Josh Allen and the Buffalo Bills have been must-see TV in recent years with Allen winning his first MVP during the 2024 season. The only thing that's missing for Bills fans at this point is a Super Bowl win. Despite the success the Bills have experienced in the regular season, the team hasn't been able to reach a Super Bowl during the Allen/Sean McDermott era.
NFL analyst Dave Dameshek discussed the three quarterbacks he believes are under the most pressure in the 2025 season. Allen made his list for all of the reasons you're probably already aware of but Dameshek also talked about how Allen "has to overcome his head coach".
"Bottom line is, this is a team that's never gotten to a Super Bowl. And he has to overcome his head coach, a defensive-minded head coach. That's a great situation in theory, but the problem is, everything skews toward offense. So any sort of mindset that defense is going to carry the day is a losing philosophy."
NFL expert believes Sean McDermott is holding Josh Allen back
It's no secret to hear someone express these opinions out loud. Fans have become frustrated with McDermott for his inability to "win the big one", so to speak. Even with the Bills being as successful as they are with Allen at the helm, they haven't been able to get over the hump yet and many point the finger squarely at McDermott. It sometimes feels as though Allen's talent is being wasted.
It's true that McDermott is a defensive-minded guy and Dameshek points that out, noting that McDermott being a defensive guy hurts Allen and the offense in the long run. Saying that Allen has to overcome McDermott feels like a bit much though considering how successful the two have been together so far.
Bills fans do wonder how much longer McDermott will be in charge of running this team. It felt as though last year could have been his final season but then the Bills reached the AFC Championship Game and came oh so close to reaching its first Super Bowl since 1994.
It doesn't feel like a crazy thought that if the Bills don't make it to at least the AFC title game in the 2025 season that McDermott could be on his way out so this year might be the most important year yet for the Bills head coach.