Former Bills Captain Jordan Poyer Says Defense Failed Josh Allen in Postseason
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The former All-Pro safety argues that Buffalo's playoff struggles stem from a defensive unit unable to make critical plays, rather than a failure at quarterback.
Former Buffalo Bills safety and team captain Jordan Poyer says the team's postseason failures are a result of the defense failing quarterback Josh Allen, as Sports Illustrated first reported. Speaking with CBS Sports HQ, Poyer stated that Allen is "the best quarterback in the game" and consistently puts the team in a position to win, but the defense has been unable to make the necessary plays to secure victories.
Sports Illustrated reports that the Bills' defense has allowed opponents to average more than 30 points across their last six playoff losses. This includes a 32-point performance by the Kansas City Chiefs in a recent matchup and a collapse during the 2021 AFC Divisional Round known as "13 seconds," where the defense allowed a tying field goal and a game-winning touchdown pass from Patrick Mahomes to Travis Kelce in overtime.
While Poyer acknowledged that Allen could have made more plays in some instances, he argued that such efforts would be unnecessary if the defense performed its job. The statistics support Poyer's assessment of Allen's performance; Sports Illustrated notes that in 15 career postseason games, Allen has recorded 4,682 yards of offense, 29 touchdown passes, nine rushing touchdowns, and a 101.5 quarterback rating.
Looking toward the 2026 season, Poyer noted that the team must prove that offseason changes—including the hiring of Joe Brady and Jim Leonhard and the firing of Sean McDermott—have positioned Buffalo to dominate in the playoffs, as reported by Sports Illustrated.