McDermott is officially coaching for his job. Josh Allen is 0-6 in OT and yet in every one of those losses, he has not the been the final one to touch the ball. Think back to every instant classic the Bills have played over the past few seasons.

Hail Murray? Bills defense cannot stop a desperation heave.

13 seconds? Bills defense gives up two consecutive huge plays to Mahomes to force OT where the defense would give way again.

Vikings JJ catch? It was 4th and forever, maybe it was destined but the defense has to make a better effort to make sure he cannot catch the ball.

I could continue but I obviously relent with the same thing I have said since their Divisional loss in 2021: McDermott is a great coach but an awful game manager. If his team isn’t thrashing the opposition he does not have the nerves and rationality to call a game. The number of times this man has rolled out Cover 4 or Prevent when only up by a single score is staggering.

He hasn’t even played double digit games yet. Calm down.

Admittedly his outlook currently doesn’t look promising but let’s at least pretend to be patient.

One of the few times ‘Are they stupid?’ receives a ‘Yes’.

I’ve honestly been more impressed with the defensive metamorphosis since the laugher against Miami. Sure, Russell has been improved in this offensive system, but I attribute that to Payton turning him into a check down king. Maybe that’s all he needs to be but I don’t adhere to the narrative of a resurgent Russ when he barely throws for 200 yards, if that, per game.

If anything, he has been markedly more disciplined and prolific in the red zone, which is why the Broncos have started winning games.

Because all time greats are excellent at obscuring flaws within a system. Bill is one of the best we’ve ever seen at coaching defenses so the DC cannot be gauged objectively and Brady similarly cloaked offensive ineptitude for years.

Not all that surprising that an organization that was effectively a two person brain trust has failed to bear successful fruit.

I think it has less to do with teams not being aggressive and more about teams not willing to part with their blue chip players. Half the league is floating around 0.500 and as a result may not think punting the season is justified.

Cincy and Buffalo is such an intriguing matchup this week. Both teams feel like they’re on opposite trajectories at the moment (Buffalo trying to keep the bottom from falling out, Cincy once again playing to their potential) feels like a prime opportunity for the Bengals to firmly establish themselves as the AFC’s premier threat to KC yet again.

The Chiefs I can still understand, they’ve earned the benefit of the doubt, but having the Dolphins in front of the Ravens is certainly a take.