Josh Allen, Bills Teammates Defend Dalton Kincaid Amid Online Backlash

Josh Allen, Bills Players Defend Dalton Kincaid Amid Backlash

ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. — The Buffalo Bills’ season ended in heartbreak with a 32-29 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC Championship Game, but the spotlight fell on tight end Dalton Kincaid after a pivotal missed play.

On a desperate fourth-and-5 attempt late in the game, quarterback Josh Allen’s pressured throw fell incomplete near Kincaid, leading to criticism of the second-year player online. However, Allen and his teammates quickly rallied to his defense, emphasizing that the loss was a team effort.

Allen Takes Responsibility
“I need to be better for him,” Allen said Monday. “I didn’t put him in enough good situations this year, ball-placement-wise. He’s been battling injuries all year and still giving his all. He’s going to be better next year, and so will I.”

Kincaid, who has been dealing with knee injuries, finished the regular season with 44 receptions for 448 yards and two touchdowns. Despite the adversity, Allen praised his toughness and commitment, calling him “a tough sucker” who worked through pain to contribute all season.

Teammates Speak Out
Tight end Dawson Knox defended Kincaid’s effort on the play, noting the difficulty of the situation.

“Josh had three guys in his face, and Dalton had to completely change direction and dive for the ball,” Knox said. “The fact he even got a hand on it is impressive. We wouldn’t even have been in that game without Dalton. He’s a huge weapon for this offense.”

Knox also revealed that Kincaid played through a torn PCL and fluid in his knees during the season, further underscoring his resilience.

A Team Effort
Allen and the offensive line pointed to a misread on the Chiefs’ defensive setup, which resulted in an unexpected corner blitz. “They called a better play than we had,” said guard O'Cyrus Torrence.

Linebacker Terrel Bernard also dismissed the idea that Kincaid was solely responsible for the loss. “It’s unfair to put that on him. There were so many plays throughout the game that we didn’t execute.”

Looking Ahead
For the Bills, the loss marks their fourth postseason defeat to the Chiefs in the last five years. Despite the setback, Allen expressed confidence in head coach Sean McDermott’s ability to lead the team to a Super Bowl.

“He’s so committed to doing whatever it takes,” Allen said. “We’ve won the AFC East consistently, and I’m confident he’ll get us over the hump.”

As the Bills regroup for the offseason, the focus will remain on building a team capable of taking down their perennial rivals and ending their Super Bowl drought.