Buffalo Bills head coach Joe Brady finds himself under the heaviest scrutiny in the league as he attempts to transform Josh Allen's squad from perennial bridesmaid to outright champion, according to Sky Sports analyst Phoebe Schecter. The Bills have revived their quest for a Lombardi Trophy this season after enduring a heart‑breaking playoff loss earlier in the year when the Denver Broncos edged them in overtime during the January Divisional Round. That defeat was widely viewed as a premature end to what many believed was the Bills' best chance in years to finally break their long‑standing Super Bowl drought, especially given the unusual playoff landscape that year: the dominant Kansas City Chiefs, led by Patrick Mahomes, missed the postseason for the first time since 2014, and other elite quarterbacks such as Lamar Jackson and Joe Burrow were also absent.
Following the disappointment, longtime head coach Sean McDermott was dismissed after nine seasons at the helm, and the organization promoted offensive coordinator Joe Brady to the top job. Schecter, a former Bills assistant, noted on the Inside the Huddle podcast that Allen likely had a voice in the decision to elevate Brady from within, describing the move as "odd" but understandable given the desire for continuity. "Josh Allen will have had a say with Joe Brady coming in and taking on that role," she said, adding that the promotion was a rare instance of a firing that immediately led to an internal promotion.
Since 2020, Allen's Bills have suffered four Divisional Round exits and two AFC Championship defeats, four of those losses coming at the hands of the Chiefs. Despite those setbacks, the franchise has amassed 73 wins in that span, the highest total of any NFL team, largely thanks to Allen's leadership of one of the most dynamic offenses in recent memory. In an effort to broaden Allen's aerial weapons, Buffalo traded for Chicago Bears wideout D.J.
Moore, a player who has not posted a 1,000‑yard receiving season since 2023. Schecter emphasized that Moore's arrival instantly upgrades an offense that has historically lacked a true star receiver. "You look at what D.J. Moore does for the team when you bring him in," she explained.
"That already elevates an offense that has never really had a star receiver." The Bills are also banking on a strong ground game, with running back James Cook emerging as a key contributor last season. Schecter pointed out that the AFC is currently home to several quarterbacks—Lamar Jackson, Joe Burrow, and now Josh Allen—who are all under pressure to finally capture a championship. "We saw James Cook all last season taking over, but it's a very interesting that we have so many teams in the AFC that were having a similar conversation around with your Lamar Jacksons, your Joe Burrows—when will these guys win a Super Bowl?" she asked.
According to Schecter, the weight of expectation now rests most heavily on Joe Brady. "Of all the teams, the most pressure is on Joe Brady in terms of the expectation is for him to get to a Super Bowl because they've always been the bridesmaid, never the bride," she said. She added that observing how Brady handles this pressure as the season progresses will be fascinating, especially given the renewed excitement surrounding the Bills' new stadium and the overall rejuvenation of the franchise.
Defensively, Buffalo made a significant change by hiring Jim Leonhard as the new defensive coordinator. The move comes after a roster overhaul that saw stalwarts such as Joey Bosa, A.J. Epenesa, Matt Milano, and Tre'Davious White depart in the offseason.
Jeff Reinebold of Sky Sports NFL praised Leonard, calling him "a brilliant young coach" who could improve the unit's balance and potentially make 2026 Buffalo's year if he can elevate the defense even slightly. Across the league, the Cincinnati Bengals and their quarterback Joe Burrow are often mentioned alongside the Bills and the Baltimore Ravens as the NFL's "nearly men"—teams that have consistently come close but have yet to secure a title. The Bengals have missed the playoffs for three straight seasons and have only managed one postseason appearance since their loss to the Los Angeles Rams in Super Bowl LVI. Burrow, who has missed 16 games due to injury over the past three seasons, emphasized the need for urgency this offseason, aiming to maximize the potential of one of the most explosive passing attacks when fully healthy.
Schecter highlighted the Bengals' defensive struggles last year, noting that despite heavy spending, the unit performed poorly. However, the team has added defensive talent such as Boye Mafe, Jonathan Allen, and former Patriots safety Kyle Dugger, hoping to create a smarter, more cohesive defense that can complement the offensive trio of Burrow, Ja'Marr Chase, and Tee Higgins.
"They've got to be able to go down and capitalize on having this fantastic trio on offense with Burrow, Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins and go attack it," Schecter said, stressing the fervent desire of Cincinnati fans for a championship run. Overall, the 2026 NFL season promises to be a pivotal one for several high‑profile quarterbacks and their teams. With new coaching hires, key player acquisitions, and a palpable hunger for success, the Bills, Bengals, and Ravens are all positioned to either finally break through or continue their streak of near‑misses.
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