The Buffalo Bills' season came to a gut-wrenching end on Saturday afternoon, falling 33-30 in overtime to the Denver Broncos in yet another AFC Divisional Round heartbreak. That makes it four Divisional exits in five years-a brutal pattern for a team that’s been knocking on the Super Bowl door but just can’t seem to kick it open.
The aftermath was swift. On Monday, the Bills parted ways with head coach Sean McDermott, signaling a major shift in leadership. But while the organization turned its attention to the sideline, former NFL MVP Cam Newton had a different target in mind: quarterback Josh Allen.
Newton didn’t mince words during an appearance on ESPN’s First Take, calling Allen the “obvious issue” in Buffalo’s playoff shortcomings.
“This was supposed to be his year,” Newton said. “The quarterbacks that you are going up against, or could go up against, are Bo Nix, Drake Maye, and CJ Stroud… You had an opportunity to win, and you didn't. People are losing their jobs because of Josh Allen.”
It’s a harsh assessment, but let’s break it down. Allen turned the ball over four times against Denver-two interceptions and two lost fumbles.
That’s four giveaways in a playoff game, five total for the team. And when you’re on the road in January, that’s almost always a death sentence.
Despite that, Allen still had the Bills in position to win. A controversial overtime interception sealed the deal for Denver, but it’s worth noting that Buffalo even being in that position was a testament to Allen’s resilience.
Still, Newton doubled down, questioning Allen’s ability to deliver in the biggest moments.
“If we're as great as Josh Allen is, he has not shown that clutch gene that we judge quarterbacks off of,” Newton said. “We judge players off this metric: How he performs late in the season and late in games. Josh Allen has not shown up.”
That’s where things get murky. Because if you look at Allen’s playoff body of work coming into this game, it’s hard to argue he hasn’t shown up.
We're talking about 25 touchdown passes to just four interceptions, with a passer rating north of 100. That’s elite company.
And let’s not forget the infamous “13-second game” against Kansas City-a loss that had more to do with defensive breakdowns than anything Allen did.
But none of that erases what happened Saturday. The turnovers were costly. The margin for error in the postseason is razor-thin, and Allen’s mistakes were the kind that swing games-and seasons.
So where does that leave Buffalo? The decision to move on from McDermott suggests the franchise is looking for a new voice, a new energy.
"Why are we tiptoeing around the obvious issue here, and it's the underperforming Josh Allen."@CameronNewton on Josh Allen after the Bills loss to the Broncos 🏈 pic.twitter.com/XbOgIjTb2P
— First Take (@FirstTake) January 19, 2026
But the quarterback remains the centerpiece. Josh Allen is still one of the most physically gifted signal-callers in the league, and his highs are as high as anyone’s.
But the Bills need more than flashes of brilliance. They need consistency.
They need control. They need him to protect the football when it matters most.
The window isn’t closed in Buffalo, but it’s not wide open forever. The roster still has talent.
The quarterback still has juice. But after yet another early exit, the pressure is mounting.
And fair or not, the spotlight is squarely on No. 17.