BREAKING NEWS: Sean McDermott sets record on officiating cost Bills against Chiefs

Sean McDermott was direct about the officiating during the Buffalo Bills’ playoff loss to the Kansas City Chiefs.

Despite another heartbreaking postseason exit, McDermott made it clear that officiating wasn’t to blame for Buffalo’s 32-29 defeat at Arrowhead Stadium. “That’s not the reason why we lost… There are going to be (moments like that), and you have to be above that and play above that,” he stated. One controversial moment was a fourth-down play where some believed Josh Allen had secured a first down, but McDermott refused to dwell on it.

Instead, he shifted focus to areas for improvement, particularly the need for a top wide receiver. “I don’t know if you need to have a No. 1… but do you need to be able to stretch the field horizontally and vertically? Yes.” Khalil Shakir led the team with 821 receiving yards in 2024, highlighting a potential area for upgrades.

McDermott also stressed the importance of maintaining perspective despite the team’s playoff struggles. “There’s always going to be a hump – but where does it start and where does it end?… If you get too far down into the weeds in that negative mindset, you forget the success you have had.”

The head coach made it clear that no one in the organization is satisfied with another postseason defeat. “No one in this building is comfortable or content with where we’re at,” he said, adding that the disappointment lingers. “That feeling never goes away… until we can say we are the best in the world.”

McDermott also praised offensive coordinator Joe Brady for leading an attack that averaged 30.9 points per game, ranking second in the league. “Thought he did a really good job. Took what he had with his ‘everybody eats’ slogan, and that was the approach all year.” He also credited both the passing and running game under Brady’s direction.

As for Josh Allen, McDermott didn’t hold back in acknowledging his leadership. “Josh Allen’s leadership was the biggest reason we did what we did this season,” he said, reinforcing the quarterback’s crucial role in Buffalo’s success.