McDermott not in Top 10 of NFL coaches per PFF.

[Augie]

 

I think this dead horse has been beaten enough for one day, at least in my household. Feel all the angst you want, I’m eagerly looking forward to this season. 

[Paup 1995MVP]

18 minutes ago, Royale with Cheese said:

 

Marty Shottenheimer was 5-13 in the playoffs.  He is the only coach in NFL history with 200+ regular season wins and a below .500 playoff winning percentage....by a lot.  That's a .278 winning %.

Just because McDermott hasn't gotten to the Super Bowl doesn't mean he's as bad as the worst playoff coach of all time.

 

Wow, we must be deep in the off season with all this talk about McDermott.  

 

He is a good, but not great coach.  The team plays hard and is almost always prepared.  He and Beane have created a very solid culture.  

 

But he very rarely is going to out scheme and out coach another real good coach.  (i e Andy Reid or Sean McVay level guys)  When we beat the good teams, its because we are prepared to play. (thats on McDermott)  And our players play well.  And our better on that particular day or night.  Its not usually game day coaching where you say, dam we really outcoached them today.  

 

Maybe if the guy had some charisma and personality where people got a kick out of him besides him being our head coach, people would not be so hard on him.  Guys like Lou Saban and Marv Levy.  Hank Stam, Jim Mora, even Jim Mora, Jr types.

[Buffalo Boy]

2 hours ago, FireChans said:

It will be over at 0-5. Another devastating loss to the Chiefs in the postseason, where despite investing basically an entire offseason to the defense, the defense gets ripped through like wet toilet paper again, and Pegula will fire McD. 
 

Folks on here will get histrionic and act like the Bills are the new Sabres, and the new head coach will instantly win 11+ games again and it will all be forgotten.

A man can dream😍

1 hour ago, Augie said:

 

When you’ve made your mind up, you latch on to things that support your beliefs…..whether they actually help your point, or not.  Please don’t look so closely at the facts, because it sounds good and that’s all we want to know. 

 

McD isn’t just losing to a group of middling HC’s that happened to make the playoffs. He’s mostly losing to a 1st ballot HOF coach with a 1st ballot HOF QB. It’s his job to beat them, but let’s not pretend it’s an easy task. I think he gets over the hump eventually, but we’ll have to wait and see. 

We don’t HAVE to wait and see….. Pegula chooses to and a bunch of you are cool with it.

 

1 hour ago, FireChans said:

How many attempts does McDermott get to try to beat Andy Reid one time in the postseason?

A Million six🤔

[SoTier]

12 hours ago, FireChans said:

I was really simplifying it because it’s not like there’s an elite franchise guy in Cleveland.

 

I still stand by it though. to make the playoffs multiple times, with different QBs, with that horrific franchise, in that division, is just as impressive as anything McD has done.

 

to take it one step further, if the Bills were in a division with the Steelers, Ravens and Bengals, we would have much less overall team success and McD would have probably been fired by now.

 

 

 

There isn't a franchise guy in Cleveland because Stefanski wanted Baker gone.   If the Browns had kept Baker, with their defense and running game, they likely make the playoffs 4 or 5 times under Stefanski.    

 

 

5 hours ago, FireChans said:

Yes?

 

The Dolphins went 2-2 in their last 4 games, including losing an AWFUL game to the Titans. Otherwise, they would have been resting their starters week 18 as they would have locked up the division.

 

Those same Titans (a 6 win team by the way) also played spoiler to the Jags week 18.

 

If the Titans lost to the Jags and the Dolphins, the Bills miss the playoffs regardless if they win week 18 or not.

 

Furthermore, the Bills trailed by 7 until

the 4th quarter when we got an extremely lucky punt return.

The Bills also needed a 5 game winning streak to have a chance to get in because they were .500 and in disarray in November lol

 

I pointed it out first. When I said “Stefanski making the playoffs with a bad QB is as impressive as anything McDermott’s done.” Do you think I wasn’t talking about McDermott ALSO doing that lol

 

Incredible!
 

Imagine this take to defend a dude who is incapable of beating the Chiefs or the Bengals and can’t get past the conference finals lol

 

Your hatred of McDermott is what is incredible.   

 

McDermott has beaten the Chiefs 4 out of 5 in the regular season.

McDermott has lost to the Chiefs 3 times in the playoffs.

 

McDermott is 1-2 against the Bengals in the regular season.

McDermott is 0-1 against the Bengals in the playoffs.

 

There is nothing to "defend" about McDermott;  his record speaks for itself.   If it's not good enough for you, go worship on the alter of Andy Reid.

 

13 minutes ago, Buffalo Boy said:

 

We don’t HAVE to wait and see….. Pegula chooses to and a bunch of you are cool with it.

