Joe Brady disagrees with Sean McDermott's criticism of Bills' struggling passing game
Minutes after Sean McDermott conceded that the Buffalo Bills must be better in the passing game, Joe Brady appeared to take exception with that criticism.
While speaking with reporters on Monday afternoon, the Bills’ offensive coordinator disagreed with those who felt the Buffalo aerial attack struggled in Week 8 against the Carolina Panthers.
“We didn’t really need it yesterday,” said Brady, referencing running back James Cook’s massive performance against Carolina. “I’m always going to want everything to improve, but when we’re running the ball yesterday, we didn’t really need to pass it. Especially once we kind of got rolling into the second half.”
Quarterback Josh Allen started the game slowly, completing just 6 of his first 13 passes against the Panthers as the Bills' offense stumbled into halftime leading 19-3. If it weren’t for Cook’s heroics, coupled with a few timely splash plays from the Buffalo defense, the score would have been much closer entering the second half.
Allen was off the mark on a few throws in the early going before completing all six of his passes in the second half, while the Bills’ wide receiver corps failed to gain the separation needed to present open targets for their quarterback. Aside from Khalil Shakir’s six receptions, Buffalo WRs recorded four receptions for 44 yards. Second-year pro Keon Coleman totaled just three catches for 30 yards, with one of those coming from backup QB Mitch Trubisky in garbage time.
“I obviously have to do a better job,” said Brady regarding Coleman’s lack of involvement. “I want to get him going more in the pass game.”
The combination of Allen’s inefficiency and the WRs’ inability to get open led to a long day for the Bills through the air offensively. With that said, Brady remained steadfast in his confidence in Allen and company.
“I have no concerns with the pass game,” said the Bills’ OC.
Brady did concede that his unit has had some rough patches in past games.
“We were definitely off against Atlanta, we turned the ball over against New England,” he acknowledged.
The Bills’ OC added, “When you look at us the last few weeks, we have to obviously improve in the pass game. I wouldn’t say it’s been hard, but in the situations that we’re in, we’re not helping ourselves get out of those situations.”
Still, it does not appear that Brady feels the Bills need a complete offensive overhaul.
“There’s always elements that we have to clean up,” he said. “But anytime you run the ball or 240, you’re going to be pleased with how the game went.”
There’s no question that Cook’s emergence has been a revelation for the Bills this season. He has been the MVP of the Buffalo offense through its first seven games of the season. With that said, the question is, what will happen when an opposing team shuts down the Bills’ potent rushing attack, forcing them to pass the ball?
The Bills proved their ability to attack through the air offensively during a comeback win over the Baltimore Ravens in Week 1, a performance that Brady cited in his unit’s defense on Monday. But they have yet to replicate their second-half stretch that led them to a victory over Baltimore. There is still ample time for this team to disprove the doubters, but until the Bills do so, questions regarding their passing game will continue to swirl.
Whether Brady agrees with them or not.
Dillon Gabriel Faces Growing Frustration Over Ineffective Long Drives, Fans Question His Ability to Bring Stability to Browns' Offense
The Cleveland Browns' offensive woes have continued to plague the team, and quarterback Dillon Gabriel is now at the center of growing frustration from both fans and analysts alike. Despite his early promise, Gabriel has struggled to lead the team effectively, particularly when it comes to executing long, sustained drives. His inability to maintain consistency and generate meaningful plays has left many questioning whether he can provide the stability the Browns so desperately need on offense.
Throughout the season, the Browns have faced difficulty in putting together consistent offensive performances, and the lack of effectiveness on long drives has been a significant part of the issue. Gabriel, who had been seen as a potential answer to the team's offensive struggles, has failed to establish a rhythm, particularly on third downs and in the red zone, where long drives are crucial. Fans have voiced their disappointment on social media and in stadiums, citing missed opportunities and a lack of command during critical moments.
“It’s just not clicking,” said one disappointed fan after a recent game. “Dillon shows flashes of being capable, but when it matters most, he can’t get the offense moving. We’ve seen it too many times this season—long drives that stall, and no consistency. It’s frustrating.”
Gabriel, who was brought in to stabilize the quarterback position and bring some consistency to the offense, has been unable to consistently produce those moments of stability. His performance, while not devoid of potential, has been marred by errors, missed throws, and an inability to string together multiple successful plays when it counts.
“I'm trying to do my best out there, but it’s clear we need more consistency,” Gabriel said after the latest loss. “I take full responsibility for the struggles on offense. I know I need to be better, and I’m working hard to fix the issues. But I understand the frustration of the fans—this team deserves better.”
Head coach Kevin Stefanski, who has stood by Gabriel through the ups and downs, addressed the growing frustration during his post-game press conference, emphasizing the need for improvement across the board. “We’re all looking for better execution, and that starts with me as the head coach. Dillon knows what he needs to work on, and we’re all committed to making those improvements as a team,” Stefanski said.
Despite the setbacks, Gabriel remains hopeful that the offense can turn things around, citing the team’s overall talent and potential. However, as the season progresses, the pressure is mounting on Gabriel to prove that he can bring the stability and leadership that the Browns need to get back on track. The fans’ growing frustration with the offense suggests that time is running out for Gabriel to find consistency and live up to expectations as the Browns’ starting quarterback.
With the Browns facing a critical stretch of games, all eyes will be on Gabriel and whether he can finally get the offense to function at a high level. If he cannot lead the team to more effective and sustained drives, his role as the quarterback could be in jeopardy, and the Browns’ playoff aspirations may continue to slip further out of reach.
