Sullivan: Bills' McDermott choked away Super Bowl-caliber season

[Nextmanup]

13 hours ago, FilthyBeast said:

 

I can't imagine Frazier is going to be with this team next year. If I had to guess they are waiting to see if he gets a HC gig, if not you'll see something about agreeing to 'mutually part ways'.

 

I like Frazier and his schemes are great against inexperienced and mediorce starting NFL QB's. But the body of work is there over the last 5 years that show when this team facings the elite QB's rarely does this defense hold up and it's simply inexcusable to allow nearly 600 yards of offense in such a high stakes game. Most astute fans knew all along the #1 ranking was as misleading as it gets and was validated on Sunday.

 

If McDermott is truly ready to evolve it's time for a different perspective on defense and there are more than enough qualified candidates outside the organization to fill that role.

I hope you are right, but honestly, I do NOT think Frazier will end up a HC and I do NOT think McDermott will effectively fire him this off-season.

 

I'd be surprised if he isn't here next year.

If he is GONE, I'd be surprised that McDermott was that proactive, but I'd love the surprise.

 

 

[Seventeen]

21 minutes ago, Nextmanup said:

I hope you are right, but honestly, I do NOT think Frazier will end up a HC and I do NOT think McDermott will effectively fire him this off-season.

 

I'd be surprised if he isn't here next year.

If he is GONE, I'd be surprised that McDermott was that proactive, but I'd love the surprise.

 

 

 

I disagree ... there are nine openings as of this morning and despite the playoff loss, his defense was highly regarded. Remains to be seen how much he playoff loss damaged his rep. 

 

[DabillsDaBillsDaBills]

I think it's a little ironic how much Sullivan gets dumped on around here with how many "Fire X,Y, and Z" posts we see after every loss. Yes, he's critical of our favorite team, but he's also fair. This article is no exception. 

 

 

[McBean]

On 1/25/2022 at 5:07 AM, Nextmanup said:

Extremely fair and accurate accounting of the game, reflecting several key themes that have been ALL OVER this message board since the moment the game ended.

 

He has high praise of Allen, speaks of the folly of the current OT rule, and offers fair and accurate criticism of McDermott's playoff in-game management, which is not particularly strong.

 

He also correctly points out that the Pegulas will almost certainly not have any issues with McDermott...but perhaps someone should be asking if what McD brings to the table is enough to match Josh's promise.

 

I'm sure this won't stop an army of posters here from trashing Jerry and the column, despite never reading a word of it.

 

Such is the way of ignorance.

 

 

He’s spot on.

 

McDermott is trash. Pure trash.

 

We will not go to the Super Bowl with McClappy. Ever.

 

He’s 1000% at fault here. Him. Nobody else.

[extrahammer]

2 minutes ago, McBean said:

He’s spot on.

 

McDermott is trash. Pure trash.

 

We will not go to the Super Bowl with McClappy. Ever.

 

He’s 1000% at fault here. Him. Nobody else.

 

It's always nice to see someone show their emotions. 

[mannc]

3 hours ago, Roy Hobbs said:

 

I disagree ... there are nine openings as of this morning and despite the playoff loss, his defense was highly regarded. Remains to be seen how much he playoff loss damaged his rep. 

 

I think he’s radioactive. 

[bigduke6]

alot of strong opinions around here.

 

McD isnt perfect,  this is his first head coaching gig.   he's taken a perennial terrible team to the playoffs most of his tenure.   gone deep twice.

he has shown the ability to learn from his mistakes and change.

u dont just throw that guy away,   and bring in somebody new.   zero guarantee that the new guy meshes with everybody,  personality,  scheme,  etc.

consistency,  and growth is how u build perennial PLAYOFF teams.

 

if McD doesnt learn from this,  then its time to rethink his status,  be careful tho,  the grass isnt always greener.

[Greg S]

Just now, bigduke6 said:

alot of strong opinions around here.