 

Yeah, I'm cool with it.   As a Bills fan since 1963, I'll take the current Bills under McDermott because winning is a whole lot more fun than losing, which the Bills have done way too much during their history.   I guarantee that winning 11 or 13 games in the regular season, making the playoffs, and winning playoff games, even if not the Super Bowl, is a thousand times better than suffering through 1 or 2 win seasons or a 17 year playoff drought.

[FireChans]

4 minutes ago, SoTier said:

Your hatred of McDermott is what is incredible.   

 

McDermott has beaten the Chiefs 4 out of 5 in the regular season.

McDermott has lost to the Chiefs 3 times in the playoffs.

 

McDermott is 1-2 against the Bengals in the regular season.

McDermott is 0-1 against the Bengals in the playoffs.

 

There is nothing to "defend" about McDermott;  his record speaks for itself.   If it's not good enough for you, go worship on the alter of Andy Reid.

Um these stats are just incorrect.

McDermott is 0-5 in the playoffs against the Chiefs and the Bengals. He’s lost to the Chiefs in 2020, 2021, 2023, 2024. He lost the Bengals in 2022.

 

Since the Bengals drafted Joe Burrow, McDermotts’ record vs the Chiefs and Bengals is 4-7. If you wanna give McD a “W” for beating a different Bengals or Chiefs team in 2017, go for it but that says more about his acumen as a coach than I could lol.

[GaryPinC]

14 hours ago, FireChans said:

I was really simplifying it because it’s not like there’s an elite franchise guy in Cleveland.

 

I still stand by it though. to make the playoffs multiple times, with different QBs, with that horrific franchise, in that division, is just as impressive as anything McD has done.

 

to take it one step further, if the Bills were in a division with the Steelers, Ravens and Bengals, we would have much less overall team success and McD would have probably been fired by now.

 

 

The biggest problem potentially emerging with Stefanski may be his inability to develop and sustain a talented QB.  We'll see how this year plays out.  McDermott can easily pass him if he can just take this team and defense to the next level.

[FireChans]

6 minutes ago, GaryPinC said:

The biggest problem potentially emerging with Stefanski may be his inability to develop and sustain a talented QB.  We'll see how this year plays out.  McDermott can easily pass him if he can just take this team and defense to the next level.

IMO, if McD beats the Chiefs and wins a Super Bowl, he may be closer to top 5 than top 10.

 

THATS a massive IF but that’s the game 

[GaryPinC]

29 minutes ago, FireChans said:

IMO, if McD beats the Chiefs and wins a Super Bowl, he may be closer to top 5 than top 10.

 

THATS a massive IF but that’s the game 

Honestly,  I just want to see McD rise to the challenge of coaching a more creative defensive gameplan in the playoffs.  Mahomes should not have been allowed to run that sweep right with impunity all game with Rousseau crashing down every time because that's what the system tells him to do. 

 

We've seen the growth mindset with the offense, now show it with the defense.  Adjust not just to win the regular season but to intellectually and creatively compete with the best coaching minds in the playoffs.

[BADOLBILZ]

On 6/24/2025 at 9:38 PM, Buffalo716 said:

PFF sucks and he's absolutely a top 5-7 coach 

 

Do you remember the roster that he got us to the playoffs with? Charles Clay was our number one pass catching option 

 

Preston Brown and Ramon Humber at LBr lol 

 

The Sean McDermott slander is disgustingly sad for what he has done with our franchise

 

People act like we lucked into Peyton Manning who was a guarantee basically not to bust lol we literally picked the kid who had the biggest bust potential and they groomed him 

 

Sean McDermott 100% gets credit for being a calming influence around Josh Allen And helping him grow.. just like belichick gets credit for helping brady

 

 

The 2017 Bills were the worst point differential AFC team to make the playoffs in almost 30 years.

 

His decisions to trade Dareus and bench Tyrod blew up in his face big time.

 

They needed some incredible luck to back-in at 9-7.

 

That was just a fluke.

 

But you need a little luck when you are a nobody HC trying to turn around a team with a terrible losing culture.

 

They got it.

 

Since then he's proven he's organized and his process works if you have a great QB.

 

That should net him a top 10 ranking.

 

[Richard Noggin]

Do we think his stubborn and persistent deference to the predictability of Leslie Frazier's high-leverage reliance upon passive, reactive off-coverage cushions and vanilla assignment/check/adjustment rules against pre-snap motions was a major failing that colors our perceptions of how he (McDermott) really wants the Bills defense to play? On those rare occasions when McD took over play calling from Frazier, the defense was demonstrably more aggressive and downhill. (I'll never forget McD taking Milano aside during that MNF NE wind/blizzard game and overtly gesturing/imploring him to see the hole and attack the hole, downhill. And then Milano going out there and stringing together consecutive TFLs that killed a drive (or something close to that).) 

