Josh Allen wants that throw back - no doubt about it.
With the game on the line and seconds left in regulation, Allen had a shot to hit Dawson Knox in the end zone for what could’ve been a walk-off touchdown. On the broadcast, it looked like a miss - one of those “how did he not hit that?”
throws. But when you look closer, it’s not nearly as simple as it seemed.
Allen was under immediate pressure, with two rushers closing in fast. He had to get the ball out quickly, and he had to find a throwing lane.
That’s where the angle on the pass comes in - it wasn’t just about hitting Knox in stride, it was about making sure the ball didn’t get batted down at the line. It was a long throw, off-platform, and under duress.
Not exactly a layup.
In fact, when you break down the All-22 or end zone angle, you can see why Allen had to throw it the way he did. The pocket was collapsing, and if he’d tried to float it over the top or lead Knox more directly, there’s a real chance the ball never makes it past the line of scrimmage. Spencer Brown, the right tackle, was doing his best to hold off the edge, but the pressure was already in Allen’s lap by the time he let it go.
So yes, it was a miss. But it wasn’t a clean pocket, feet-set, wide-open target kind of miss. It was a tough play - a desperation shot under fire.
And more importantly, it wasn’t the reason the Bills lost.
Buffalo turned the ball over five times in this game. Five.
That’s where the game got away from them. The missed opportunity to Knox was a potential miracle - a shot at stealing a win at the buzzer - but it wasn’t the moment that doomed them.
Even after that incompletion, the Bills still had life. Matt Prater drilled a 50-yarder to send it to overtime, giving Buffalo a second chance.
But in OT, the breaks didn’t go their way. A near-catch by Brandin Cooks turned into a momentum-killing interception, and that was that.
So if the Knox play pops up on your timeline or in the highlight reels, just remember - it was a tough throw in a high-pressure moment. Not a clean miss, not a blown game-winner. Just a quarterback trying to make something happen with the season on the line.
The real story here? Turnovers. That’s what cost the Bills.