In an attempt to jumpstart quarterback Josh Allen and an uninteresting offence on Tuesday by firing offensive coordinator Ken Dorsey, Buffalo Bills coach Sean McDermott may have created space for another crisis.
The decision that was long overdue and essential to save the season for a 5-5 squad that was losing ground on playoff contenders has suddenly brought McDermott to the forefront of attention. In his seven largely successful years in Buffalo, the head coach is alone at the top and vulnerable to criticism for the first time.
In the summer coaching turnover that followed Dorsey’s firing after less than two years, McDermott lost Leslie Frazier, his most reliable confidante.
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The task now falls on quarterbacks coach Joe Brady in taking over the coordinator’s job on an interim basis to instill what McDermott called “confidence and energy” into an offense that has sputtered for much of the past six weeks.
The drop-off in production has been stark for an offense that has failed to score 26 points in six consecutive games, matching the worst stretch since Allen’s rookie season in 2018. Turnovers are an issue, with Allen leading the league with 11 interceptions, including at least one in six straight outings.
As much as McDermott said he allows his assistants room to place their own stamp on their respective units, he did so in acknowledging the responsibility ultimately falls on him.
“I’m the head coach of the football team, so I always start with myself first,” he said.
To McDermott’s credit, he’s done a masterful job overseeing an injury-depleted defense missing three key starters to long-term injuries, and was minus two more in a 24-22 loss to Denver on Monday night. The defense can be credited as the reason why Buffalo has yet to lose a game this season by more than six points.
The offense’s failings, however, also fall on McDermott, as did a special teams mix-up that cost Buffalo a chance to beat the Broncos.
The Bills inexplicably had 12 players on the field when Broncos kicker Wil Lutz missed a 41-yard field-goal attempt with 4 seconds remaining. Lutz made good on his do-over from 36 yards as time expired.
McDermott said it was inexcusable to have that happen, though he maintained his confidence in special teams coach Matthew Smiley.
Should the Bills’ struggles continue, at what point does the brunt of criticism start falling on McDermott, if it hasn’t already?
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