What can one play do in the NFL? Well, for the Buffalo Bills, it ended all of their hopes of Super Bowl glory. Nine days after their playoff exit, though, one Bills player is still paying for that one play and everything that followed against the Denver Broncos.

The league has just dropped its disciplinary action on the Bills’ cornerback Tre’Davious White. The veteran was fined $14,222 for unsportsmanlike conduct and removal of the helmet in overtime. The fine traces back to a moment that shifted the entire game.

On the play before the meltdown, White was flagged for defensive pass interference. That ruling allowed the Broncos to march into scoring position, setting the stage for the ending no one in Buffalo wanted.

With 5:24 left in overtime and the score locked at 30-30, Bo Nix prepared to throw on a 2nd & 12 from Buffalo’s 38. He fired deep down the left side, targeting All-Pro wideout Marvin Mims. As the ball came down, Mims and White were locked in a sprint battle.

In the moment, White made the play. He got there first and stopped Mims from hauling it in near the end zone. However, flags came flying. Officials ruled defensive pass interference, handing Buffalo a 30-yard penalty.

Just like that, Bronco Country went from a 2nd & long to a 1st & goal at Buffalo’s 8. But that was just the beginning of the end that no one in Buffalo wanted…

Nix kneeled for a loss of 3 yards on the next snap, lining things up perfectly for kicker Wil Lutz at Buffalo’s 11-yard line. However, White caught another flag. But could not accept the call at such a crucial moment, not after the Bills were already given a controversial interception call. As he argued with line judge Rusty Baynes, his frustration boiled over.

He slammed his helmet to the turf in front of the official, drawing an unsportsmanlike penalty. That extra mistake moved the ball again, this time down to Buffalo’s 5. Finally, Denver shut the door as Lutz stepped in and easily drilled the 23-yard field goal.

White wasn’t the only Bills player on the hook. Joey Bosa was also fined $17,389 for a late hit on Broncos quarterback Bo Nix. That incident happened right before White’s flags with 6:04 remaining in overtime.

Unfortunately, this wasn’t White’s first penalty this season. He has been flagged four other times as well for a total of 57 yards. He wasn’t fined for any of those penalties. Overall, in his nine-year NFL career with the Bills, he’s been flagged for 44 accepted penalties for 442 yards. However, while these were a couple of huge mistakes that ended Buffalo’s run this season, it wouldn’t be all on White.

The Bills shot themselves in the foot from the beginning, and made it worse in overtime

A week before they even entered Denver, the Bills already knew what they were facing: a well-rounded team with one of the best defenses in the league. Not to mention, the elemental and home-field advantage the Broncos carried. The Bills, although, did what they had been doing for most of the year.

Throughout the regular season, Buffalo has been the team that comes from behind. Usually, their first half is subpar and the second half is impressive. In the regular season, that worked, whether you call it a strategy or just the way they operated. In the postseason, they got caught.

In the first half, the Bills produced half the score that the Broncos did. While they made a comeback in the second half and forced overtime, it was clearly too late. And one call on Josh Allen’s teammate certainly turned the tide for the visitors.

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With 7:55 remaining in overtime and the score tied at 30-30, Allen threw a pass to his wide receiver, Bradin Cooks. But with Broncos cornerback Ja’Quan McMillian shadowing him, the wideout leaped to catch the ball, but when he fell, McMillian had the ball in his hand, already running and celebrating the turn of events.

Apparently, when Cooks fell, his grip on the ball got loose. McMillian found his opportunity and snatched the ball away for an interception. While replays showed Cooks’ knees touching the ground, making it a complete pass, the referee’s final decision gave the ball to Denver. Moreover, Buffalo’s defense didn’t help their situation either.

In overtime alone, four defensive lapses gave way to an early Broncos win.

Apart from White’s two penalties, the first hit to the Bills came with 6:04 remaining. As Bo Nix threw towards Courtland Sutton on the left, the ball was deflected by Buffalo’s Taron Johnson. His defensive pass interference brought Denver 17 yards closer to the goal. In the same play, the second flag went to Bosa for tackling Nix after he had already thrown the ball. It would’ve been another 15-yard roughing the passer penalty had that not been declined.

One can argue that while the Bills only had five penalties called, they lost 68 yards from them. On the other hand, Denver was called for three penalties for only 20 yards. But in the end, the Broncos celebrated while Josh Allen and the Bills Mafia replayed one call that changed everything.

Josh Allen was heartbroken after the loss

It is unfathomable. Imagine seeing your worst postseason AFC enemies, the Kansas City Chiefs, not making it to the playoffs, and your door to the Super Bowl wide open. But in the very second test, you fail. And how!

Overtime opened with hope for the Bills, but that feeling vanished fast.

Buffalo smartly deferred and watched the Broncos sputter on their first extra-period drive. That gave Josh Allen the ball and a clear shot to steal it. However, on a serious attempt downfield, chaos followed with the Cooks-McMillan call.

Moments later, the script turned cruel.

Bo Nix took over with Bronco Country buzzing in the Mile High City. As the drive unfolded, the Bills’ defense could not escape the flags. As the game ended, Allen was sitting at the dugout, heartbroken, covering his face. He was the same dejected self in the locker room, even as the Bills owner confirmed to him that the Cooks interception was indeed a catch. But Allen knew he couldn’t be the Superman the Bills Mafia deserved.

He even broke down in tears during the post-game press conference as he confessed the loss was “extremely difficult.”

Still, Allen had already done his part to extend the night. Earlier, with under a minute left in regulation, he led a clutch drive to put Matt Prater in range for a 50-yard field goal. The reigning NFL MVP finished 25-for-39 for 283 yards and three touchdowns and added 66 rushing yards.

Yet two interceptions and two lost fumbles loomed large, including a brutal mistake before halftime that handed Denver free points.

Ultimately, the ending felt painfully familiar. Buffalo’s run stops short of the Super Bowl once again, and the loss drops Allen to 0-7 in overtime games. For the Bills Mafia, that number hurts almost as much as the way this one ended.

Now, the Bills are turning the page to their next era, searching for a new head coach who would potentially help Allen remove the tag of not being able to win the big one.