Head Coach Joe Brady and the Buffalo Bills won the coin toss in Week 4 against the New England Patriots, made the aggressive call to take the ball, and then watched their offense go three-and-out, gaining just five yards. That early gamble set the stage for a Patriots touchdown drive that absolutely quieted the stadium.
Buffalo’s Aggressive New Mindset
Look, Joe Brady stepping in as head coach for the Bills brought a lot of trust, especially with Josh Allen slinging it. He’s been behind a bunch of recent offensive success with Allen, James Cook III, and the crew, so the promotion made sense. Like any new coach, Brady’s gonna make calls and learn on the fly. He’s adapting the offense, which is key, but he’s also putting what the report calls “undue stress” on them right out of the gate.
Back in the day, legendary coaches like Marv Levy would win the coin toss and always take the ball, looking for an early lead. That changed big time with Bill Belichick. He was a defensive guru, sure, but he also understood how the game was shifting. Belichick preferred to start on defense, then take the ball after halftime when he’d had more time to dissect the opponent. Suddenly, everyone was copying him, including previous Bills head coach Sean McDermott. But now? It’s Brady’s team, and through four games, we’ve seen a clear shift to a much more aggressive approach on offense, and that extends right to the coin toss.
The Double-Edged Sword of Early Gambles
Brady’s won the opening toss twice in four games, and both times, Buffalo took the ball to start the game. In Week 2 against the Detroit Lions, it was pure magic. The offense marched right down the field, punched in a tone-setting touchdown, and that place was rocking for the first game in the new Highmark Stadium. It was one of those capstone moments you dream about.
But then there’s Week 4. Against the Patriots, they won the toss, took the ball, and the results? Brutal. The offense went three-and-out, barely moving the chains with only five yards gained and just 1:31 ticked off the clock. The only saving grace was Greg Dortch’s game-opening return, which at least gave rookie punter Tommy Doman Jr. a shot to pin New England deep. And Doman Jr. delivered a beauty, with Te’Corey Couch making a smart play to keep it out of the end zone, setting the Patriots up at their own three-yard line. You’d think that’s a perfect spot for the defense, right? Especially with the Bills Mafia screaming their heads off right on top of Drake Maye. Nope. New England went 12 plays for 97 yards, chewed up 6:28 off the game clock, and scored a touchdown that absolutely deflated the crowd. It’s a harsh reminder that “very little is won” by digging yourself into a hole like that right at the start.
This isn’t just about one drive. It’s about a new head coach, Joe Brady, finding his rhythm with an aggressive approach that sometimes pays off big, like in Week 2, and sometimes backfires spectacularly, like in Week 4. He’s got to learn from these moments, because putting your defense in a hole like that right out of the gate is a tough way to play winning football.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
Leave a Reply