Evaluation by BBC NFL reporter Ben Collins

McDermott ended an 18-year play-off drought in his first season with Buffalo and helped them turn into post-season regulars, however the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs proved to be his nemesis.

The Chiefs have knocked the Payments out of the play-offs in 4 of the previous 5 seasons, on the way in which to establishing a dynasty that produced three Tremendous Bowl wins.

With the Chiefs failing to make this season’s play-offs – together with AFC rivals Baltimore and Cincinnati – the trail was supposedly clear for McDermott to steer the Payments to their first Tremendous Bowl since shedding 4 straight from 1991 to 1994.

However whereas this was McDermott’s greatest probability but, the Payments’ roster was their weakest since Allen was drafted in 2018.

The re-emergence of New England meant the Payments relinquished the AFC East title so needed to accept a wildcard spot and go on the highway within the play-offs.

And regardless of successful at Jacksonville on Wildcard Weekend, they got here unstuck within the Divisional Spherical at Denver.

Buffalo grew to become simply the fourth group to win a play-off sport in six straight seasons. A telling reality for McDermott is that the opposite three groups all claimed three Tremendous Bowl wins throughout these runs.

He and Allen, alternatively, have the undesirable information of successful probably the most play-off video games by a head coach and quarterback (eight) with out reaching the NFL’s title decider.

At 29, time continues to be on Allen’s facet. The Payments are about to maneuver into a brand new stadium and a few high-profile coaches have come accessible within the newest hiring cycle.

So the group felt that by performing now, it permits a brand new coach to rebuild the roster and offers the NFL’s reigning Most Beneficial Participant the most effective probability of main Buffalo into a brand new period that lastly delivers a Tremendous Bowl win.