NFL executives didn't expect Bills to make Sean McDermott move after playoff loss to Broncos

Some previously suggested the Buffalo Bills could and should part ways with head coach Sean McDermott if they failed to reach the Super Bowl while taking part in an AFC postseason tournament that didn't feature Kansas City Chiefs star quarterback Patrick Mahomes or Lamar Jackson of the Baltimore Ravens.

On Monday morning, ESPN's Adam Schefter reported that the Bills made that exact move less than 48 hours after their pursuit of the first Super Bowl title in franchise history ended when the club suffered a brutal 33-30 overtime loss to the Denver Broncos this past Saturday. Multiple NFL executives believed the Bills would not pull the trigger on such a decision following what occurred over the weekend. 

Would Bills have ever been better with Sean McDermott?

"My guess is they keep McDermott, but is it going to get better?" one executive said about the Bills while speaking with Mike Sando of The Athletic for a piece published on Monday. "You have your quarterback crying and your head coach saying he is sticking up for Buffalo."

Under McDermott, QB Josh Allen went 0-4 against the Chiefs in postseason play from January 2021 through last winter. That poor record was at least somewhat forgivable considering the dynastic nature of the Chiefs and the fact that many already view Mahomes as an all-time great. On Saturday, Allen let his coach down by turning the ball over four times during the defeat in Denver. 

"The only way I could see them moving on from Sean is if somehow (offensive coordinator) Joe Brady is in the mix for a job (elsewhere) and (team owner Terry Pegula) would rather keep Joe than Sean," one unnamed executive added about the Bills. 

Executives address controversial call in Bills-Broncos game

The most controversial moment of Saturday's game involved what seemed, at first, to be a Buffalo reception ruled a Denver interception during overtime of the contest. It seems even NFL executives are split on whether or not the Bills were robbed. 

"The call was right," one executive said. Meanwhile, a different executive hinted that he would likely feel the game "was taken" from his team if such a ruling went against his club.

One may never know if the Bills would have viewed former Baltimore Ravens head coach John Harbaugh as an upgrade over McDermott, as Harbaugh is now employed by the New York Giants. 

Buffalo could explore acquiring the rights to former Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin, but Tomlin reportedly has told other organizations he does not plan to coach any team before 2027 at the earliest. Perhaps the chance to work with Allen could cause Tomlin to have second thoughts about needing a break this winter.