McDermott

Analysis by BBC NFL reporter Ben Collins

McDermott ended an 18-year play-off drought in his first season with Buffalo and helped them become post-season regulars, but the Kansas City Chiefs proved to be his nemesis.

The Chiefs have knocked the Bills out of the play-offs in four of the past five seasons, on the way to establishing a dynasty that produced three Super Bowl wins.

With the Chiefs failing to make this season’s play-offs – along with AFC rivals Baltimore and Cincinnati – the path was supposedly clear for McDermott to lead the Bills to their first Super Bowl since losing four straight from 1991 to 1994.

But while this was McDermott’s best chance yet, the Bills’ roster was their weakest since Allen was drafted in 2018, and it was relying too much on the NFL’s reigning Most Valuable Player to keep producing moments of individual magic.

The re-emergence of New England meant the Bills relinquished the AFC East title so had to settle for a wildcard spot and go on the road in the play-offs.

And despite winning at Jacksonville on Wildcard Weekend, they came unstuck in the Divisional Round at Denver.

Buffalo became just the fourth team to win a play-off game in six straight seasons. A telling fact for McDermott is that the other three teams all claimed three Super Bowl wins during those runs.

He and Allen, on the other hand, have the unwanted records of winning the most play-off games by a head coach and quarterback (eight) without reaching the NFL’s title decider.

At 29, time is still on Allen’s side. The Bills are about to move into a new stadium and some high-profile coaches have come available in the latest hiring cycle.

So the team felt that by acting now, it allows a new coach to rebuild the roster and gives Allen the best chance of leading Buffalo into a new era that finally delivers a Super Bowl win.

ZARA McDermott has shared a rare loved-up snap with boyfriend Louis Tomlinson after taking a “huge step” in their relationship.

The One Direction singer, 34, whom she started dating in March, made it onto an Instagram image carousel of the Love Island alum’s best bits of 2025.

It came after The Sun exclusively revealed they had spent Christmas together at his Hertfordshire home.

The cheery image showed the duo in Costa Rica in what she described as “the most magical trip of my life”.

The lovebirds were seen all smiles as the posed for a selfie in the wing mirror of a safari van.

Zara, 29, could be seen wearing a tan Miu Miu baseball cap and gold earrings while Louis, who was behind the wheel, donned a white T-Shirt and sunglasses.

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She captured a leafy backdrop in her shot and wrote: “Went to Costa Rica, a country I’ve wanted to visit since I was a teenager.

“The most magical trip of my life!!”

Back in May, we told how the pair “couldn’t stop snogging” after they were spotted on the trip.

At the time, The Sun revealed that Louis flew the Strictly star out in first class to a secluded villa on the coast in Santa Teresa where he was recording new music.

Zara, who split from former Made In Chelsea star Sam Thompson last January, was then seen locking lips with her new pop star beau.

Following Zara’s recent upload Louis’ sister Lottie – who has previously broken her silence on the pair’s romance – was quick to reply to the upload with red love heart Emoji icons.

One fan then put of the pair: “He’s smiling u make him so happy Zara.’

A second posted: “Oh sob I love seeing him happy.”

A third put: “Louis finally is happy omg.”

Other images included Zara’s work achievements for her BBC Three documentaries and her fashion brand Rise, as well as her posing in stylish dresses and capturing her family travelling on a private jet for their 30th wedding anniversary.

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Last month, we told how the couple had progressed their relationship by spending the festive period together.

Zara joined the Night Changes hitmaker, his son Freddie, and his extended family including sister Lottie and twins Phoebe and Daisy, for the special time.

On their new podcast, Tea With The Twins, Phoebe and Daisy said: “This is a big Christmas this year — it might be our biggest Christmas. Everyone is coming. 

“The new baby this year is Flossy [Lottie’s second child with fiancé Lewis Burton] as she was born in January, so we already have a new member. 

“And we’ve got another new member as our brother’s got a new girlfriend so that will be nice. I think there will be 16 of us in total.” 

A source close to the former One Direction singer and TV presenter confirmed they would be together for Christmas. They added: “Louis and Zara are still totally in the honeymoon period and try not to be apart for too long. 

“Their relationship is serious, it’s not a flash in the pan. It’s going the distance. 

“Zara gets on so well with Louis’ family, especially his sisters, so he wanted her to be there with them, celebrating. 

“They’ve both had work commitments recently so they’re looking forward to spending proper quality time together.” 

Our mole added: “As it’s Louis’ birthday on Christmas Eve, the plan is for Zara to spend that with him and then Christmas Day with the Tomlinsons. After that they will go and see Zara’s family. 

“They both love their families so much, it is something that attracted them to each other, so it will be a Christmas to remember.”