Late in the 2024 AFC Championship game, with only two minutes left and trailing the Kansas City Chiefs by three points, the Buffalo Bills faced a critical fourth down needing five yards to keep their season alive. Quarterback Josh Allen, who would eventually earn NFL MVP honors, targeted tight end Dalton Kincaid, his second-year receiver and first-round draft pick from Utah, on a pass that was slightly low but within reach. However, Kincaid dropped the ball, abruptly ending the Bills’ hopes of advancing to their first Super Bowl since 1993.
Josh Allen Takes Responsibility for Strained Partnership with Kincaid
After the drop, the mood among Bills players was somber, but Allen assumed much of the blame for the lack of connection with Kincaid. He emphasized the need to improve their synergy moving forward, acknowledging that better ball placement and involving Kincaid more frequently were necessary for success. Allen remarked,
“He can sit there and think about that play over and over, but I got to be better for him,
That’s what it comes down to, and get him more involved.”
—Josh Allen, Quarterback
The statistics support Allen’s assessment. Throughout the 2024 season, the two were often out of sync, with less than 70 percent of Kincaid’s targets considered catchable and a mere 37 percent on longer throws exceeding ten air yards. Veteran analyst Sal Maiorana highlighted these numbers, writing that the connection between Allen and Kincaid was “brutal, plain and simple,” underscoring a serious challenge that the Bills will need to address in 2025.
Allen admitted,
“I didn’t feel like I put him in enough good situations this year, ball-placement-wise,”
admitting that better execution was required.
Uncatchable Passes and Missed Adjustments Slowed Development
NFL analyst Joe Marino from the Locked on Bills podcast reported that Allen to Kincaid’s uncatchable target rate was the highest in the league, indicating that the problem was pervasive rather than isolated. Marino explained that a lack of necessary in-season adjustments hindered the development of their chemistry, stating,
“You’re still developing chemistry with a lot of different players and maybe you take for granted that Kincaid was an established player, but still a young guy that you needed to evolve with,”
and,
“And so I think the overall turnover at the skill positions didn’t help.”
—Joe Marino, NFL Analyst
Kincaid entered a Bills offense initially led by offensive coordinator Ken Dorsey, who was dismissed after ten games into Kincaid’s rookie season due to team struggles and turnovers. Quarterbacks coach Joe Brady was promoted to offensive coordinator and maintained that position through the 2024 season. Marino noted the impact of these changes:
“I think there’s something to be said there. Right there is an acclimation and adjustment for everyone,”
alluding to the challenges posed by new leadership and system adoption.
Continuity and Focus Essential for Future Success
With Brady returning as offensive coordinator for 2025, the Bills have an opportunity to foster better communication and timing between Allen and Kincaid. Football writer Sal Maiorana echoed these hopes, emphasizing Allen’s candid self-assessment and the shared responsibility between the quarterback and tight end for their lack of chemistry. He stated,
“Allen was right on the money regarding his season assessment of his connection with Kincaid,”
and,
“It was not good, both players share the blame in their lack of chemistry, and it’s something that has to be fixed for the 2025 season.”
—Sal Maiorana, Sports Journalist
As the Bills reflect on a disappointing championship defeat, resolving the issues between Allen and Kincaid will be critical to maximizing their offensive potential and making a strong Super Bowl push next year. The franchise faces pressure to find cohesion quickly, especially with Kincaid entering the third year of his rookie contract, as their success in 2025 may hinge on this vital quarterback–receiver relationship.