Buffalo Bills head coach Joe Brady finds himself bearing the greatest amount of scrutiny across the league as he attempts to guide quarterback Josh Allen’s squad from perpetual bridesmaid status to that coveted bride’s role, according to Sky Sports analyst Phoebe Schecter. The Bills have reignited their Super Bowl ambitions this year after a painful playoff exit earlier in the season, when they fell to the Denver Broncos in an overtime thriller during the January Divisional Round. That loss was widely viewed as a premature conclusion to what many believed was the franchise’s best chance in recent memory to end a lingering championship drought, especially given the unusual playoff landscape that saw perennial powerhouses such as Patrick Mahomes’ Kansas City Chiefs miss the postseason for the first time since 2014, while other elite quarterbacks like Lamar Jackson and Joe Burrow were also absent.
Following the disappointing finish, longtime head coach Sean McDermott was dismissed after nine seasons at the helm, and the organization elected to promote from within, elevating offensive coordinator Joe Brady to the top spot. Schecter, a former Bills coach, discussed the transition on the Inside the Huddle podcast, noting, "Josh Allen will have had a say in Joe Brady coming in and taking on that role. It was just odd at the time in terms of how it happened, that kind of firing in order to promote from within." Allen’s Bills have endured four Divisional Round defeats and two AFC Championship Game losses since the 2020 season, four of those setbacks coming at the hands of the Chiefs. Despite the postseason shortcomings, the team amassed 73 victories during that span—a total that eclipses any other franchise in the NFL over the same period—largely powered by Allen’s relentless leadership of one of the most dynamic offenses in football history.
In an effort to broaden Allen’s aerial arsenal, Buffalo executed a trade for Chicago Bears wide receiver D.J. Moore, a veteran who has not posted a 1,000‑yard receiving season since 2023. Schecter highlighted the move, saying, "You look at what D.J.
Moore does for the team when you bring him in. That already elevates an offense that has never really had a star receiver. They're still trying to keep that mentality, but you pair that with a fantastic running game. 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 your Lamar Jacksons, your Joe Burrows – when will these guys win a Super Bowl?" She added that the pressure on Brady is unparalleled: "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.
It'll be fascinating to see how he manages that pressure, especially as they move deeper into the season. But everyone feels good about it.
You've got a new stadium, you've got a new excitement around it and that kind of rejuvenation." Defensively, Buffalo made a bold statement by appointing Jim Leonard as the new defensive coordinator. Leonard inherits a unit that lost several cornerstone players in the offseason, including Joey Bosa, A.J. Epenesa, Matt Milano, and Tre'Davious White.
Sky Sports NFL analyst Jeff Reinebold praised the hire, stating, "Leonard is the key to this whole deal. Jim Leonard is a brilliant young coach, and if he can get that defense just a little bit better than it's been and better balance, this could be Buffalo's year." The Bills now sit alongside the Cincinnati Bengals and the Baltimore Ravens as the NFL’s most talked‑about "nearly men"—teams that consistently flirt with greatness but have yet to secure the ultimate prize. The Bengals, led by quarterback Joe Burrow, 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 years, has demanded urgency from his roster this offseason, aiming to maximize, when healthy, one of the league’s most explosive passing attacks. Schecter noted the Bengals’ situation: "He said it himself, we all know he's been injured so many times coming into this season, or they've had some big injury within the team, but the time is now and they've got to chase that success. The biggest complaint last year was how they were putting so much money into this defense and they were probably the worst performing defense.
But bringing in Boye Mafe, Jonathan Allen, you get Kyle Dugger from the Patriots, you've got a smart defense. You've got a safety who can now organise everybody." She continued, "They've got to be able to go down and capitalise on having this fantastic trio on offense with Burrow, Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins and go attack it.
This city needs it. The fan base are so desperate for it and you don't have an endless clock with Joe Burrow, especially seeing his injury rate over the past few seasons." Both Buffalo and Cincinnati are banking on a blend of seasoned talent and strategic coaching changes to finally break through the barrier that has kept them from hoisting the Lombardi Trophy. For the Bills, the combination of Allen’s elite playmaking, Moore’s veteran receiving skill set, James Cook’s versatile rushing, and Leonard’s defensive schematics could finally tip the scales.
For the Bengals, a healthier Burrow, a reinforced defensive roster, and the explosive chemistry between Burrow, Chase, and Higgins may provide the missing piece. As the 2026 NFL season unfolds, fans across the country will be watching closely to see which of these near‑miss teams finally converts their potential into a championship. The Bills, with a new stadium and a rejuvenated fan atmosphere, hope to convert that energy into on‑field success. The Bengals, driven by a city yearning for a return to glory, aim to silence the doubts that have lingered since their Super Bowl loss.
Ultimately, the pressure on coaches like Joe Brady and players like Josh Allen and Joe Burrow will be the defining narrative of the season, as the league seeks to crown a new champion at Super Bowl LXI on February 14, 2027.