ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. — Witnessing a troubling surge in turnovers and a worrisome drop in quarterback Josh Allen’s confidence provided Buffalo Bills coach Sean McDermott little choice but to fire offensive coordinator Ken Dorsey on Tuesday.
The move came 10 weeks into the season and a day after the three-time defending AFC East champions dropped to 5-5 to fall further out of the playoff picture following a sloppy, turnover-filled 24-22 loss to the Denver Broncos.
“We need to be a confident offensive football team, and find consistent production, and that’s really what it came down to,” McDermott said. “I’m as frustrated as anyone out there. We’re trying to win one game at a time right now, and we get a chance to right the ship.”
He then defended the timing of the decision in making the move entering a short week with the Bills having only five days to prepare before hosting the division rival New York Jets (4-5) on Sunday.
“There’s never a good time to do it, right?” McDermott said. “I always want to do what’s best for the team, and felt like this was needed right now.”
Second-year quarterbacks coach Joe Brady takes over as interim coordinator. He joined the Bills after spending the previous two seasons as Carolina’s offensive coordinator.
Something was bound to give with an offense showing signs of stagnation over a six-week stretch in which Buffalo dropped four of six. The last straw was an outing against Denver in which Allen committed three of Buffalo’s four turnovers, and the offense was held under 26 points for a sixth straight game to match the longest stretch since the quarterback’s rookie season in 2018.