 

McD isnt perfect,  this is his first head coaching gig.   he's taken a perennial terrible team to the playoffs most of his tenure.   gone deep twice.

he has shown the ability to learn from his mistakes and change.

u dont just throw that guy away,   and bring in somebody new.   zero guarantee that the new guy meshes with everybody,  personality,  scheme,  etc.

consistency,  and growth is how u build perennial PLAYOFF teams.

 

if McD doesnt learn from this,  then its time to rethink his status,  be careful tho,  the grass isnt always greener.

 

I would say if we fall short in the playoffs next year or don't make them then his seat gets hot. He will be the coach in 2022 so people can want him gone but it isn't happening right now.

[popcornpam]

On 1/25/2022 at 7:45 AM, Boatdrinks said:

Someone has to go. Make a big change on defensive side. You just don’t get opportunities like the Bills had to fall into your lap every season. It’s going to be hard to host an AFC title game much less one without Mahomes in it. May never get as good a look at a Super Bowl, even with Josh. 

McDermott always “micromanages” the Defense. Do you think he will give it up even if someone else is brought in. I’ve read that if Frazier leaves he’s just going to let Coach Washington run the defense so they can keep the same scheme they had. 

[extrahammer]

So you're a choke artist if you:

 

broke the playoff drought

led us to the playoffs before Allen arrived

has taken us to the playoffs 4 out of the last 5 years

has made the playoffs 4 out of his first 5 years as an NFL HC

has a record in his first 5 years almost identical to Reid's first 5 years in Philly (Reid 51-29)(McDermott 49-32)

has a record in his first 5 years almost identical to Reid's first 5 years in KC (Reid 53-27)(McDermott 49-32)

has a record in his first 5 years almost identical to Belichick's first 5 years in NE (Belichick 53-27)(McDermott 49-32)

is pretty even in KC matchups the last 5 years

helped find a franchise quarterback

helped develop that franchise quarterback

put the people in places around that franchise quarterback to develop into one of the NFL's best players

has helped assemble one of the most high powered offenses in the NFL

has helped assemble a consistent #1 defense in the NFL

has turned the team into one of the toughest in the league

has us setup to compete for Super Bowls for the next several years

 

like wuuuuttttttt? 

 

 

Edited January 26, 2022 by extrahammer

[FilthyBeast]

4 hours ago, Nextmanup said:

I hope you are right, but honestly, I do NOT think Frazier will end up a HC and I do NOT think McDermott will effectively fire him this off-season.

 

I'd be surprised if he isn't here next year.

If he is GONE, I'd be surprised that McDermott was that proactive, but I'd love the surprise.

 

 

 

If there are no changes to the defensive coaching staff and Beane and McDermot double down on 'continuity' then they better have a real plan to go all in on a big time trade/FA signing to truly generate a pass rush or they are essentially sealing their long term fate in Buffalo IMO.

 

Frazier has been consistent and I credit him for maximizing marginal talent on defense since he's been here but at some point you need a fresh perspective and with some of the big time names out there on the defensive coaching front available now is the time to pull the trigger.

 

The worse thing this team can do is believe the Chiefs loss was a fluke. It wasn't and a loss is a loss whether it's 1 point or 20 points and if Beane and company think overhauling the defense is a mistake how much worse can it possibly get than giving up almost 600 yards and 42 points to the best team in the AFC you are gunning for?

[ArtVandalay]

11 hours ago, JerseyBills said:

Very true. Especially the part about McD bringing enough to suit Allen. We'll see, we're right there. 

Imagine Allen with a Sean Payton though 

Allen and Payton... six to midnight.

[Billsfan4588]

18 hours ago, HomeskillitMoorman said:

You do realize McD was also horrible in 2021’s AFC championship game too right? This was 2 years in a row. He hasn’t learned anything, Josh just gave him an all-time performance. And he still lost. 

 

I get the frustration, but saying "he hasn't learned anything" seems fairly shortsighted. His increase in agressiveness in terms of going for it on 4th down this year is a major step forward. He's showing less respect to teams that they should handidly beat (as he should), where he would previously punt on 4th and short or come into the second half with a small lead and immediately start trying to burn clock, as opposed to now where they come out of the half ready to finish stomping the other team out.

