Thoughts after watching the Colts, Chiefs, Ravens, Patriots, Lions, Eagles, Rams and 49ers

[Ray Stonada]

If Brandin Cooks and Josh gel...

[Sierra Foothills]

I've always been an "optimistic realist" but here are the posts that most closely express my expectations for the season (some of them are contradictory):

 

On 11/25/2025 at 7:45 AM, Kirby Jackson said:

I think that if we are looking for a “silver lining” it’s that the NFC looks tougher than the AFC for the first time in a long time. The Bills obviously have underachieved to this point. They have not played well. If they get hot though and go on a run, they can win at NE, Den, Indy, etc… This might be a year, like the Rams last title, where someone got hot at the right time.

 

On 11/25/2025 at 8:12 AM, BFLO said:

The flaw is the going on a run part. I think we all agree the Bills can beat anyone on any given day. 

 

But can they actually win 4 in a row? Not with the way they've been playing

 

What about 4 in a row against playoff teams of escalating difficulty? Laughable

 

On 11/25/2025 at 9:00 AM, Johnnycage46 said:

I think the Bills can beat any team in the NFL this year. But I also think they can lose to any team in the NFL this year. If they come out with the right gameplan and they are clicking, they can contend. Their inconsistency this year has been the issue and gives me pause on thinking they can do much in the playoffs (assuming they hold serve and make it in).

 

On 11/25/2025 at 11:24 AM, Rubes said:

But they need to, since McD's record in the post-season, on the road, is not so good. Can anyone imagine McD winning 3 post-season road games as a WC to get to the Super Bowl?

 

On 11/25/2025 at 11:55 AM, Nihilarian said:

The thing is, you never know, and even when you think you know, you never know.  The Bills OC could pull his head out of his arse... the injury bug could go away, and players could return to help this team at just the right time. Lady Luck could return and stop the Bills from committing turnovers, and the defense starts getting them like they did last season. So many "IFs" but hey, anything can happen as Buffalo is still in it. 

 

On 11/25/2025 at 12:01 PM, Puckman5 said:

It feels like there's no learning from last week or last year.  In a relative sense they're still a decent team with a great QB, but it's leadership struggles to adapt or change.  The team has played less than inspired football for a significant portion of this season.  That may be the most difficult pill to swallow.  I like what McDermott has brought to the organization in terms of leadership and stability, but he's in a high pressure role where yesterday matters little.    

 

As has been pointed out, the Bills have a recent history of going on late season runs and there are other teams have come from the depths of the wild card race to win the Super Bowl. There is much to be said about peaking at the right time.

 

BUT, the last post above by @Puckman5 resonates most loudly for me.

 

How can a team with a TE Coach AND a OL Coach who were both NFL Offensive Coordinators not get the offense straightened out???

 

The finger points to McDermott, IMO. Either he has more negative influence on the offense than we care to admit AND/OR his systems and culture do not allow for positive collaboration and honest self-scouting. It's unfathomable to me that Kromer and/or Boras don't have some good ideas on how to improve Brady's shyt show and yet even after the bye, we've seen little to no evidence that the offense is progressing in a good direction. Are Kromer/Boras allowed to provide constructive input into the offense? If not, why not? Are their voices welcomed in the room? Are they biting their tongues? Are their ideas dismissed?

 

And why do players like Samuel and Moore, who've put up good numbers elsewhere while never having played with good QBs come to the Bills and promptly disappear from the face of the earth even though they're now playing with an all-time great QB?

 

Mike Sando's "The Athletic" article about the failings of Raiders' OC Chip Kelly seem to apply verbatim to Joe Brady... that he's a college play caller who had short term success, but who can't raise his game now that the NFL has solved his offense. Brady has no answers and neither do those around him for whatever mysterious reasons.

 

The dysfunctional offense and the injury-riddled defense make me highly doubt that the Bills will be the team catching lightning in a bottle this season.

 

I hope I'm wrong.

