The Buffalo Bills, a storied franchise with a passionate fan base known as the “Bills Mafia,” are burdened by a history of near misses and agonizing defeats, particularly in the Super Bowl. Dan Orlovsky’s assertion that the Bills are the “most haunted organization” in the NFL stems from their four consecutive Super Bowl losses in the early 1990s and their recent playoff struggles against Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs. This agonizing history raises the question: are the Bills truly cursed, or are they simply victims of circumstance and facing a generational talent in Mahomes?
The Bills’ four consecutive Super Bowl losses, from 1991 to 1994, represent a unique and painful chapter in NFL history. Each loss unfolded in its own heartbreaking fashion: the narrow defeat against the New York Giants in Super Bowl XXV, sealed by Scott Norwood’s infamous “wide right” field goal attempt; the one-sided losses to the Washington Redskins and the dominant Dallas Cowboys in Super Bowls XXVI and XXVII, respectively; and the rematch loss to the Cowboys in Super Bowl XXVIII. This string of defeats left an indelible mark on the franchise and its fans, a wound that has yet to fully heal.
The “Curse of Mahomes” appears to be a modern-day iteration of the Bills’ historical struggles. Despite Allen’s regular-season success against Mahomes, the playoffs have been a different story. The Bills have lost four straight playoff games to the Chiefs, each defeat punctuated by agonizing moments and controversial calls. The 2021 AFC Championship Game saw the Chiefs overcome an early deficit to dominate the second half, while the 2022 Divisional Round classic featured the now-infamous “13 seconds” drive that tied the game and sent it to overtime, where the Chiefs prevailed. The 2023 Divisional Round saw a repeat of the “wide right” heartbreak, with Tyler Bass missing a potential game-tying field goal. The most recent AFC Championship game loss to the Chiefs featured questionable officiating and a late-game collapse by the Bills.
Josh Allen’s performance in these playoff losses against Mahomes has been statistically impressive, yet ultimately insufficient to secure victory. He has amassed impressive yardage and touchdowns, while avoiding turnovers, but the wins have remained elusive. This paradoxical situation fuels the narrative of a haunted team and player, constantly falling short despite heroic efforts. The Bills’ inability to capitalize on Allen’s performances against Mahomes raises questions about their coaching, game management, and ability to execute in crucial moments.
The question of whether the Bills are truly cursed or simply unlucky is a matter of perspective. Some might point to the four consecutive Super Bowl losses and the recent playoff defeats against Mahomes as evidence of a supernatural force at play. Others might argue that the Bills have simply faced superior opponents in crucial moments, or perhaps suffered from poor coaching decisions or questionable officiating. Brandon Marshall’s assertion that Allen is playing in the “wrong era” due to Mahomes’ dominance adds another layer to the debate.
Regardless of whether one believes in curses or simply bad luck, the Bills’ playoff struggles against the Chiefs present a significant obstacle to their Super Bowl aspirations. Allen and the Bills must find a way to overcome this hurdle, whether through strategic adjustments, improved execution, or simply a change in fortune. The pressure to break this cycle of defeat continues to mount, and the Bills’ future success hinges on their ability to exorcise their playoff demons and finally conquer the Chiefs. Until then, the narrative of a haunted team and player will continue to loom large over the franchise.