 

Forcefully changing his coaching style in order to better fit the needs of his franchise QB. It's not easy to adjust the way you approach things after spending an entire career doing them a different way. You learn something every loss, if you don't then you should be fired, I'm moving forward assuming he'll never approach a situation like those last 13 seconds that same way again. He's going to carry that all off season, just as much as Josh did last year. I'm fully on board with the idea that McDermott froze in those last 13 seconds, but I think he's getting better, at least I hope so. 

 

Food for thought:

 

McDermott first 5 years HC record: 52 - 36

Belichick first 5 years HC record (Browns): 36 - 44

 

[zow2]

Another bummer is that i thought the McD, Allen, Beane regime would be the ones to kick that Buffalo bad luck to the curb.  And even they are now associated with the “13 seconds” moniker.  Not Allen’s fault of course, but i was so sure these guys would put an end to the Buffalo big game nonsense and this was the team to do it.

[MAJBobby]

Sully was hoping all Season he could write this article. I will not give it a click 

[IronyAbounds]

On 1/25/2022 at 5:58 AM, Casey D said:

In his paywalled article in the BN today, Jim Kubiak alludes to the last 13 seconds as a coaching choice between "preventing disaster" and being "aggressive."  Bills took the prevent approach, and lost.  It does not mean there were ridiculous decisions, given the text and flow of the game.  Let's look at the final 13 seconds.

 

To elaborate, the first debate was whether to kick away or squib.  Most people say we should have squibbed or pooched.  Obviously in hindsight that seems right.  But the Bills had just given up a crushing punt return by Hill.  That being front of mind, the lean would be to kick away.  Nothing terrible can happen on a touchback.  It was a safe call.  It was not profoundly stupid, but it was cautious.  And I think the Hill punt return played into it.  And it was just 13 seconds, no one but Mahomes likely could do what he did in such a short time from the 25.

 

Next was defending the last 13 seconds.  Again, we need context.  Bills took the lead with under two minutes.  At 1:02 KC was back on top.  Why, a 62 yard pass to Hill. Earlier the Bills came right back after a 9 point deficit with a quick 75 yard strike to Davis. Again that would be front of mind with coaches.  But in basically trying to prevent a loss with a deep pass, the Bills almost gave away a FG.  I'm sure the thinking was that in a worst case scenario, giving up a FG was better than a TD.  But then the coin toss, and the rest is legendary history.

 

McDermott got way too conservative in the final 13 seconds.  By nature he is conservative.   He has learned to be more aggressive in some situations, like 4th down.  But in crunch time, when the amygdala kicks in, he reverts to conservative, unduly conservative IMO.  Maybe that is a choke.  But I am hopeful that it won't happen again, because McDermott is evolving  like Josh is evolving.  He needs to learn from this, like he learned from the 2020 championship game that FGs don't cut it against KC.

 

This team has come so far under McDermott, and I think he will learn from this.  Obviously, given the outcome, he should have done something different.  But when Marv Levy was once asked after a failed call cost the Bills a win on whether he thinks he made the right choice, he said "of course not, we lost"  I am sure that McDermott feels worse than anyone on this Board.  Let's hope that pain moves him to improve. 

Everyone brings up Hill on the kickoff return, but if I'm not mistaken it was Pringle back there not Hill. Pringle shouldn't have scared anyone.

[Billsfan1972]

20 hours ago, extrahammer said:

So you're a choke artist if you:

 

broke the playoff drought

led us to the playoffs before Allen arrived

has taken us to the playoffs 4 out of the last 5 years

has made the playoffs 4 out of his first 5 years as an NFL HC

has a record in his first 5 years almost identical to Reid's first 5 years in Philly (Reid 51-29)(McDermott 49-32)

has a record in his first 5 years almost identical to Reid's first 5 years in KC (Reid 53-27)(McDermott 49-32)

has a record in his first 5 years almost identical to Belichick's first 5 years in NE (Belichick 53-27)(McDermott 49-32)

is pretty even in KC matchups the last 5 years

helped find a franchise quarterback

helped develop that franchise quarterback

put the people in places around that franchise quarterback to develop into one of the NFL's best players

has helped assemble one of the most high powered offenses in the NFL

has helped assemble a consistent #1 defense in the NFL

has turned the team into one of the toughest in the league

has us setup to compete for Super Bowls for the next several years

 

like wuuuuttttttt? 

