Josh Allen and a unique opportunity to make his mark without the Mahomes factor

The NFL playoffs are underway, and the road to Super Bowl LX, set for February at Levi’s Stadium, has begun. Fourteen teams remain in contention, including the Buffalo Bills led by Josh Allen, who must first pass a demanding Wild Card test against the surprising Jacksonville Jaguars quarterbacked by Trevor Lawrence.

For Allen, these playoffs could prove pivotal in his career with Buffalo. At 29, the quarterback faces a rare opportunity to guide the Bills back to the Super Bowl, a destination that has eluded the franchise time and again.

• Bears complete epic comeback over Packers
• Rams advance with narrow win over Panthers

The absence of Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs opens a significant lane for Allen and the Bills. Since the 2021 season, Buffalo’s quarterback has been eliminated four times by Mahomes and Kansas City – in 2021, 2022, 2024, and 2025.

Now, without Mahomes and without Joe Burrow and the Cincinnati Bengals, who also knocked Allen out in 2023, the power to carry Buffalo to the championship game on February 8 is firmly in Allen’s hands.

History as a double-edged sword for Josh Allen and the Bills

Looking ahead to Sunday’s clash with Jacksonville, Allen’s playoff history offers both encouragement and warning signs. On the positive side, his Wild Card record is impressive: a 5–1 mark with victories over Indianapolis, New England, Miami, Pittsburgh, and Denver. Only the Houston Texans have managed to defeat him at this stage.

However, the numbers also cut against him. Allen has never won a playoff game on the road with the Bills, accumulating four losses away from Highmark Stadium. Those defeats came against Houston and three times against Kansas City at Arrowhead Stadium.

That context makes this postseason especially significant. With Mahomes and the Chiefs out of the equation, Allen will be intent on seizing the moment – first against Lawrence and the Jaguars, and potentially later against quarterbacks such as Bo Nix, Drake Maye, Aaron Rodgers, C. J. Stroud, or Justin Herbert.

Get your game on! Whether you’re into NFL touchdowns, NBA buzzer-beaters, world-class soccer goals, or MLB home runs, our app has it all.

Dive into live coverage, expert insights, breaking news, exclusive videos, and more – plus, stay updated on the latest in current affairs and entertainment. Download now for all-access coverage, right at your fingertips – anytime, anywhere.