The Buffalo Bills have waited almost 365 days to overcome their playoff struggles. Since the organization went to the AFC Championship Game in the 2020 season, it has tried to return to that moment.
Buffalo just won their fifth AFC East title in a row, and quarterback Josh Allen is wrapping up an MVP-caliber season, throwing for 3,371 yards, 28 touchdowns, and six interceptions while picking up 531 rushing yards and 12 scores.
Allen is one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL, but the narrative that he can’t beat Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes and make a Super Bowl has hung over him for the last five years.
The 28-year-old quarterback is excellent in the playoffs, throwing for 2,273 yards, 21 touchdowns, and four interceptions in 10 games.
Allen is 5-5 in the postseason, looking to go above .500 this winter.
The NFL is a head coach/quarterback league, and the top teams usually have strong strengths in both departments.
Buffalo might have to change one of the positions if another short postseason run happens this January.
Allen isn’t going anywhere, but head coach Sean McDermott could be coaching for his job over the next few weeks.
McDermott, 50, is wrapping up his eighth season as Buffalo’s head coach. He has an 86-45 regular-season record and seven playoff appearances.
Sean McDermott’s Early Playoff Struggles
Not all of McDermott’s playoff appearances are equal. In his first season in Buffalo, his record was 9-7 with quarterback Tyrod Taylor and lost to Jacksonville in the Wild Card.
In McDermott’s third year, the Bills went to the postseason again, with Allen in his second season.
They lost to the Houston Texans in the Wild-Card game and to Kansas City in the AFC Championship 55 Weeks later.
Bills fans weren’t expecting Super Bowls in any of those three postseasons, and they were just happy to be in the dance after missing out for 17 straight years.
As the team gets better, expectations change, and Buffalo has not lived up to them in the last three postseasons.