 

 

Or you lucked in to a transcendent QB, that will help cover up every deficiency/error you make for the next dozen years???

 

McD I've come around on.  He is a great coach, however some things he does, decisions and missteps continue to confound.

 

 

Edited January 27, 2022 by Billsfan1972

[Beerball]

On 1/25/2022 at 6:07 AM, Nextmanup said:

 

 

He also correctly points out that the Pegulas will almost certainly not have any issues with McDermott...but perhaps someone should be asking if what McD brings to the table is enough to match Josh's promise.

 

 

 

Who would you have running the team if your last name was Pegula?  Please show your work.

[extrahammer]

1 hour ago, Billsfan1972 said:

Or you lucked in to a transcendent QB, that will help cover up every deficiency/error you make for the next dozen years???

 

McD I've come around on.  He is a great coach, however some things he does, decisions and missteps continue to confound.

 

 

 

 

Or help you make better decisions, yes! Same for me, I think he's good, not great, but I think he's making progress and realistically don't see the Pegulas really needing to make a move for the next few years unless he starts regressing. He's gotten more confident and better at game-day situations, but he's still a 5th year HC when you compare him to Reid, Belichick, and others. 

[Heitz]

1 hour ago, Billsfan1972 said:

Or you lucked in to a transcendent QB, that will help cover up every deficiency/error you make for the next dozen years???

 

McD I've come around on.  He is a great coach, however some things he does, decisions and missteps continue to confound.

To be fair, that QB didn't transcend by himself - look at the other QBs drafted that year, Bills must have done something right... 

[Billsfan1972]

21 minutes ago, Heitz said:

To be fair, that QB didn't transcend by himself - look at the other QBs drafted that year, Bills must have done something right... 

I was very critical of how they brought him along year's 1-2 as I thought it was too slow.  However when McD finally realized that 300 yards passing and scoring 30 points was not a bad thing, well the rest is history.

 

Remember it was McD who thought Peterman was a starting NFL qb.

 

Or Dabol gets all the credit.  

 

McD is good, but does at times rub me the wrong way. 

Edited January 27, 2022 by Billsfan1972

[Livinginthepast]

On 1/25/2022 at 7:27 PM, Success said:

I brought it up on another thread, but Belichick had almost the same sequence in the 2018 AFCCG.

 

There were 38 seconds left in that one - but KC only had 1 timeout.  KC went from their own 31 to the New England 20 in 2 passes (and in 18 seconds), just like our game, and they kicked the tying FG.

 

The only difference was that NE won the OT coin toss.

 

And in a colossal feat of stupidity that off season, the NFL owners (including the Bills) voted down a KC proposal for BOTH teams to have one possession in OT guaranteed without any intelligent rationale for doing so!! You want both teams to have a chance in OT what? NFL owners " BUT, BUT We are tired and it might be past our bedtime! We just need the game to end, its too long........" 

[What a Tuel]

1 minute ago, Livinginthepast said:

And in a colossal feat of stupidity that off season, the NFL owners (including the Bills) voted down a KC proposal for BOTH teams to have one possession in OT guaranteed without any intelligent rationale for doing so!! You want both teams to have a chance in OT what? NFL owners " BUT, BUT We are tired and it might be past our bedtime! We just need the game to end, its too long........" 

 

As far as I know there was no vote taken. I dont know the procedures for what is decided to be voted on, but sounds like there wasnt even any interest to vote at all.

[Livinginthepast]

9 minutes ago, What a Tuel said:

 

As far as I know there was no vote taken. I dont know the procedures for what is decided to be voted on, but sounds like there wasnt even any interest to vote at all.

Weird I swear I read it differently on SB Nation Monday but looking for that same article today, I cannot find it. But you are right, incredibly there was NO VOTE at all on the issue!!!! I guess a lot of owners just are lame!