 

McDermott sullied this interpretation of his own in-game desire for more aggression by calling consecutive zero-blitzes late against both Denver (Russ Wilson) and Philly (Jalen Hurts) who both exploited the gifts the 1st blitz in each sequence had prepared them for. Gotta simulate the pressure on one of those b2b play calls in each situation. Sprinkle in a tendency-killing wrinkle in the coverage behind it. Can't just go full Buddy Ryan twice against a modern NFL offense with a strong, elusive QB and competent offensive coaching, no wrinkles. That's a failure to setup and sequence the play calls. If the first all-out blitz works, but doesn't result in negative play, then you have to switch it up. Dammit, Sean. Sure seems to tighten up with the game on the line. Goes a little blank at the worst times. 

[DabillsDaBillsDaBills]

59 minutes ago, Richard Noggin said:

Do we think his stubborn and persistent deference to the predictability of Leslie Frazier's high-leverage reliance upon passive, reactive off-coverage cushions and vanilla assignment/check/adjustment rules against pre-snap motions was a major failing that colors our perceptions of how he (McDermott) really wants the Bills defense to play? On those rare occasions when McD took over play calling from Frazier, the defense was demonstrably more aggressive and downhill. (I'll never forget McD taking Milano aside during that MNF NE wind/blizzard game and overtly gesturing/imploring him to see the hole and attack the hole, downhill. And then Milano going out there and stringing together consecutive TFLs that killed a drive (or something close to that).) 

 

McDermott sullied this interpretation of his own in-game desire for more aggression by calling consecutive zero-blitzes late against both Denver (Russ Wilson) and Philly (Jalen Hurts) who both exploited the gifts the 1st blitz in each sequence had prepared them for. Gotta simulate the pressure on one of those b2b play calls in each situation. Sprinkle in a tendency-killing wrinkle in the coverage behind it. Can't just go full Buddy Ryan twice against a modern NFL offense with a strong, elusive QB and competent offensive coaching, no wrinkles. That's a failure to setup and sequence the play calls. If the first all-out blitz works, but doesn't result in negative play, then you have to switch it up. Dammit, Sean. Sure seems to tighten up with the game on the line. Goes a little blank at the worst times. 

 

Blaming it all on Frazier is an interesting choice. We've gotten the same defensive results in the playoffs whether it was Frazier, McD himself, or Babich as DC. The defense was painfully vanilla in the playoffs the last 2 years under McD/Babich. That would lead me to believe that McD has always been the decision maker for defensive philosophy.

[Richard Noggin]

33 minutes ago, DabillsDaBillsDaBills said:

 

Blaming it all on Frazier is an interesting choice. We've gotten the same defensive results in the playoffs whether it was Frazier, McD himself, or Babich as DC. The defense was painfully vanilla in the playoffs the last 2 years under McD/Babich. That would lead me to believe that McD has always been the decision maker for defensive philosophy.

 

Not blaming it all on Frazier at all, but rather offering that as a possible explanation for why the defense did not attack the same way McD's units had done in Car and Phil previously. Frazier was an assistant HC and a trusted and respected member of those teams. McD was very reluctant to intervene in overt ways. No doubt he provided feedback in real time, but I do wonder if he deferred final decision making whenever possible. We only have 1 season of tape to determine how McD calls this Buffalo defense. And it was a mixed bag, at best. He was even recklessly aggressive during a couple super high leverage end of game sequences, both resulting in losses. Had hoped Babich would infuse more d-line games and simulated 2nd and 3rd level looks...still hoping for it in '26.

[Buffalo Boy]

9 hours ago, SoTier said:

Yeah, I'm cool with it. 

This can’t be true….Gunner Bill told me so😜

[Buffalo Boy]

9 hours ago, SoTier said:

 

There isn't a franchise guy in Cleveland because Stefanski wanted Baker gone.   If the Browns had kept Baker, with their defense and running game, they likely make the playoffs 4 or 5 times under Stefanski.    

 

 

 

Your hatred of McDermott is what is incredible.   

 

McDermott has beaten the Chiefs 4 out of 5 in the regular season.

McDermott has lost to the Chiefs 3 times in the playoffs.

 

McDermott is 1-2 against the Bengals in the regular season.

McDermott is 0-1 against the Bengals in the playoffs.

 

There is nothing to "defend" about McDermott;  his record speaks for itself.   If it's not good enough for you, go worship on the alter of Andy Reid.

 

 

Yeah, I'm cool with it.   As a Bills fan since 1963, I'll take the current Bills under McDermott because winning is a whole lot more fun than losing, which the Bills have done way too much during their history.   I guarantee that winning 11 or 13 games in the regular season, making the playoffs, and winning playoff games, even if not the Super Bowl, is a thousand times better than suffering through 1 or 2 win seasons or a 17 year playoff drought.

   Like going on a Great date with the same woman over and over and over and always ending up with Rosie palm at the end of the night.