 

[BuffaloBillyG]

9 hours ago, Sierra Foothills said:

I've always been an "optimistic realist" but here are the posts that most closely express my expectations for the season (some of them are contradictory):

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

As has been pointed out, the Bills have a recent history of going on late season runs and there are other teams have come from the depths of the wild card race to win the Super Bowl. There is much to be said about peaking at the right time.

 

BUT, the last post above by @Puckman5 resonates most loudly for me.

 

How can a team with a TE Coach AND a OL Coach who were both NFL Offensive Coordinators not get the offense straightened out???

 

The finger points to McDermott, IMO. Either he has more negative influence on the offense than we care to admit AND/OR his systems and culture do not allow for positive collaboration and honest self-scouting. It's unfathomable to me that Kromer and/or Boras don't have some good ideas on how to improve Brady's shyt show and yet even after the bye, we've seen little to no evidence that the offense is progressing in a good direction. Are Kromer/Boras allowed to provide constructive input into the offense? If not, why not? Are their voices welcomed in the room? Are they biting their tongues? Are their ideas dismissed?

 

And why do players like Samuel and Moore, who've put up good numbers elsewhere while never having played with good QBs come to the Bills and promptly disappear from the face of the earth even though they're now playing with an all-time great QB?

 

Mike Sando's "The Athletic" article about the failings of Raiders' OC Chip Kelly seem to apply verbatim to Joe Brady... that he's a college play caller who had short term success, but who can't raise his game now that the NFL has solved his offense. Brady has no answers and neither do those around him for whatever mysterious reasons.

 

The dysfunctional offense and the injury-riddled defense make me highly doubt that the Bills will be the team catching lightning in a bottle this season.

 

I hope I'm wrong.

 

The bolded parts are why I always struggle with promoting from within for the OC spot. 

 

Now, I fully admit we don't know what we don't know. But to me, Kromer, Boras, Curry, Mangas..all of em along with Brady are part of the same offensive room. Now, like you said, if these guys are coming up with ideas and being dismissed, we have no way of knowing. But if they are collectively collaborating and coming up with nothing, how can it be justified that any of them should get the promotion? Again, we don't know if Brady is being arrogant and dismissive of any ideas or if they are a room full of bumbling idiots. 

 

It's the same reason I didn't like Brady being promoted without a real OC search in the first place. He was part of Dorsey's "support staff" and couldn't help fix the issues we saw when Kenny was here tossing tablets. Why did anybody think he would be so much better?

[Psautcsk]

10 hours ago, Ray Stonada said:

If Brandin Cooks and Josh gel...

Our Collective Souls will come together, let's mingle, make it well.

[SCBills]

My thoughts.. that 1st Round pick better be someone who helps Josh dominate for the rest of his career because Jaylen Waddle on this Offense doesn’t lose to Miami, doesnt lose to Houston and gives us a real look at the 1 seed in a joke of a Conference.  
 

Now we have to hope we learn how to win on the road, Keon becomes Wal-Mart Pickens after being benched, Cooks has a resurgence and the broken body boys find a way to stay healthy and get back on the field. 
 

 

Edited 11 hours ago by SCBills

[Sweats]

34 minutes ago, BuffaloBillyG said:

The bolded parts are why I always struggle with promoting from within for the OC spot. 

 

Now, I fully admit we don't know what we don't know. But to me, Kromer, Boras, Curry, Mangas..all of em along with Brady are part of the same offensive room. Now, like you said, if these guys are coming up with ideas and being dismissed, we have no way of knowing. But if they are collectively collaborating and coming up with nothing, how can it be justified that any of them should get the promotion? Again, we don't know if Brady is being arrogant and dismissive of any ideas or if they are a room full of bumbling idiots. 

 

It's the same reason I didn't like Brady being promoted without a real OC search in the first place. He was part of Dorsey's "support staff" and couldn't help fix the issues we saw when Kenny was here tossing tablets. Why did anybody think he would be so much better?

