‘It’s Super Bowl or bust’ – New Bills head coach Joe Brady is facing high expectations and Buffalo’s predicted win total reflects that
Perhaps no coach in the NFL is facing bigger expectations in 2026 than new Buffalo Bills head coach Joe Brady, who was promoted this offseason after Sean McDermott was fired.
New Buffalo Bills head coach Joe Brady is facing high expectations this upcoming season.
And for good reason.
Brady was promoted from offensive coordinator to head coach after Buffalo fired Sean McDermott following the 2025 season.
McDermott was never able to get the Bills to the Super Bowl, but he took Buffalo to the playoffs in eight of his nine seasons leading the franchise. The Bills also won five AFC East division titles during McDermott’s reign.
It’s “Super Bowl or bust” for the Bills under Joe Brady
As CBS Sports’ Jordan Dajani put it this week, it’s “Super Bowl or bust” for the Bills under Brady.
“The Bills have won at least 11 games every year since 2020, but decided to make the controversial decision to fire their coach and promote offensive coordinator Joe Brady after an overtime loss in the divisional round this past season,” said Dajani this week. “The standard is the standard in Buffalo. It’s Super Bowl or bust for this team.”
The win total for the Bills in 2026 has been set at 10.5.
Dajani is predicting that Buffalo will win at least 11 games in 2026. He also predicts that the Bills will win the AFC East.
“Keep an eye on how the Bills start this season. They open up the year at the Houston Texans, vs. the Detroit Lions, vs. the Los Angeles Chargers, vs. the Patriots and at the Los Angeles Rams,” noted Dajani. “That’s a tough stretch right off the bat, but I have the Bills getting to at least 11-6 and winning the division.”
One thing working in Brady’s favor is that the AFC East should be one of the “easiest” divisions in the NFL. The Jets are the Jets. The Dolphins appear to be in all-in on tanking. And the Patriots are primed to take a step back after overachieving last season (New England will face a more difficult out-of-division schedule than it did last season).
The path to success is there for the Bills. That’s why anything less than a playoff win in Brady’s first season will be a disappointment, and will inevitably lead to fans questioning why McDermott was fired in the first place.