Buffalo Bills head coach Sean Mcdermott made a drastic change Wednesday, benching starting quarterback Tyrod Taylor. Was the move necessary?
When the Buffalo Bills take on the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 11, they will have someone different leading their offense. Head coach Sean McDermott announced Wednesday morning that rookie quarterback Nathan Peterman will replace Tyrod Taylor under center.
The move comes after a rough two-game stretch for the Bills which saw them get outscored 81-31, including a 47-10 route at the hands of the New Orleans Saints.
It is rare for a team holding a playoff spot this late in the season to make a quarterback change. The past two games for the Bills have been embarrassing for fans and the team. However, it is hard to blame it all on Taylor.
The Bills have allowed 492 rushing yards the past two games, which is the main reason they have struggled. Since the Marcel Dareus trade, the defensive line of the Bills has struggled to get any push up front, allowing the Saints and Jets to dominate the line of scrimmage.
It is no secret Taylor has been disappointing this season. The Bills offense has struggled to move the ball all year, and if it wasn’t for their defense, the team would not be holding a playoff spot still. However, changing your quarterback this late in the season is a bold move that could backfire drastically.
With that said, a quarterback change just seems unnecessary, especially when you are handing the ball off to an unproven rookie. Peterman did show some promise late in Saints game. However, the game was well out of reach for the Bills in what can be construed as garbage time.
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It is clear McDermott is sending a message to his team that going 5-4 through nine games isn’t good enough, and Taylor is taking the blame. It will be interesting to see how this team reacts to such a big shakeup this late in the season.