 

 

 

 

My moneys on this one........a room full of bumbling idiots

[Nihilarian]

5 hours ago, BuffaloBillyG said:

The bolded parts are why I always struggle with promoting from within for the OC spot. 

 

Now, I fully admit we don't know what we don't know. But to me, Kromer, Boras, Curry, Mangas..all of em along with Brady are part of the same offensive room. Now, like you said, if these guys are coming up with ideas and being dismissed, we have no way of knowing. But if they are collectively collaborating and coming up with nothing, how can it be justified that any of them should get the promotion? Again, we don't know if Brady is being arrogant and dismissive of any ideas or if they are a room full of bumbling idiots. 

 

It's the same reason I didn't like Brady being promoted without a real OC search in the first place. He was part of Dorsey's "support staff" and couldn't help fix the issues we saw when Kenny was here tossing tablets. Why did anybody think he would be so much better?

Well, to be honest, Joe Brady was a godsend at first with that run game, helping Josh keep his turnovers under control. Fewer INTs, fewer fumbles, and less running so less chance he gets injured running by some late tackler who wants to take him out of the game.

 

And, Buffalo was the #2 offense in scoring in 2024, and #1 overall, including the playoffs, which is no insignificant feat. We also saw some high-scoring games against Jacksonville, 47-10, against the Titans, 34-10, against Seattle, 31-10, against the 49ers, 35-10, and the really high-scoring games against the Rams, 42-44, and the Lions, 42-48.  Then 40-14 against the NY Jets, and then 31-7 in the playoffs against Denver.

 

Now this season,  he isn't even attempting to put out a decent game plan for whatever reason. Like against the Falcons, against the Dolphins, and that Houston game in which our beloved QB was sacked EIGHT times. Now this was a complete deviation from what he was doing last season by keeping an extra O linemen in to block, running "max protection schemes"  or even running more against a team where their defense is weaker against the run and stronger against the pass. So he calls for more mid to deep throws?

 

It is like Joe Brady is attempting to get McDermott fired so he can be the head coach in Buffalo, or he wants to leave and go quickly. Did he get a head coach offer from the NY Giants? He is currently making what 1.5 million, and a head coach might make 5-10 million per year? Something's up?

[Jrb1979]

1 hour ago, Nihilarian said:

Well, to be honest, Joe Brady was a godsend at first with that run game, helping Josh keep his turnovers under control. Fewer INTs, fewer fumbles, and less running so less chance he gets injured running by some late tackler who wants to take him out of the game.

 

And, Buffalo was the #2 offense in scoring in 2024, and #1 overall, including the playoffs, which is no insignificant feat. We also saw some high-scoring games against Jacksonville, 47-10, against the Titans, 34-10, against Seattle, 31-10, against the 49ers, 35-10, and the really high-scoring games against the Rams, 42-44, and the Lions, 42-48.  Then 40-14 against the NY Jets, and then 31-7 in the playoffs against Denver.

 

Now this season,  he isn't even attempting to put out a decent game plan for whatever reason. Like against the Falcons, against the Dolphins, and that Houston game in which our beloved QB was sacked EIGHT times. Now this was a complete deviation from what he was doing last season by keeping an extra O linemen in to block, running "max protection schemes"  or even running more against a team where their defense is weaker against the run and stronger against the pass. So he calls for more mid to deep throws?

 

It is like Joe Brady is attempting to get McDermott fired so he can be the head coach in Buffalo, or he wants to leave and go quickly. Did he get a head coach offer from the NY Giants? He is currently making what 1.5 million, and a head coach might make 5-10 million per year? Something's up?

Last season they benefited from a high turnover differential.  Teams have lots of film on the Bills offense now. Since the WR don't get a lot of separation that many stack to box and dare Buffalo to beat them with the passing game. 

[BuffaloBillyG]

1 hour ago, Nihilarian said:

Well, to be honest, Joe Brady was a godsend at first with that run game, helping Josh keep his turnovers under control. Fewer INTs, fewer fumbles, and less running so less chance he gets injured running by some late tackler who wants to take him out of the game.

