The Buffalo Bills’ inability to reach a Super Bowl is a riddle that has sports shriekers talking about owner Terry Pegula needing to move on from HC Sean McDermott. But, interestingly, the answer may lie in the same virtue that helped former Steelers HC Bill Cowher win a Super Bowl title 14 years into his tenure.

“I think with [McDermott’s] sustained success, it is foolish to even talk about that,” Cowher said on Shout! The Buffalo Football Podcast. “I think the biggest thing I will say about Sean McDermott, [Beane] Brandon, and Terry Pegula, they’re open-minded.

“Sometimes it’s making tough decisions in regards to coaches, or not extending a certain player, and trying to tweak that. I love that Josh [Allen] has got some input into what he’s doing, as he should. He has earned the right to do that. I know that there are open ears with Brandon [Beane], Sean, and Terry to open discussions on what we can do to make this football team better.”

All that said, the reason Cowher believes in McDermott may also stem from being part of a similar trajectory himself. Cowher was the Steelers’ coach from 1992-2006, and although his team made an SB appearance in 1995, they eventually lost to the Cowboys. They didn’t go to the Super Bowl again until 2005 against the Seahawks. This time, they won, 21-10.

Buffalo, too, has faced a similar drought. XXVIII on Jan. 30, 1994, was the last time they appeared in a Super Bowl game. The Beane-McDermott-Allen era has seen the Bills make it to the playoffs every year since 2019, but a Super Bowl appearance has nonetheless remained elusive. When one sees promising seasons imploding in the end, narratives get set… one that questions whether Allen, under McDermott’s leadership, can win the big one.

Part of the truth is that Allen’s prime is withering; he will be 30 by the time the next season starts. It’s standard that there exists a narrative-driven way to trigger interest for the big moments in the league, and the back-to-back losses against the Patriots and Falcons only added fuel to the fire.

Specifically against Atlanta, their play-calling problems and issues with execution were exposed. That said, they had their bye week and came back stronger against the Carolina Panthers. The Bills won 40-9. So, Cowher understands that Buffalo needs to be patient. “You just keep knocking on that door. [McDermott] knows how to push the right buttons. Brandon knows how to bring in the right pieces. One of these days it’s going to just mesh,” he added.

“Sometimes it’s those moments of depths and despair that you reach the heights of sudden elation. Of achieving the ultimate.”

A good example of that was the Bills versus Ravens in Week 1. Buffalo mapped an improbable comeback to win by one point. Of course, the team can’t always depend on a late resurgence, but Cowher is right in suggesting the team needs to keep pushing forward and getting better. He believes the team has great leadership, good players, and a loyal fanbase.

To end the discussion, he summed it up with one inspirational line: “Don’t be impatient. It’ll probably come a lot sooner than later.”

Would Terry Pegula consider firing Sean McDermott?

After Josh Allen’s MVP season last year, the offseason hype, and the first four games of this season, it very much looked like the Buffalo Bills were the favorites to take home the Lombardi this season. But we’re eight weeks in, and the cracks have started to show. Yet it seems unlikely that Pegula will fire the coach.

Yes, fans have been begging for the HC to get dismissed for the past few seasons. In fact, last year, many believed the coach would get sacked if the team failed to make it to the Super Bowl. Obviously, that didn’t take place.

And it doesn’t look like the team owner would make any changes anytime soon. After all, the Bills have remained competitive. They have consistently reached the playoffs. So, it looks like we will have to wait and see what happens.

The team is next scheduled to face the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 9. The game on Sunday will be the Bills’ toughest test so far. But considering the Chiefs didn’t have the best start this season, the Bills might finally get their revenge. What do you think?