The Buffalo Bills watched Super Bowl Sunday from the couch this year, and if they were paying attention, they saw a blueprint unfolding in front of them - one drawn up by the Seattle Seahawks. While Buffalo’s season ended in another frustrating playoff exit, Seattle showed what it looks like when a franchise isn’t content with “good enough.”
Seattle made the bold move. Buffalo didn’t.
Let’s rewind. Ten days before Buffalo’s loss to Kansas City in the Divisional Round, the Seahawks had already made their move - parting ways with Pete Carroll, a Super Bowl-winning head coach who posted winning records in 11 of 12 seasons.
That’s not a light decision. But Seattle saw a ceiling and decided it was time to raise it.
Buffalo, meanwhile, stuck with Sean McDermott. Despite another year of coming up short in January, the Bills chose continuity. That’s not inherently wrong - McDermott has built a consistently competitive team - but it’s clear the organization sees value in stability where others might see stagnation.
Seattle didn’t just move on. They moved forward, hiring Mike Macdonald on January 31st to usher in a new era. And in the Super Bowl, Macdonald’s vision was on full display.
Defense that dictates - not reacts
Buffalo’s defense under McDermott has often played solid football, but too often in critical moments, it’s been reactive. Third and long?
The Bills would sit back, hoping the front four could get home. But hope isn’t a game plan - especially against elite quarterbacks.
The results speak for themselves: in big moments, Buffalo’s defense has struggled to seize control.
Contrast that with what we saw from Seattle’s defense in the Super Bowl. Macdonald’s front four didn’t wait around - they attacked.
They got after Drake Maye, sacked him multiple times, and forced errant throws. It wasn’t just pressure - it was pressure with purpose.
Dictating terms before the snap, at the snap, and after. That’s the kind of aggressive, disruptive defense new Bills defensive coordinator Jim Leonhard has said he wants to bring to Buffalo.
If he can install that mentality - the kind where the defense sets the tone instead of adjusting to it - this unit could finally take the next step. Because when New England dropped 23 and 31 points on Buffalo this season with a rookie quarterback, it wasn’t just a bad day. It was a warning sign.
In the Super Bowl, that same rookie quarterback looked overwhelmed. That wasn’t a coincidence. That was coaching, preparation, and a scheme built to control the game.
Wide receiver isn’t a magic fix
Let’s talk offense. There’s been plenty of noise about Buffalo needing a true No. 1 wideout.
And sure, adding a game-changer on the perimeter never hurts. But if you’re pointing to the Super Bowl as proof, you’re looking in the wrong place.
Seattle’s top young receiver, Jaxon Smith-Njigba, missed a big chunk of the game while being evaluated for a concussion. Yet the Seahawks kept moving the ball.
Sam Darnold completed just 50% of his passes, but he spread the ball to six different targets. No receiver topped 61 yards.
It wasn’t flashy, but it was effective.
The takeaway? You don’t need a superstar wideout to win big games - not if your system is built to maximize matchups and keep defenses guessing. Balance and versatility can be just as dangerous as star power, especially when the defense is holding up its end.
The schedule matters - and Buffalo’s isn’t doing them any favors
Let’s not ignore the path to the postseason. The Patriots won the division this year behind the softest schedule in recent memory.
They beat the Broncos in a snowstorm without Denver’s starting quarterback. That’s not a knock - it’s just the reality.
Sometimes, the road matters as much as the roster.
Buffalo hasn’t had that luxury. Playing a first-place schedule year after year comes with a cost.
And in 2026, it gets no easier. The Bills will face the AFC West - a division that sent two teams to the playoffs, plus the Chiefs.
The NFC North brings the Lions and two other playoff teams. Add in matchups against the Ravens, Texans, and the Rams - fresh off an NFC Championship appearance - and you’ve got one of the toughest slates in the league.
The margin for error is razor-thin. And that’s why every decision - from coaching staff to scheme to roster construction - carries even more weight.
Where do the Bills go from here?
Buffalo is still a contender. They have a franchise quarterback, a competitive roster, and a front office that knows how to build.
But the standard has shifted. Teams like Seattle are showing what it means to chase greatness - not just settle for being in the mix.
If the Bills want to break through, they’ll need more than tweaks. They’ll need to embrace the uncomfortable - whether that’s a new defensive identity, a more adaptable offense, or a different approach to roster building.
Because in today’s NFL, "good" isn’t good enough. Not when the teams you’re chasing are willing to make bold moves to be great.