 

And, Buffalo was the #2 offense in scoring in 2024, and #1 overall, including the playoffs, which is no insignificant feat. We also saw some high-scoring games against Jacksonville, 47-10, against the Titans, 34-10, against Seattle, 31-10, against the 49ers, 35-10, and the really high-scoring games against the Rams, 42-44, and the Lions, 42-48.  Then 40-14 against the NY Jets, and then 31-7 in the playoffs against Denver.

 

Now this season,  he isn't even attempting to put out a decent game plan for whatever reason. Like against the Falcons, against the Dolphins, and that Houston game in which our beloved QB was sacked EIGHT times. Now this was a complete deviation from what he was doing last season by keeping an extra O linemen in to block, running "max protection schemes"  or even running more against a team where their defense is weaker against the run and stronger against the pass. So he calls for more mid to deep throws?

 

It is like Joe Brady is attempting to get McDermott fired so he can be the head coach in Buffalo, or he wants to leave and go quickly. Did he get a head coach offer from the NY Giants? He is currently making what 1.5 million, and a head coach might make 5-10 million per year? Something's up?

Ken Dorsey had a cluster of games where the Bills scored high points. When he was fired, he had a top RATED offense. But, stats don't tell the whole story. They never do and quite frequently, whatever stats show one thing is good...we can find stats that say the opposite. There are too many stats these days. 

 

All you have to do is watch the games. That's what tells the story. 

[Nihilarian]

2 hours ago, BuffaloBillyG said:

Ken Dorsey had a cluster of games where the Bills scored high points. When he was fired, he had a top RATED offense. But, stats don't tell the whole story. They never do and quite frequently, whatever stats show one thing is good...we can find stats that say the opposite. There are too many stats these days. 

 

All you have to do is watch the games. That's what tells the story. 

You know you're right to a point, as in 2022 the Buffalo Bills had #2 overall offense with Diggs the leading receiver with 1429 yards, 11 TDs. Then in 2023, after 12 games, the Bills were 6-6 with Josh throwing a ton of INTs. After the bye, McDermott made the change from Dorsey to Brady. Buffalo had losses to the Patriots with Mac Jones at QB, the NY Jets, the Jags, the Bengals, and the Broncos. Meanwhile, 

 

Ken Dorsey was fired by the Buffalo Bills in 2023 due to the team's struggles with offensive consistency, highlighted by a six-game stretch where they failed to score more than 25 points and had a high number of turnovers. The decision was made after a loss to the Denver Broncos, which dropped the Bills to a 5-5 record and out of the playoff picture.  Meanwhile, Miami was 9-3 at that time.

 

Only Joe Brady knows what's going on with his offensive scheme. But I can tell you that the eight sacks and lack of protection for the QB while calling mid to deep pass plays in that Houston game was a fireable offense in my view. More so than anything Dorsey did with his offense, again in my view. 

 

I have no idea what McDermott has up his sleeve or why he is keeping Dorsey as OC. It's been 12 games, and Buffalo is 7-4 and still in the hunt at this point is the only reason I can think of. So what happens if Brady tanks against the Steelers? 

[Slack_in_MA]

2 hours ago, BuffaloBillyG said:

Ken Dorsey had a cluster of games where the Bills scored high points. When he was fired, he had a top RATED offense. But, stats don't tell the whole story. They never do and quite frequently, whatever stats show one thing is good...we can find stats that say the opposite. There are too many stats these days. 

 

All you have to do is watch the games. That's what tells the story. 

While I kind of agree, interpretations drawn from “watching the game” are subject to interpretation and bias— we see what we want to see, good or bad.

 

Data *should be* objective and show trends of areas of the team that are most detrimental. There ARE too many stats to try to make heads and tails of. Good statisticians can identify the “vital few” that are predictive of success — turnover ratio for example.