 

https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nfl/chiefs/2022/01/24/chiefs-tried-to-change-ot-rules-beat-bills/6634070001/

[RyanC883]

On 1/25/2022 at 6:08 AM, Marvlevydraftdaygenius said:

Jerry is right.  Terry and Kim should say someone has to take the blame you or Frazier one has to go or both.

 

I'm worried Terry/Kim don't care that much. 

[Albwan]

IMO they choked going back to the JAX and to some extent Tenn game.

Bills would probably win a home championship game.

[newcam2012]

Michael Lombardi on the NFL network just lambasted McDermott for the final 13 seconds of the Chiefs game. He blew it!!!!!!!  Should it be a Scott Norwood lesson? Should McDermotts's mistakes are unforgivable?

7 minutes ago, Albwan said:

IMO they choked going back to the JAX and to some extent Tenn game.

Bills would probably win a home championship game.

We had KC beat at home until the coaching incompetence took over the last 13 seconds. They even took two time outs to boot. Unbelievable. We fans should be outraged. 

[extrahammer]

2 minutes ago, newcam2012 said:

Michael Lombardi on the NFL network just lambasted McDermott for the final 13 seconds of the Chiefs game. He blew it!!!!!!!  Should it be a Scott Norwood lesson? Should McDermotts's mistakes are unforgivable?

 

The same Michael Lombardi who can't get a job in the NFL now? 

[Sandhill Mike]

I griped when they changed the rules because Favre didn't get a possession in OT... but changing the rules isn't even on my mind after that game.  I don't think that was a problem.

 

I think the reality is that the rest of the World wishes that game had gone on forever... like Ragnarok.

 

As a Bills fan, I have zero interest in rewatching it.  Like a turnover, gotta put it behind us.  We got the short end of the stick this time but I'm chomping at the bit for next year.

 

I used to dread the Chefs as I once did the Pats... I knew they were the better team... but those days are gone.  Josh Allen is a trooper, a leader, and doesn't have any quit in him.  We've got to get keep getting better in the trenches, at linebacker, and tight end... then the sky's the limit.

 

Some of our guys are going to develop and I trust Beane to get good value with what he's got to work with.

 

As for McDermott, he just finished his fifth season as a head coach... we've enjoyed more success in those five years than the twenty years that came before.  How was Belichick doing his fifth year as head coach?  ...finishing up a 5-11 season and getting fired from Cleveland/Baltimore.  McDermott's record as compared to Andy Reid's is quite similar... and Reid was in the Super Bowl in year 6.

[What a Tuel]

30 minutes ago, Livinginthepast said:

Weird I swear I read it differently on SB Nation Monday but looking for that same article today, I cannot find it. But you are right, incredibly there was NO VOTE at all on the issue!!!! I guess a lot of owners just are lame!

 

https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nfl/chiefs/2022/01/24/chiefs-tried-to-change-ot-rules-beat-bills/6634070001/

 

Yeah I think it was reported as voting it down, sensationalist journalism at its finest "Voting against it comes back to bite the Bills" makes for fun clickbait, but when it came down to fact checking it people were finding there wasn't even a vote. Im betting a lot of articles were revised.

[soflabillsfan1]

Such a blown opportunity.  It's still bothering me how a defensive guru could go and do that with 13 seconds left.  I'll never understand.

[RyanC883]

wow, add the failure to use the TOs' in OT to give his Defense some time to regroup.  McMoron.  

[uticaclub]

1 hour ago, Billsfan1972 said:

Remember it was McD who thought Peterman was a starting NFL qb.

 

Tyrod gained 47 yards in the game before. Benching him wasn't that big of a mistake.

[Augie]

I skipped to the end. Did anyone else refuse to click? 

[LABILLBACKER]

4 hours ago, Billsfan1972 said:

Or you lucked in to a transcendent QB, that will help cover up every deficiency/error you make for the next dozen years???

 

McD I've come around on.  He is a great coach, however some things he does, decisions and missteps continue to confound.

