Kansas City, Miss. — Buffalo Bills coach Sean McDermott was asked three times about his decision making in the final 13 seconds of regulation after his offense had just completed its second touchdown drive in less than two minutes.
But he apparently didn’t think an explanation was needed.
“I don’t want to really get into specifics,” he said.
The Bills had the game won.
They had just completed a furious touchdown drive that went six plays in 49 seconds. Josh Allen threw his fourth touchdown pass of the game, three of which came in the second half. All four went to second-year wide receiver Gabriel Davis, who finished with a game-high 201 yards. Allen even managed to evade a sack on the two-point conversion try and fired a dart to Stefon Diggs to go up, 36-33.
Patrick Mahomes still had 13 seconds but a squib kick may have forced the Chiefs to squander a few seconds. Instead the Bills kicked it into the end zone for a touchback. Mahomes completed two passes for 44 yards in 10 seconds. That set up Harrison Butker for the game-tying field goal. He made it, the Chiefs won the coin toss in overtime, and everybody inside Arrowhead Stadium knew the game was over.
Mahomes only needed eight plays before finding Travis Kelce for the game winner in overtime. And it was indeed, over.
McDermott said there were things the Bills coaching staff talked about before Tyler Bass kicked the ball off with 13 seconds left. But it came down to execution, he said.
“We can just execute better and that starts with me and goes all the way down,” McDermott said. “I don’t want to get into specifics right now. I’m really proud of the guys and their effort. Obviously [the Chiefs] made a couple plays down the stretch. So I’ll just leave it at that right now.”
McDermott said the entire Bills locker room felt sick to their stomach. When asked if he thought about a squib kick, McDermott said that was one of many things he considered.
“Yeah, we talked about a lot of things,” he said. “I’m just gonna leave it at the execution and that starts with me.”
Game management has been a constant criticism of the fifth-year coach. He settled for field goals last season against the same team in the AFC title game instead of putting the ball in his franchise quarterback’s hands. He was more aggressive this time around, and Allen almost bailed him out. But too often in the game the Bills offense was conservative, even after All Pro safety Tyrann Mathieu left the game because of a concussion.
McDermott took the blame, and rightfully so. But not wanting to explore those 13 seconds and provide Bills fans with an explanation was worse than the decision to kick the ball into the end zone.
One more time, McDermott was asked if he thought about kicking it short at the end. One more opportunity to explain the decision. He declined to provide any more details.
“Yeah, we talked about that. And again, you know, I’m just gonna put it on the execution at this point and myself,” he said. “I’m just gonna leave it at that.”
There you have it, Bills fan. McDermott is going to just leave it at that.
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