The Buffalo Bills punched their ticket to the next round of the playoffs after taking down the Jacksonville Jaguars 27-24 in an absolute nail-biter.
After Allen gave Buffalo the lead with a tush push touchdown with 1:04 left in regulation, cornerback Tre’Davious White tipped Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence’s first pass of the next drive, and Cole Bishop called game with an interception.
While Allen the game-winning touchdown, he took quite a beating during the AFC showdown. He entered the blue medical tent in the first quarter after taking a blow to the head while getting sacked by Josh Hines-Allen. Following an evaluation, Allen cleared concussion protocol.
The reigning MVP proceeded to hurt his throwing hand on a helmet and appeared to hyperextend his knee while getting tackled during a rushing touchdown. Allen limped to the medical tent but returned to the game. He didn’t miss a snap and continued to put his body on the line.
GettyJaguars’ Josh Hines-Allen sacks Bills quarterback Josh Allen #17 of the Buffalo Bills during the AFC Wild Card Playoff game at EverBank Stadium on January 11, 2026.
During a tush push on fourth and inches with 1:10 left on the clock, the 6-foot-5 quarterback rushed through for an incredible 10 yards. According to Next Gen Stats, this play increased the Bills’ win probability by 49.9 percentage points. “From 27.5% to 77.4%, the most win probability added on a QB sneak in the NGS era (since 2016),” they posted.
Speaking to reporters after the game, Allen brushed aside any concern over his injuries. However, his demeanor in the locker room told a different story.
Josh Allen’s ‘Limp’ in the Locker Room Draws Attention After the Bills-Jaguar Game
GettyBills quarterback Josh Allen in the AFC Wild Card Playoff game at EverBank Stadium on January 11, 2026.
The Athletic’s Joe Buscaglia posted, “Josh Allen said he got rolled up a little bit in the first half the touchdown play he came up limping. Allen said, ‘We’re good.’ Allen was sporting a little bit of a limp in the locker room, too.”
It’s concerning to hear that the Bills franchise star was still limping after the game. Buffalo needs him to be 100% for the divisional round. The 29-year-old quarterback has a history of downplaying injuries. With the Bills in Super Bowl or bust mode, it would take a lot more than a tweak to shut him down. Bills head coach Sean McDermott addressed Allen’s toughness after the game.
“When your quarterback is that type of warrior, that type of competitor, from a leadership standpoint, it goes through the whole team,” McDermott told reporters. “We’ve got to get him healthy as we can though for next week. It’s not something we take lightly. He took some hits today.”
One fan posted, “I’ll talk my [expletive]. Josh Allen broken, and battered, is still better than 90% of NFL starters.” Another person commented, “Truly earned The Winter Soldier nickname today.”
While Allen gets some much-needed rest, they must wait and see who their next playoff opponent is. If the New England Patriots defeat the Los Angeles Chargers, Buffalo takes on the Denver Broncos on the road next week. If the Chargers win, the Bills travel to face the winner of the Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Houston Texans matchup on Monday Night Football.
Josh Allen Made NFL History Against the Jaguars
OptaStats posted, “Allen is the first player in NFL history to complete at least 80% of his passes (min. 5 attempts) and rush for multiple touchdowns in a playoff game.”
Add this to the long list of records Allen broke this season. The Bills franchise star broke the record for most rushing touchdowns by a quarterback in NFL history with 79 and most games with a touchdown pass and rushing touchdown (50). He also became the first quarterback and fourth player ever with at least six rushing touchdowns in each of his first eight career seasons.
In Week 17, he also became the fastest player in NFL history to record 300 total touchdowns (127 games).
Bills Get Concerning Josh Allen News After Win Over Jaguars