It was the middle of the 2023 season when the Buffalo Bills made the move to part ways with former offensive coordinator Ken Dorsey. The offense was being extremely predictable and there was no rhythm to it. Buffalo would promote quarterbacks coach Joe Brady as the interim playcaller, and turned the Bills’ offense around for the better.
To finish out that season, Brady helped the Bills average 27 points per game. Then in 2024, the Bills averaged 31 points per game, making Buffalo a top ten offense with less than what they had the season prior.
So far this season, the Bills’ offense has been up-and-down. Without a true No. 1 wide receiver for Josh Allen, the Bills can’t push the ball down the field as much as they have in years prior. They have no issue running the ball, but with having a generational quarterback and him not being able to hit his ceiling this season, it’s frustrating for fans.
Joe Brady has high pressure to succeed to become future head coach
Bill Barnwell from ESPN listed Brady as a coach with a lot of pressure as the playoff push begins this month, and Barnwell couldn’t be more right. Here's a bit from Barnwell as to what has contributed to the Bills' offense being very inconsistent under Brady this season:
"Buffalo's lengthy streak of almost entirely turnover-free football came to an end in September, and since its Week 5 loss to the Patriots, the Bills have turned the ball over 16 times in eight games, doubling their full season total from 2024. The Bills are eighth in EPA since that Patriots game, essentially tied with the Bears and Giants."Bill Barnwell, ESPN
In Buffalo's last four games, they have turned it over 11 times, which is just completely unacceptable. The Bills are 2-2 in that stretch and one of their losses were by one score against the Houston Texans. With the playcalling by Brady this season, it has put Buffalo into bad positions.
There are times when Brady tries to make a bubble screen play work, and it doesn't. Then there are the jet sweeps that have turned into costly fumbles. In addition, we have also seen bad situational football that has kicked the offense off the field. Brady deserves blame for the inconsistency of this offense.
Coming into this season, Brady was destined to become a head coach for next season based on what he did for this offense last year. That isn’t so sure anymore. I’m not saying that he won’t become a head coach, but he may not be anyone’s top candidate if things remain shaky with him in Buffalo.