Buffalo Bills failed to do the one thing that they were most successful at all season in the AFC Championship Game
Bills fans, we don't need to mention the score anymore. It's okay. We're past that. We also don't need to mention the Mahomesian-sized mountain that stands in the way of Buffalo every year. We're in this together. Right now is a time for grief and for analysis, figuring out what went wrong, and how to make […]
Bills fans, we don't need to mention the score anymore. It's okay. We're past that. We also don't need to mention the Mahomesian-sized mountain that stands in the way of Buffalo every year.
We're in this together. Right now is a time for grief and for analysis, figuring out what went wrong, and how to make it right next time — because there will definitely be a next time.
While there are plenty of things to discuss, one thing stands out. Offensive coordinator Joe Brady stuck with the quarterback sneak far too long.
Allen was 20/21 on the season in quarterback sneaks before the AFC Championship Game, with his only failed conversion happening in Detroit against the Lions. In this game, the Chiefs clearly had a game plan to stop it, and knew exactly where they were planning to go.
When it didn't work, going to another option might have been the better call. Although hindsight is always 20/20.
"Well, it's been our best play all year, at one or inside of one yard," head coach Sean McDermott said after the game. "And you know, we won some of those, but to your point, they were doing a good job. And I thought overall, maybe we could disguise it, maybe not. But at the end of the day, we have confidence in Josh [Allen] and our offensive line to get those, and they've been getting them all year."
It's one thing to stick with what got you there. It's another to watch it fail multiple times and keep going back to it. Not only that, but throughout the season, the Bills often picked up two or more yards on Allen sneaks. It seemed unstoppable. In this games, it took Allen Super Man diving over the line and recovering his own fumble in the process to get one of the conversions, and the other was barely picked up. It never looked like a strong play. The timing was completely snuffed out by the Chiefs, and their defense had a perfect plan for how to stop the play.
At some point, you have to change it up. Run an option right at Chiefs defense end George Karlaftis. Or just call a run play with James Cook with how successful the ground game was all night. Brady's stubborn reliance on a play that was unsuccessful put the Bills in some bad situations, including a crucial turnover on downs in the fourth quarter on the controversial play that looked like Allen had picked it up.
Still, in that moment, with the sneak proving unsuccessful, another play call might have done the job better. Brady needs to reevaluate when to pivot and when to stick with things going into next year.
Follow along all year for more Buffalo Bills coverage on A to Z Sports. You can find me on Bluesky @jonhelmkamp.bsky.social, and make sure to follow our main page @AtoZSports.bsky.social for all the latest news.