[boyst]

4 hours ago, Jrb1979 said:

Last season they benefited from a high turnover differential.  Teams have lots of film on the Bills offense now. Since the WR don't get a lot of separation that many stack to box and dare Buffalo to beat them with the passing game. 

This is what teams have done to the Eagles, too. The last few weeks they've pressed them on defense, and looked to make them have to win it on the run game. Attacking the LOS relentlessly.

[BuffaloBillyG]

44 minutes ago, Nihilarian said:

You know you're right to a point, as in 2022 the Buffalo Bills had #2 overall offense with Diggs the leading receiver with 1429 yards, 11 TDs. Then in 2023, after 12 games, the Bills were 6-6 with Josh throwing a ton of INTs. After the bye, McDermott made the change from Dorsey to Brady. Buffalo had losses to the Patriots with Mac Jones at QB, the NY Jets, the Jags, the Bengals, and the Broncos. Meanwhile, 

 

Ken Dorsey was fired by the Buffalo Bills in 2023 due to the team's struggles with offensive consistency, highlighted by a six-game stretch where they failed to score more than 25 points and had a high number of turnovers. The decision was made after a loss to the Denver Broncos, which dropped the Bills to a 5-5 record and out of the playoff picture.  Meanwhile, Miami was 9-3 at that time.

 

Only Joe Brady knows what's going on with his offensive scheme. But I can tell you that the eight sacks and lack of protection for the QB while calling mid to deep pass plays in that Houston game was a fireable offense in my view. More so than anything Dorsey did with his offense, again in my view. 

 

I have no idea what McDermott has up his sleeve or why he is keeping Dorsey as OC. It's been 12 games, and Buffalo is 7-4 and still in the hunt at this point is the only reason I can think of. So what happens if Brady tanks against the Steelers? 

The first bolded part-

 

We have not one, not two but THREE games where our offense didn't get more than 14 points. With Josh Allen at QB, James Cook at RB and the same OL. That's more than inconsistent. That's malpractice. 

 

The second bolded point-

I know it was a mental error slip up, but isn't it sad what you said fits with either Dorsey or Brady's name? One would have hoped that when Dorsey was fired we would do more than just tread water and not improve. Still having the same discussions about the offense.

[Nihilarian]

8 minutes ago, BuffaloBillyG said:

The first bolded part-

 

We have not one, not two but THREE games where our offense didn't get more than 14 points. With Josh Allen at QB, James Cook at RB and the same OL. That's more than inconsistent. That's malpractice. 

 

The second bolded point-

I know it was a mental error slip up, but isn't it sad what you said fits with either Dorsey or Brady's name? One would have hoped that when Dorsey was fired we would do more than just tread water and not improve. Still having the same discussions about the offense.

In 2020, the Buffalo offense under Brian Daboll was #2 overall, and in 2021, it was #3, #5 still under Daboll. Then, for an entire season in 2023, the offense was #3 overall. so, it did improve for a season. Then in 2024, the Buffalo offense scored more points that season than in the history of the franchise, while #2 in points, #10 in yards. So it did improve for that first season under both OCs. Not only did the offense score more points it also helped the QB control the turnovers in INTs/Fumbles. 

 

Josh Allen went from 18 INTs in 2023 to 6 in 2024, and from 7 fumbles to 5. While I get that defenses catch up to offenses and learn how to stop them somewhat, as with QBs. It doesn't change the fact that Brady went completely off normalcy with his offensive game plan against Houston. Much like he did with Atlanta, in knowing that both teams can bring great pressure to the QB in different ways. Four sacks & eight sacks, considering that Allen was only sacked 14 times in all of 2024. He already has 9 INTs this year and only 6 all of last year. 

 

Again, I have no idea where McDermott's mind is at right now. Perhaps he doesn't trust anyone else on his current staff to replace Brady with enough confidence in them to get Buffalo into the playoffs. Anyway, it is my opinion that Brady wants out of Buffalo or the Bills' HCing job for himself. If Brady reads this forum, he would see that so many posters here want McD gone. I had the impression that Dorsey wanted that too.