Josh Allen truly believes the Buffalo Bills will eventually “knock enough at the door” to win a Super Bowl, but FOX Sports’ Colin Cowherd is dropping a truth bomb that says otherwise: Allen might be stuck as the Phil Mickelson to Patrick Mahomes’ Tiger Woods. That’s a brutal comparison, especially when you consider how dominant Mahomes has been.
Mahomes Got The Cheat Code
Cowherd isn’t pulling any punches when he breaks down why Allen’s Super Bowl dream keeps hitting a wall. He points out that Allen and Patrick Mahomes entered the league just one year apart. But here’s the kicker: Mahomes got what Cowherd calls the “better owner, arguably, GM, coach and weapon, Travis Kelce.” In this offensive-heavy NFL, having an offensive genius like Andy Reid and an unstoppable tight end like Kelce just makes things so much easier. Cowherd said it himself on “The Herd”: “In an offensive league, the weapon matters. Offensive coach in Andy Reid, so a lot of advantages just didn’t go Josh Allen’s way.” It’s hard to argue with that when you look at the Chiefs’ three Super Bowl rings (2019, 2022, 2023 seasons) with Mahomes at the helm.
Big Numbers, Bigger Playoff Walls
You can’t say Allen isn’t putting up incredible numbers. The guy had another standout season in 2025. He’s a four-time Pro Bowler and even snagged the 2024 NFL MVP award. Last season, Allen stacked up 3,668 passing yards, 25 passing touchdowns, 10 interceptions, and a 102.2 passer rating, all while completing a crazy 69.3% of his passes. And let’s not forget his legs: 579 rushing yards and 14 rushing touchdowns. Those are elite stats. But here’s where the frustration boils over for Bills fans: after defeating the Jacksonville Jaguars in the AFC wild-card round, Allen threw two crucial interceptions and lost two fumbles in an overtime loss to the Denver Broncos in the AFC divisional round. In his first eight seasons (2018-25), the Bills haven’t pushed past the AFC Championship Game. The gut punch? They’re 0-4 against Mahomes and the Chiefs in the postseason.
The AFC East Just Got A LOT Tougher
Adding insult to injury, the Bills’ five-year reign over the AFC East (2020-24) came crashing down in 2025. The New England Patriots, under new head coach Mike Vrabel, swooped in and won the division with a 14-3 record. Their then-second-year quarterback, Drake Maye, was even the runner-up for NFL MVP and led them all the way to Super Bowl LX. Cowherd is worried about what this means for Buffalo, specifically playing road playoff games, pointing to Tom Brady and Joe Montana’s home-field success. He says the Patriots now have the “better coach, an elite quarterback, a great owner, lots of historic momentum and success. That and a lot more good, young players.” Plus, Maye is on a rookie deal while Allen’s got a huge contract. It’s not that Buffalo’s window is closed, but it just got a whole lot harder to walk through.
Cowherd’s ultimate question hangs heavy: “Bro, when are you going to win one?” With the Patriots surging and Mahomes still ruling the AFC, Allen’s quest to “knock enough at the door” just got a whole lot harder. The clock is ticking, and that Mickelson comparison is getting louder by the year.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Fox Sports.
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