 

 

We can only afford a couple more confounding moments or he goes from great to a liability. You just absolutely can't waste a qb performance like that.  And McD butchered that last 13 seconds. 

[Billsfan1972]

2 minutes ago, uticaclub said:

Tyrod gained 47 yards in the game before. Benching him wasn't that big of a mistake.

Peterman never should have been the backup either.  His inability to coach or understand the QB position (and what offense was) for 3 years (yep 2 with Allen) was troublesome. 

Just now, LABILLBACKER said:

We can only afford a couple more confounding moments or he goes from great to a liability. You just absolutely can't waste a qb performance like that.  And McD butchered that last 13 seconds. 

Actually I have no idea why I said Great....  He's a GOOD Coach.  Apologies.....😜

[BillsVet]

1 hour ago, RyanC883 said:

I'm worried Terry/Kim don't care that much. 

 

They went big time when they bought the Bills.  Before that, sure, Terry was a multi-billionaire and owned the Sabres but getting into NFL ownership is an admission to a much bigger and more elite club.  I think they cared when they hired McD, but their attention shifted to being in the "club" and getting a new stadium built.  And of course, being profitable with this 1.4B+ investment.  

 

Frankly, I want ownership that empowers their team's management without interfering with operations, but it's going to happen.  Have to be careful about ownership "caring" too much.  At the same time, I'm seeing the Pegula's give McBeane the authority and resources to win a championship.  This ain't the penny-pinching RW years when his handlers squeezed as many nickels out of the franchise before an inevitable sale.  

 

Still, I'd hope behind the scenes that the GM and HC up their game because you don't play it safe into a championship.  I'd hope ownership makes that known and the HC/GM know what to do from there. 

[newcam2012]

3 hours ago, extrahammer said:

 

The same Michael Lombardi who can't get a job in the NFL now? 

What does that have to do with the validity of what he's saying about Coach McD collasal 13 second collapse in which he used 2 time outs to get it right. 

2 hours ago, LABILLBACKER said:

We can only afford a couple more confounding moments or he goes from great to a liability. You just absolutely can't waste a qb performance like that.  And McD butchered that last 13 seconds. 

Couldn't agree with this more. Spot on. 

[extrahammer]

2 hours ago, newcam2012 said:

What does that have to do with the validity of what he's saying about Coach McD collasal 13 second collapse in which he used 2 time outs to get it right. 

 

 

It means opinions are like a**holes, everyone has one. It means there must be a reason he hasn't had an NFL opportunity in a long time, nor has he ever held tenure during a very successful team, outside of being with the Patriots for a year in 2014. It means he's a personality, or clickbaiter. He alongside a mob of people are only focusing on those 13 seconds because that's sexy to do. In reality, when the Bills, the Chiefs, or any opponent we face next year reviews the tape on us, they're going to review the other 59 minutes versus those 13 seconds. 

 

The takes that focus on those 13 seconds trying to quantify McD as a "choke" artist, like Jerry's, are insulting your intelligence because a similar scenario happened in 2018 with Belichick, considered the smartest and most evil mind in football, yet the main differentiator is NE won the coin toss in OT. You didn't see media outrage questioning Reid's ability, because Reid has been around a lot longer and he's a fat lovable coach who likes to make chocolate cake analogies. McD is a 5th year HC, is more quiet, Tim Tebow type personality, so he's not as likable. Lombardi worked with the Patriots for a short time. He's always critical of the Bills, just like Jerry has built his name on it. 

 

The reality is, the Bills lost not only because of 13 seconds in the game, they lost because Tyreek Hill outran our entire defense that flipped the momentum, Kelce had enough experience to read and communicate a seam, we called offensive plays that didn't play to our strengths in the 1st half, we didn't try to expose KC's best cover man being out, and we lost a coin toss. 5 or more other factors could have won us the game too. 

Edited January 27, 2022 by extrahammer

[Hapless Bills Fan]

5 hours ago, Augie said:

I skipped to the end. Did anyone else refuse to click? 

 

Me.  Will not give him clicks.