Orchard Park, N.Y. (WGR 550) - After falling short in the AFC Divisional Round for the third year in-a-row this past Sunday night, Buffalo Bills head coach Sean McDermott took to the podium for the final time on Tuesday for his end-of-season press conference with the assembled media.
McDermott has made the playoffs with the Bills in six of his seven seasons as head coach, and coached the team to its fourth-consecutive AFC East title in 2023.
Despite falling short in each of the last three seasons in the Divisional Round, as well as in the AFC Championship Game in 2020, McDermott remains confident in his team's progression moving forward.
"I'm extremely proud of what we've accomplished, but not in any way satisfied or going to get complacent with where we're at," said McDermott on Tuesday. "Every year, you start over and every year, I can tell you and promise you that fire burns within me bright as it did the year before, if not more. We're disappointed, yes, but not broken."
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Another aspect of the 2023 season McDermott was proud to see over the course of the year was the evolution of quarterback Josh Allen's game. The sixth-year veteran became more in control of his role in the running game this year as compared to years past, and McDermott feels it's partially to do with his quarterback maturing and evolving his game.
"Very proud of Josh from the standpoint of the ownership that he has taken with that," McDermott said. "You saw the urgency down the stretch, you saw him going for it. You saw him willing this team to win. The Miami [Dolphins] game, in particular, this past game in particular, that's what he's going to do. But I also think he is maturing enough to the point of, 'Hey, I understand how to play the position, and understand how to play the position as it relates to my ability to move and be mobile. But I also understand I've got to be healthy enough down the stretch so I can do that, and lower my shoulder when I need it.' It's all a piece of it, and I think, again, his understanding of that, we're getting closer and closer to that. He gets it."
Hear more from McDermott's end-of-season press conference available in the player below:
