As the 2025 NFL season approaches, the spotlight intensifies on the Josh Allen Buffalo Bills Super Bowl ambitions, especially amid growing questions about head coach Sean McDermott’s ability to deliver. While the Bills Mafia has celebrated five consecutive AFC East championships under McDermott in the 2020s, increasing skepticism from analysts and fans at Orchard Park suggests those achievements may no longer suffice. The pressure mounts as Buffalo positions itself as a top Super Bowl contender despite lingering doubts about whether the coaching staff can elevate the team to the ultimate prize.
The debate erupted sharply when WalterFootball ranked McDermott 12th out of 25 NFL head coaches last month, a surprisingly low placement for the man charged with leading the City of Light to a championship. This ranking reflects a widening divide among experts who acknowledge Buffalo’s regular-season success but question postseason results. Draft insider Charlie Campbell elaborated on the skepticism, emphasizing the relative weakness of the AFC East division and pointing to the Bills’ playoff shortcomings.
“They get to the playoffs and they lose, they don’t get to the Super Bowl,”
said Campbell.
“They have an MVP quarterback. I think defensively, they’re a very conservative team and I think that McDermott has done a good job, but not a great job.”
—Charlie Campbell, Draft Insider
Further reinforcing this unease, Joe Marino of Locked On Bills scored the Bills’ coaching staff as the seventh best heading into 2025, describing the coaching outlook as solid but not among the elite. His analysis combines scores for McDermott and his offensive and defensive coordinators, reflecting a coaching unit that rates highly yet still trails some top contenders in the league.
“From a coaching perspective, the way that we do the coaching is you get the most points for your head coach, and then you get half of the points that you get for your head coach for an O.C. and your D.C.”
—Joe Marino, Locked On Bills Analyst
When integrating the roster and coaching evaluations, Marino, along with co-analyst Kyle Krabs, positioned the Bills fourth overall, behind the Baltimore Ravens, Philadelphia Eagles, and the Kansas City Chiefs. This consensus ranking highlights that while Buffalo remains among the elite, other teams are perceived as having stronger overall packages heading into the new season.
“We do have the Ravens at number one, and then the Chiefs do jump the Bills here. They go to number three. So that’s the value of their coaching… Philly’s number two. So, Ravens one, Chiefs three, Bills four,”
Marino noted. —Joe Marino, Locked On Bills Analyst
Balancing Success and Shortcomings: Buffalo’s Playoff Performance in Focus
Since 2020, Josh Allen has been an undeniable force, leading the Bills to a formidable 61-22 record. Yet despite regular-season dominance, the postseason remains Buffalo’s stumbling block with only a 7-5 playoff record and no Super Bowl appearances during Allen’s tenure. The team‘s inability to advance beyond the AFC Championship game has led to mounting frustration, as many in the Bills Mafia anticipated a breakthrough by now.
The offense has flourished under Allen’s leadership, with the quarterback’s MVP-caliber play elevating the team’s status. Still, experts argue that a conservative defense and cautious coaching may be limiting Buffalo’s ability to secure the title when it matters most. This gap between potential and postseason results fuels the intense debate over Sean McDermott’s stewardship as the head coach tasked with converting promise into championship success.
Projected Super Bowl Challengers and Buffalo’s Position in 2025
Despite doubts, Buffalo continues to be listed among the legitimate Super Bowl challengers for the upcoming season, bolstered by recent signings such as defensive standout Joey Bosa and receiver Josh Palmer. The team’s roster depth and talent are widely acknowledged, and the Bills again secured the AFC East crown for the fifth consecutive year.
The pressure on McDermott and Allen is clear: with a roster primed for success, the Bills must translate regular-season victories into playoff triumphs. Analysts like FS1’s Jason McIntyre include Buffalo among a select group of Super Bowl contenders, noting their history of near misses but emphasizing the belief that the team remains poised for a breakthrough.
“They’ve been knocking on the door for a few years,”
McIntyre said.
“Josh Allen, obviously tremendous. They came up a little short in the playoff game in Kansas City. Buffalo had some self-inflicted wounds trying to pull off the tush push repeatedly, and it failed. The Bills did add Joey Bosa, not a bad pickup. Josh Palmer from the Chargers, but they also have a very favorable schedule, and they’ve won the last five AFC East titles.”
—Jason McIntyre, FS1 Analyst
The addition of impactful players and a favorable schedule heighten expectations that Buffalo’s championship window is wide open. However, the question remains open whether Sean McDermott’s coaching can unlock the final stage of success and guide Josh Allen and the Bills to the franchise’s first-ever Super Bowl title in 2025.
The Weight of Expectations and What Lies Ahead for Buffalo
Buffalo’s situation is intensely precarious: with a talented roster and a franchise quarterback delivering at an MVP level, the team’s perceived shortcomings on coaching strategy and postseason execution cast a long shadow. Analysts’ mixed rankings reflect this tension, which energizes debates over whether McDermott can adjust and lead a historic breakthrough.
The Bills Mafia’s fervor is no secret, and the fan base continues to demand that Buffalo fulfill its championship dreams after years of dominance without ultimate triumph. Whether McDermott will meet those demands remains to be seen, as 2025 poses as a pivotal test for both coach and team in their quest for Super Bowl glory.