   I get the sentiment. I get that many feel this way. 
   I wonder how it will feel to have had Josh and not get there. I assume it will suck worse than four SB losses. 
    We are hitting the point of no return with Josh’s career if we are going to switch.

   It doesn’t need to be a rebuild, just a“ Get us over the hump”

   McD hasn’t and it’s not like we are close, in terms of him bridging the gap, in terms of the schooling he gets every years playoff. 

   

 

[SoTier]

32 minutes ago, Buffalo Boy said:

   Like going on a Great date with the same woman over and over and over and always ending up with Rosie palm at the end of the night.

   I get the sentiment. I get that many feel this way. 
   I wonder how it will feel to have had Josh and not get there. I assume it will suck worse than four SB losses. 
    We are hitting the point of no return with Josh’s career if we are going to switch.

   It doesn’t need to be a rebuild, just a“ Get us over the hump”

   McD hasn’t and it’s not like we are close, in terms of him bridging the gap, in terms of the schooling he gets every years playoff. 

   

 

 

The Bills are hardly at "the point of no return with Josh's career".   In case you hadn't noticed, good/great modern day QBs who take care of their bodies play at a high level into their late 30s/early 40 these days.

 

What would be worse than the Bills not winning a Super Bowl with Josh Allen and Sean McDermott?   How about firing McDermott and hiring one or more HCs who fail to even make the playoffs frequently much less win much for the rest of Allen's career ... while McDermott takes some other team to the Super Bowl and wins?

 

Nothing is guaranteed.

[Gregg]

10 minutes ago, SoTier said:

 

The Bills are hardly at "the point of no return with Josh's career".   In case you hadn't noticed, good/great modern day QBs who take care of their bodies play at a high level into their late 30s/early 40 these days.

 

What would be worse than the Bills not winning a Super Bowl with Josh Allen and Sean McDermott?   How about firing McDermott and hiring one or more HCs who fail to even make the playoffs frequently much less win much for the rest of Allen's career ... while McDermott takes some other team to the Super Bowl and wins?

 

Nothing is guaranteed.

 

I have said this before but if the Bills fired McDermott, then I would hope Terry would call Bill. Bill knows how to manage the game much better than Sean. You don't get to 9 Super Bowls by accident. He is a much better DC than Sean. What has been the Bills biggest problem in the playoffs. DEFENSE. Some may say it was Brady as the main reason they won. The Pats defense stepped up bigtime in many playoffs' games including the Super Bowls. Holding the Rams to 3 points. Making adjustments to shutout the Falcons after they built a big lead that allowed Brady and the offense to come back. The INT at the goal line to beat the Seahawks. Allen is a lot closer to Brady than Mac Jones. So....

Bill + Josh = Lombardi. IMHO. Bill does have an opt out in his contract with UNC to come back to the NFL.

[GunnerBill]

14 minutes ago, Gregg said:

 

I have said this before but if the Bills fired McDermott, then I would hope Terry would call Bill. Bill knows how to manage the game much better than Sean. You don't get to 9 Super Bowls by accident. He is a much better DC than Sean. What has been the Bills biggest problem in the playoffs. DEFENSE. Some may say it was Brady as the main reason they won. The Pats defense stepped up bigtime in many playoffs' games including the Super Bowls. Holding the Rams to 3 points. Making adjustments to shutout the Falcons after they built a big lead that allowed Brady and the offense to come back. The INT at the goal line to beat the Seahawks. Allen is a lot closer to Brady than Mac Jones. So....

Bill + Josh = Lombardi. IMHO. Bill does have an opt out in his contract with UNC to come back to the NFL.

 

That isn't happening. There is zero chance. 

[Gregg]

18 minutes ago, GunnerBill said:

 

That isn't happening. There is zero chance. 

 

I know it's not happening as McDermott isn't getting fired anytime soon. 

[Royale with Cheese]

15 hours ago, uticaclub said:

Schottenheimer didn't have the advantage of facing 7-seed teams. When excluding his victories against those teams, McDermott's record stands at 3-7, a winning percentage of only .300.

 

Please refrain from using statistics to defend McDermott; there is no evidence to suggest that he will lead the team to a Super Bowl at this point. If we do make it with him, it would be considered an outlier.

 

 

Shottenheimer faced multiple 6 seed teams lol.  That was the lowest seed at the time lol.

 

I can't use statistics but you can edit statistics.  This is a fair argument lol.

 

[uticaclub]

29 minutes ago, Royale with Cheese said:

 

Shottenheimer faced multiple 6 seed teams lol.  That was the lowest seed at the time lol.

 

I can't use statistics but you can edit statistics.  This is a fair argument lol.

 

And 6 seeds are better than 7 seeds. A 7 seed has yet to win an NFL playoff game; granted the majority of AFC 7 seeds have lost to the Bills

Edited July 2 by uticaclub