Josh Allen and Dalton Kincaid Struggle to Find Chemistry in Crucial Season
In the final minutes of the 2024 AFC Championship game, the Buffalo Bills faced a pivotal fourth-down play while trailing the Kansas City Chiefs by three points. Quarterback Josh Allen, later named NFL MVP, targeted tight end Dalton Kincaid — the team’s 2023 first-round draft pick — on a key pass. Although the throw was slightly low, it was catchable. Kincaid dropped the ball, effectively ending the Bills’ season and their hopes of reaching their first Super Bowl since 1993.
Following the game, Allen took responsibility for the missed connection, expressing support for Kincaid. He acknowledged that he needed to improve his own performance to better support his teammate. Statistics from the season show a persistent lack of synchronization between the two, with only 69 percent of Kincaid’s targets considered catchable and a mere 37 percent catchable on deeper passes.
Analysts noted this disconnection as one of the most significant in the NFL, highlighting that Allen and Kincaid’s chemistry never fully developed. NFL analyst Joe Marino pointed out that although Kincaid was expected to be an immediate contributor, he was still adapting to the league. Marino also referenced changes in the Bills’ offensive coaching staff, including the midseason firing of coordinator Ken Dorsey and the promotion of Joe Brady, which may have disrupted Kincaid’s development.
Brady remains the offensive coordinator for the 2025 season, and it is hoped that consistency in leadership will help foster a stronger connection between Allen and Kincaid. With both players sharing responsibility for last season’s struggles, improvement in their collaboration will be crucial for the Bills moving forward.
As the Bills look ahead to the 2025 season, the focus will be on addressing this key area of miscommunication. The team’s success may depend heavily on whether Allen and Kincaid can establish the rapport expected of a top quarterback-tight end duo.
