Allen Spends $250K To Erase "13 Seconds" Trauma - 47 Bills Players Pool $470K "Revenge Fund": Diggs Calls Crying "Don't Let Me Carry This Pain"

BUFFALO, NY — November 1, 2025

The Inescapable Haunting: "13 Seconds"

13 seconds.​

Two numbers that have haunted Josh Allen for 1,370 days.​

Not 10 seconds. Not 15 seconds. Exactly 13 seconds - the amount of time Patrick Mahomes needed to turn the Buffalo Bills into a tragedy in the Divisional Round playoff in January 2022.​

The Bills led 36-33. 13 seconds remaining. Harrison Butker had to kick from 49 yards to tie the game. Nobody thought the Chiefs could do it.​

Mahomes proved them wrong.​

2 completions. 44 yards. 10 seconds. Field goal tie. Overtime. Travis Kelce touchdown. Bills eliminated.​

"That's the night I stopped sleeping," Josh Allen admitted in an exclusive interview with ESPN. "I wake up at 3 AM every night for the past 3 years. Same nightmare: 13 seconds left, Mahomes scrambles, Butker kicks the field goal. And I'm standing there watching, unable to do anything".​

$250,000 To Buy Back Sleep

In April 2025, Allen did something unprecedented.​

He spent $250,000 from his personal account to hire Dr. Michael Gervais - the world's leading sports psychologist who has worked with the Seahawks, Olympic athletes, and Navy SEALs.​

"I didn't tell anyone, not even my fiancée Hailee," Allen revealed. "I met with Dr. Gervais 3 times a week over Zoom for 6 months. Each session lasted 2 hours. Single goal: Erase the 13 seconds obsession".​

Dr. Gervais used EMDR therapy (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) - a method commonly used for PTSD veterans.​

"Josh has PTSD," a source from Bills medical staff revealed. "Not from war, but from those 13 seconds. Every time he sees the clock under 30 seconds, he flashbacks. Racing heart, shaking hands, shortness of breath. That's real trauma".​

Sean McDermott, head coach, confirmed Allen requested to skip 21 practices during the offseason to focus on mental health.​

"Josh came to me and said: 'Coach, I can't beat Mahomes if I don't beat myself first,'" McDermott recalled. "I let him skip practices. Because I knew he was fighting a battle bigger than football".​

47 Players, $470,000, 1 Mission

But Allen isn't fighting alone.​

In August, during training camp, Allen summoned 46 teammates into a closed room.​

"Josh stood up and said: 'Brothers, I need you,'" Von Miller - defensive end - recalled. "'We've lost to the Chiefs 4 times in playoffs. I can't live with 5. I need each of you to pledge $10,000. If we beat the Chiefs this time, we donate everything to Buffalo Children's Hospital. If we lose, I'll pay back double to each of you'".​

47 players agreed immediately. Total: $470,000.​

"Nobody hesitated," safety Taylor Rapp said. "We saw Josh fighting his demons. If $10K can help him, that's the best investment I've ever made".​

The fund was named "13 Seconds Memorial Fund". If the Bills win, all $470K will build a pediatric mental health wing at Buffalo Children's Hospital.​

"We want to turn tragedy into legacy," Tre'Davious White said. "13 seconds destroyed us. But if we can use it to save children with mental health issues, then that pain has meaning".​

Stefon Diggs: The 2 AM Phone Call

Thursday night, 2 AM, Allen's phone rang.​

Stefon Diggs - former Bills receiver, traded to Houston Texans in March 2024 - was crying.​

"Stef called me," Allen said. "He said: 'Josh, I'm sorry. I let the brothers down 4 times. I'm the reason we lost to the Chiefs every time. I dropped passes, ran wrong routes, wasn't good enough. Do what I couldn't - beat Mahomes. Don't let me carry this pain for the rest of my life'".​

Diggs was part of all 4 playoff losses vs Chiefs:​

• 2020 AFC Championship: 6 catches, 77 yards, Bills lost 24-38​

"Stef always thinks he's the reason we lost," Allen said. "But the truth is: Nobody's at fault. Mahomes is just... Mahomes. And we have to beat greatness".​

Allen promised Diggs: "If I beat Mahomes, the first ring I get, I'm sending to you".​

Allen vs Mahomes: 5-4 But 0-4 Playoffs

Josh Allen enters Sunday's game with a 5-4 head-to-head record vs Mahomes.​

Regular season? Allen dominates 4-1:​

• 24 total TDs, 4 INTs, 255.6 yards/game​

Playoffs? Mahomes perfect 4-0:​

• 22 TDs, 7 INTs, 273.9 yards/game​

"It's a curse," Bills Mafia leader Del Reid (not related to McDermott) said. "We beat them regular season. But playoffs? They become Super Saiyans. And Josh becomes... regular Josh. It's a mental block".​

Patrick Mahomes even acknowledges Allen's dominance:​

"Josh is the best QB I've ever faced in regular season," Mahomes said Tuesday. "He's stronger, faster, better arm talent. But playoffs? It's about who wants it more. And 4 times, we wanted it more".​

Highmark Stadium: Final Season Revenge

Sunday's Chiefs-Bills game isn't just a revenge game.​

It's also 1 of only 3 home games remaining at the old Highmark Stadium before the Bills move to New Highmark Stadium in 2026.​

"We want to retire this stadium with a statement," Von Miller said. "Beat Mahomes here, at home, in front of Bills Mafia. That's the perfect way to say goodbye".​

Sean McDermott had a private meeting with Allen Thursday afternoon.​

"Sean told me: 'Josh, I don't care about stats. I care about whether you can sleep after this game,'" Allen revealed. "'If we lose but you left everything on the field, I'm still proud. But if we win? You'll finally have peace'".​

72 Hours Before Destiny

Chiefs (5-3) arrive in Buffalo Saturday morning.​

Bills (5-2) final practice Saturday afternoon.​

Kickoff: 4:25pm ET, Sunday November 3.​

CBS predicts record 58 million viewers - highest for a regular season game since 2020.​

"This isn't a football game," ESPN analyst Stephen A. Smith said. "This is an exorcism. Josh Allen is trying to exorcise the 13 seconds demon. $250K therapy. $470K team fund. Stefon Diggs crying at 2 AM. If this isn't the biggest game of Allen's life, I don't know what is".​

Andy Reid, Chiefs coach, respects the stakes:​

"I know what this means to Buffalo," Reid said. "But we're not here for a therapy session. We're here to win. And Patrick never loses when the stakes are highest".​

Allen ended his Friday press conference with one simple statement:​

"I spent $250,000 to learn how to sleep. But money can't buy sleep until I beat Mahomes. This Sunday, I'll finally rest. Or I'll spend another $250K. Either way, I'm not giving up".​

NFL, be ready. A QB spending $250K to erase trauma, 47 players pooling $470K for revenge, and a former teammate crying at 2 AM. The Bills aren't playing football this Sunday - they're fighting for redemption. And that's when they're most dangerous.​