Allen, Bills come up short as Buffalo coach goes for win

Updated Oct. 19, 2021 1:14 a.m. ET

Associated Press

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — The Buffalo Bills have seen Josh Allen run for first down after first down since coming into the NFL in 2018.

That's why coach Sean McDermott put the ball in his quarterback's hands yet again on fourth and maybe half a yard rather than kick a tying field goal with 22 seconds left.

This time, Allen's feet went out from under him as the Tennessee Titans jammed the middle, stopping him short and pulling

“I felt good about our chances,” McDermott said. “I had a chance to win the game right there and we didn’t get it done.”

Tyler Bass already had made three field goals for Buffalo.

But Allen had converted an

Allen certainly pointed first down with his left arm. Officials huddled.

“Then they changed it,” McDermott said. “From what I was told after the game there when I visited with (referee) Clete (Blakeman) then I think they radioed down and changed it.”

Allen didn't get an explanation.

“I think they looked at it on video and I think the call was a good call, so again it’s a game of inches,” Allen said. “We’re not going to try to blow this out of proportion.”

That set up fourth and very short. Allen lined up in the shotgun, then moved up under center for the snap. He took the ball, then

“I take a lot of pride in it," Allen said. "I love Coach McDermott giving me that opportunity. I’ve got to go out there and prove him right. Sometimes the plays don’t go your way.”

According to Sportradar, the

“I mean, we’re this far from winning the game, and I owe that to my players,” McDermott said of his decision to go for it on fourth down.

Titans coach Mike Vrabel credited his defenders with being prepared and ready. Defensive lineman Jeffery Simmons said he anticipated a quarterback sneak and knew immediately that Allen was short.

“That was my gap, and I was able to knock the guard in the backfield and I knew it was short,” Simmons said.

The loss snapped a four-game winning streak by the Bills (4-2) heading into their bye. Sending Bass out for a fourth field goal might've given Buffalo a chance to extend that streak, but the Bills backed their coach's decision.

“Coach made a hell of a call at the end,” Bills safety Micah Hyde said. "We’re riding with that all day with it in 17′s hands. QB sneak. It’s a tough one.”

Safety Jordan Poyer agreed, saying they trust their coaches and Allen who had been 10-0 when throwing for at least 300 yards. Allen threw for 353 yards and three touchdowns in this game.

“We just came up a little short,” Poyer said.

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