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'It Hurts': Dalton Kincaid Issues Emotional First Statement

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Mike Fisher | Last updated Jan 27, 2025 10:24 AM ET

Dalton Kincaid was selected by the Buffalo Bills in the first round of the 2023 NFL Draft as a "pass-catching tight end.'' And he's been that for the perennial AFC title contender, this year near the top of the charts for the Josh Allen-led offense when it comes to targets.

But he will surely never forget the one that got away.

In what would become Sunday's AFC Championship Game 32-29 Buffalo loss to the Kansas City Chiefs (again), Kincaid had a chance to set up his team to tie or win the game late in fourth quarter.

Make a catch, maybe the Bills find themselves advancing to the Super Bowl against the Philadelphia Eagles.

Fail to do so on this on a conversion of fourth-and-5?

And the season is over. (Again.)

On this play, Allen was under heavy pressure, scrambled to his right, and somehow heaved pass downfield to an open Kincaid.

Kincaid had the ball in his hands, his arms, his chest ... until he didn't.

"Josh got the ball off. He was pressured, and it was hanging up there and I just wasn't able to catch it," an emotional Kincaid said in his first comments on the failure. "Right now, it obviously hurts a lot, and it's going to linger for a while, but eventually, you've got to move on. And hopefully, you grow from this, and I believe that will be the case ...

"But for the time being, it's going to hurt a lot."

It’s always the little plays you need to make that make the difference. The fact Josh Allen got this ball here is insane. He was literally falling backwards. Gut wrenching drop by Dalton Kincaid pic.twitter.com/y35XAETtLb
— Brendan Abban (@AbbanBrendan) January 27, 2025

The margin between Allen vs. Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs is a slim one ... but in the playoffs, Allen's group now owns an 0-4 record in the postseason.

Other plays could've turned the tide over the course of the evening, too. But the Bills obviously are moved to support the tight end.

“I love Dalton Kincaid and sometimes those just don’t work out. He makes more of those than he misses and he’ll make the next one,” coach Sean McDermott said.

Nevertheless, Bills Mafia cannor argue with Kincaid's summation of the play.

"It sucks a lot,'' he said.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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