Our defensive-minded head coach objectively is not producing results when it matters most: over the last 6 Divisional and Conference Championship games, the Bills’ opponents have scored an average of 32 points.

2020: L (24-38) vs Chiefs

2021: L (36-42) vs Chiefs

2022: L (10-27) vs Bengals

2023: L (24-27) vs Chiefs

2024: W (27-25) vs Ravens; L (29-32) Chiefs

I believe that Sean McDermott is a good coach and a great human being. He has built a wonderful culture in the Bills organization. However, the ultimate goal of any NFL team is to win a Super Bowl. Coaching is critical for that goal. As a defensive-minded head coach, it is among McDermott’s core responsibilities to ensure that the defensive side of the ball is prepared in the biggest games. Otherwise, it would not be worth it to accept the constant offensive coordinator carousel that comes with having a top-3 quarterback.

Yes, the defense has had injuries in the playoffs. Most teams go into the playoffs with injuries. The Chiefs, for example, were missing their WR1.

But last night was the first time in this entire season that the Chiefs scored more than 30 points. Before that, the last time they had scored more than 30 points in a regular season or post season game was on November 26, 2023 in 31-17 victory against the Raiders.

You can’t realistically ask your offensive to score >32 points against a defense that almost never allows its opponents to sniff 30 points. Especially when that team also almost never scores 30 points themselves.

Not good enough.