Unbeaten Buffalo Bills still have a Sean McDermott problem

The most common criticism of McDermott has been the defense's performance in important spots.

From "13 seconds" to allowing the Kansas City Chiefs to post a season-high point total in the 2024 AFC Championship Game to surrendering 40 points to the Baltimore Ravens in Week 1, Buffalo's defense has, on too many occasions, lacked the tenacity and consistency that were thought to be staples of a McDermott-coached unit.

The defensive inconsistency was on full display against the Saints in the September 28. Taking advantage of Buffalo's poor fundamentals, primarily its tackling, New Orleans rushed for 189 yards (5.6 ypc) on the road.

Being that it's Week 4 of Year 9 for McDermott's regime, fundamentals should not be an issue. While the public spin suggests the McDermott-coached Bills are buttoned up and fundamentally sound, it's simply not the case right now, and it could cost them again come January.

Burning timeouts on defense

There likely hasn't been a NFL head coach who loves the defensive timeout more than McDermott. Whether he's trying to counter an offense's look or get different personnel onto the field, it's frustrating to watch, and it will wind up biting the Bills at some point.

The head coach burned TWO timeouts for his defense in the THIRD quarter in Week 4.

Three plays into the opening possession of the third quarter, McDermott found it necessary to call timeout after a 2nd-and-7 incompletion by Saints' quarterback Spencer Rattler. Then, following a Saints' touchdown that cut the Bills' lead to 21-16 with 00:14 remaining in the third quarter, McDermott needed another timeout to set his defense for the two-point conversion attempt.

Were the Saints moving too quickly for McDermott? Why weren't his staff and players able to adjust on the fly?

Imagine if the Bills were trailing late, but couldn't stop the clock because McDermott took dead ball timeouts?

Too many men on field

The Bills are riding a 13-game regular season home win streak that started one week after a 24-22 primetime loss to the Denver Broncos in 2023.

Interestingly enough, the Bills appeared to have escaped with a 22-21 Monday night win when Will Lutz's last-second field goal attempt bent wide, but the Broncos received a do-over because the defense had 12 men on the field at the snap.

With the Saints in the redzone during the third quarter on Sunday, the Bills were hit with another illegal substitution penalty as Joey Bosa was unable to get to the sideline in time.

Whether or not Bosa was at fault, the head coach is responsible for some of the blame. It's his job to prepare the players are any situation they may face during live game action. That's why they've been practicing since July.

Overly conservative late-game approach

Holding a late nine-point (two possession) advantage, the Bills faced a manageable 4th-and-3 from the Saints' 17-yard line with 2:12 remaining on the clock. New Orleans had no timeouts remaining, and a first down would have effectively ended the game.

McDermott, however, opted for a field goal that did not have the potential to make it a three-score lead. Although it technically forced the Saints to score two touchdowns (as opposed to one TD and one FG) to win, it marginally affected the team's win probability, whereas a three-yard gain on fourth down would have closed the deal.

Although it could have been due to lack of execution on the third-down play, Allen appeared to have a look of frustration on his face when McDermott pulled him off the field in favor for the field goal team.

Allen would never admit it, and good on him for keeping such thoughts private, but I would bet that he, like me, wanted to move the chains on fourth down and end the game.

If the Bills are to win the Super Bowl, they have some kinks to iron out, and their head coach needs to be better.

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