The Buffalo Bills and QB Josh Allen fell short in the postseason yet again and like every season, there are now questions about the team making moves this offseason to get over the hump in 2024.
After a loss to the Denver Broncos in mid-November the Bills were sitting with a (5-5) record and the offense seemed to lack a rhythm .
Witnessing a troubling surge in turnovers and a worrisome drop in Allen’s confidence provided Bills coach Sean McDermott little choice but to fire offensive coordinator Ken Dorsey. He was replaced with QBs coach Joe Brady who helped turn the Buffalo Bills offense around in 2023.
The move came 10 weeks into the season and a day after the three-time defending AFC East champions dropped to 5-5 to fall further out of the playoff picture following a sloppy, turnover-filled 24-22 loss to the Denver Broncos.
“We need to be a confident offensive football team, and find consistent production, and that’s really what it came down to,” McDermott said. “I’m as frustrated as anyone out there. We’re trying to win one game at a time right now, and we get a chance to right the ship.”
McDermott declined to go into detail when asked if his offense was too predictable, while also saying he made the decision to fire Dorsey on his own, and without any input from Josh Allen.
“I think more than anything, it’s to make sure that we’re trying to improve our football team in every area that we can,” he said. “I think it’s important that those guys feel, hey, something’s changed, right? And there’s something new that we can be excited about.”
Very little was exciting about an offense that was misfiring all too often, and lacked the swagger of past seasons — or even during a three-game stretch in September when the Bills won three games by outscoring their opponents by a combined margin of 123-33. The run was capped by a 48-20 win over Miami.
Josh Allen Fully Supports Joe Brady As Buffalo Bills OC Moving Forward
After firing Dorsey, McDermott made the decision to promote 34-year-old QBs coach Joe Brady to offensive coordinator, and the move proved to be a pivotal one.
Known for using motion and creative offensive schemes to maximize his top playmakers and make Allen’s job easier, the Bills have won eight of their final nine regular season games
Joe Brady has been considered a rising star in the NFL for the last few years, despite his young age.
Much like Sean McVay in his early years, Brady has been tabbed as a young offensive football savant. From the moment he took over as the Buffalo Bills OC, everything started to change for Josh Allen and the offense.
The Bills finished with the No. 4 overall offense in the NFL, averaging 374 yards per game with 54 offensive touchdowns.
Allen was asked about his thoughts about Joe Brady continuing as the Bills OC in 2024, and the franchise QB didn’t hesitate.
“I love Joe, I love what he brings to this team, to your offense,” Josh Allen said. “The juice that he has, the passion that he has, how much preparation he’s put into a tough situation these last 7-8 weeks. I fully embrace it. I understand there’s stuff that needs to go on before that, probably an interview process etc, but he’s got my vote.”
“He’s got my vote.” – Josh Allen on wanting a Joe Brady to remain the OC with the Bills. pic.twitter.com/6Tue3WOpQi
— James Palmer (@JamesPalmerTV) January 22, 2024
Brady previously served as the offensive coordinator for the Carolina Panthers from 2020 to 2021. He was a passing game coordinator and wide receiver coach for the LSU Tigers during the 2019 season, winning the Broyles Award for the best assistant coach in college football, and an offensive assistant for the New Orleans Saints from 2017 to 2018.
Joe Brady has already interviewed for the head coaching job with the Atlanta Falcons and could get other interviews because of the sudden turnaround of the Buffalo Bills offense and Allen.