up two fumbles on sacks.
"I'm extremely sorry and disappointed in how this ended."
There was also heartbreak for his opposing number Bo Nix. The victorious quarterback fractured a bone in his right ankle during the penultimate play of overtime.
Nix will require surgery, said Broncos coach Sean Payton.
The injury robs Nix of the chance to play next weekend's home-field AFC Championship Game against either the New England Patriots or Houston Texans -- and a potential Super Bowl.
'Proud'
The game had gone to overtime after a gripping battle during regulation.
The Bills fought back from a 13-point third quarter deficit to inch into a 24-23 lead early in the fourth quarter following back-to-back touchdowns from Keon Coleman and Dalton Kincaid.
A Matt Prater field goal from 31 yards left Buffalo 27-23 ahead with just over four minutes remaining, with the momentum seemingly carrying the Bills towards victory.
But Nix showed superb composure to lead Denver on a 73-yard touchdown drive that culminated with the Broncos quarterback lofting a 26-yard pass to Marvin Mims in the end zone to give the home side a 30-27 advantage after kicker Wil Lutz's extra point.
Allen then responded to nervelessly maneuver the Bills into field goal range, moving the ball 41 yards to give Prater a 50-yard kick to tie the game at 30-30.
The Bills seemed to have grabbed the advantage after forcing Denver to punt on the opening drive in overtime, leaving Allen only needing to get Buffalo into field goal range to clinch victory.
Yet Denver's defense came up big when it mattered, Ja'Quan McMillian snaffling an interception to give the Broncos the chance to grab a winning score.
Nix duly delivered, advancing the ball 75 yards with the help of two huge penalty calls to set up Lutz's winner.
"They gave us their best shot on a short week so hats off to them," Nix said immediately after the win, when his injury had not yet been announced.
"We just found a way to win again and our defense made stops."
"I'm proud of the way we compete, we fight, we just never think we're out of it."