Bills Make Massive Change Following Latest Playoff Disaster
The Buffalo Bills are moving on from head coach Sean McDermott, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL Media.
McDermott’s tenure is objectively one of the best anyone has had within the organization, as he finishes with a career record of 98-50, while also going 8-8 in the postseason — though his inability to win when it mattered most ultimately proved to be his downfall, as things were capped by an overtime loss in the divisional round to the Denver Broncos on Saturday.
McDermott’s handling of that loss likely played a role in the decision, as he impassionately passed blame onto the referees for ultimately ruling in favor of Broncos cornerback Ja’Quan McMillian on an interception that initially looked to be a catch by Bills wide receiver Brandin Cooks.
“It’s hard for me to understand why it was ruled the way it was ruled,” McDermott said. “If it is ruled that way, then why wasn’t it slowed down, just to make sure that we have this right? That would have made a lot of sense to me. To make sure that we have this thing right, because that’s a pivotal play in the game. We have the ball at the 20 and maybe kicking a game-winning field goal there.
“I’m saying it because I’m standing up for Buffalo, damn it. I’m standing up for us. Because what went on, that is not how it should go down, in my estimation,” McDermott continued. “That play, these guys spend three hours out there playing football, pouring their guts out, to not even say, ‘Hey, let’s just slow this thing down,’ That’s why I’m bothered.”
It’s safe to say he was singing a different tune when an eerily similar situation benefited his club just weeks earlier, however.
“We go by what the officials call,” McDermott said when faced with questions following his club’s Week 15 win over the New England Patriots.
Bills general manager Brandon Beane will now lead the search for a new head coach, with his club becoming the 10th to do so this offseason joining the Arizona Cardinals, Atlanta Falcons, Baltimore Ravens, Cleveland Browns, Las Vegas Raiders, Miami Dolphins, New York Giants, Pittsburgh Steelers and Tennessee Titans.