The Buffalo Bills had the ball, down three points, with 3:33 left and a trip to the Super Bowl on the line.
With MVP quarterback Josh Allen under center, it wasn鈥檛 a bad spot to be in.
Of course, it didn鈥檛 turn out in the Bills鈥 favor in January, as the offense turned the ball over on downs, allowing the Kansas City Chiefs to run out the clock and punch their ticket to a third straight Super Bowl appearance.
In the days that followed, players packed up their lockers and had exit meetings with coaches. General manager Brandon Beane and head coach Sean McDermott spoke to the media, but offensive coordinator Joe Brady stayed silent.
Until Tuesday.
Speaking ahead of the team鈥檚 practice, Brady addressed the Bills鈥 loss in the AFC championship game for the first time.
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鈥淚 say I鈥檓 not a results guy, but you know, when your season ends, the result is the result, right? When you鈥檙e the offensive coordinator, your job is to outscore, score one more point than the opposing team, and we didn鈥檛 get that done,鈥 he said. 鈥淪o that鈥檚 what, obviously, makes it hard. That鈥檚 what is tough.鈥
In two straight years, the Bills鈥 offense has had the ball against the Chiefs with two minutes remaining in the fourth quarter, trailing by three points. In both cases, it has failed to produce the necessary points to either tie or take the lead in the game.
鈥淚鈥檓 not, not sleeping, but we want the ball in our hands with the game on the line, like, no doubt about it,鈥 Brady said. 鈥淚鈥檒l take that all day, every day. That鈥檚 an opportunity for us and we didn鈥檛 get it done. Yeah, that鈥檚 important to us. That鈥檚 always going to stick with you. But if we get that opportunity again, that鈥檚 what I want. That鈥檚 what our guys want.
鈥淚n that situation, we鈥檙e playing on the road in those games, that chance comes along, we鈥檝e got to be as excited as hell to go on that field and be able to go win the football game. We didn鈥檛 get it done. We don鈥檛 dwell on it, but we know what we鈥檙e working toward.鈥
That work is ongoing this spring, with a group that returns largely intact. Starting running back James Cook has thus far stayed away from the team鈥檚 voluntary spring practices as he seeks a new contract, but there is still a great deal of continuity on Brady鈥檚 side of the ball. Wide receiver Joshua Palmer is new, but the rest of Allen鈥檚 weapons are the same.
Brady failed to get into specifics about what happened in the AFC championship game 鈥 like why he continued to call the same Allen sneak, even though it was clear and obvious the Chiefs knew what was coming and how to stop it 鈥 but said that he prides himself on putting his players in the best position to win the game.
鈥淚 don鈥檛 think any of our guys would say I didn鈥檛, but my job is to say, 鈥楬ey, we didn鈥檛 win the football game. We didn鈥檛 get to where we needed to get to. I didn鈥檛 do a good enough job,鈥 鈥 he said. 鈥淚 prefer it when it falls on my shoulders and not my guys.鈥
The Bills finished second in the NFL in scoring average in the regular season at 30.9 points per game. Allen won the MVP. Cook made the Pro Bowl. The 鈥渆verybody eats鈥 mentality that Brady spearheaded proved to be a success.
Still, Brady has spent much of this offseason reflecting on things he needs to improve.
The Bills鈥 offense won鈥檛 be successful in 2025 simply because it has a lot of continuity. Teams will study what worked for the Bills last year and make adjustments in an effort to stop it. It鈥檚 on Brady to keep the offense evolving. To that end, he was asked whether 鈥渆verybody eats鈥 鈥 the philosophy that, in a given week, it could be any offensive player who steps up and carries the load as a playmaker 鈥 will continue.
鈥淭o me, it has nothing to ever do with production. It鈥檚 all about a selfless mindset, it鈥檚 all about an approach, it鈥檚 all about, 鈥楬ey, I鈥檓 going to take care of my job, if I do my job everything else will come to me,鈥 鈥 he said. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 all that it ever really is about. When guys have success, we want to love each other and celebrate each other鈥檚 success. That鈥檚 what it鈥檚 about.鈥
Brady was asked whether he鈥檚 been in communication with Cook, but didn鈥檛 directly answer. He did, however, reiterate how much he appreciates what the running back has done for the team. Cook is heading into the final year of his rookie contract and wants an extension, but the team and his representatives have so far been not close on a new deal.
鈥淭hat鈥檚 stuff that鈥檚 besides me鈥 Brady said. 鈥淚 don鈥檛 make those decisions and whatnot. But he was obviously huge for us last year, and I鈥檓 excited when he is here to be able to get with him. I obviously love Jimbo, but it鈥檚 just like anyone, when someone鈥檚 not here, it鈥檚 a great opportunity for the guys that are.鈥
