OK, TYROD TAYLOR ISN’T TOM BRADY OR EVEN AARON RODGERS
With two minutes to go on Sunday and the Buffalo Bills trailing the Cincinnati Bengals 20-16, a veteran western New York scribe tweeted: “This is where Tyrod Taylor can change his reputation. The Bills need him to lead them to a TD.”
The Bills had to go 80 yards for a go-ahead touchdown. With no timeouts left. And no reliable receivers to throw to. And an ineffective offensive line.
What chance did Taylor have? It would’ve been a minor football miracle. Tyrod in desperation wound up throwing an interception – something he hardly ever does.
A few other shots from disappointed texters:
“Tyrod Taylor sacked six times. He was 20-forf-37 for 166 yards. That’s not going to get it done.”
“Tom Brady always pulls out games like this.”
“This just in, Tyrod stinks.”
And hours after the Bills lost, Green Bay pulled out a victory over Dallas with more late heroics from Aaron Rodgers: 9 plays, 75 yards in 1:02.
Of course, it helped that Green Bay’s receivers include Jordy Nelson, Devante Adams, Randall Cobb, Richard Rodgers, Martellus Bennett and Geronimo Allison.
Taylor’s available targets Sunday were Zay Jones, Andre Holmes, Kaelin Clay, Brandon Tate, Nick O’Leary and Logan Thomas.
Do you notice the difference?
I understand where Taylor’s legions of Tyrod critics are coming from. I don’t believe he gets credit for doing what he does best – run and protect the football.
I thought the undermanned Bills, including Taylor -- under the circumstances -- played a pretty good game in the loss to the Bengals.
Buffalo isn’t built to win high-scoring games. The defense needs to force turnovers and the offense has to capitalize on favorable field position.
The defense came through Sunday. The offense did not. But putting most of the blame on Taylor seems unfair to me. His best “wide receiver” threat to start the game was tight end Charles Clay – and he got hurt in the first half.
From the start of this season, I was worried about the lack of depth at wide receiver. It badly bit the Bills on Sunday.
The Bills hit their bye week with a 3-2 record. But Sunday’s loss was a reality check. The roster’s lack of quality depth figures to get worse. This could the last time Buffalo is above .500 this season. Playoff hopes likely will fade.
I get why so many fans want rookie Nathan Peterman to replace Taylor as Buffalo’s starting quarterback, preferably as soon as the next game – home against Tampa Bay October 22.
I’m pretty sure coach Sean McDermott will stick with Taylor for now. But a QB switch probably is inevitable. I don’t when it will happen but I’d be shocked if Peterman proves to be an instant improvement if he gets the call.
What do you think?
BILLS BY THE NUMBERS
ESPN on Monday posted this sad fact: Buffalo’s wide receivers are on pace to post the worst per-game numbers in the NFL since at least 2001: 10.2 targets...4.8 catches...63.2 yards.
Entering Monday night, Buffalo still ranks 1st in the 32-team NFL in scoring defense (allowing 14.8 points per game)...14th in total defense (322.4 yards allowed per game)...10th in rush defense (87.6)...22nd in pass defense (234.8) defense).
The Bills rank 31st in total offense (271.6 yards per game)...29th in pass offense (165.0)...16th in rush offense (106.6)...28th in yards per rush (3.4)...t25th in scoring (17.8 points per game).
Buffalo is tied for 2nd on the turnovers table at +8 (10 takeaways and 2 giveaways).
Micah Hyde leads the NFL with 4 interceptions.
The Bills have 34 accepted penalties for 2890 yards...opponents have 31 penalties for 297 yards.
A FEW MORE NFL FACTOIDS
--It was a tough Week 5 for Buffalo. The three other AFC East teams – New England, the New York Jets and Miami all won.
--In their five games, the Bills have gained 408 yards (vs. the Jets), 255 yards, 272 yards, 281 and 221 yards. That’s pretty bad.
--Things could be worse, Bills fans. You could be rooting for the New York Giants: 0-5 record and star wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr., facing season-ending ankle surgery.
--Yes, I’d rather have Aaron Rodgers than Tyrod Taylor as QB for the Bills. But Rodgers is spoken for.
EX-BILLS RECEIVERS HAD A PRETTY GOOD WEEK 5
The Bills were woefully short of talent at wide receiver Sunday in Cincinnati. Meanwhile, several former Buffalo receivers had fun in NFL Week 5:
Marquise Goodwin (San Francisco) 5 catches for 116 yards...Chris Hogan (New England) 8 catches for 74 yards and 1 TD...Robert Woods (LA Rams) 5 catches for 66 yards...Justin Hunter (Pittsburgh) 1 catch for 6 yards. Total: 19 catches for 262 yards and 1 TD.
The only Former Buffalo WR to be blanked in Week 5 was Sammy Watkins (LA Rams) 0 catches for 0 yards; 4 targets.
TERRIFIC START FOR THE UNBEATEN AMERKS
Just about the only negative for the opening weekend of the AHL season for the Rochester Americans was the announced crowd for opening night Friday: 5,009 at Blue Cross Arena at the War Memorial.
Two likely reasons: 1-The hockey game was up against a lot of TV sports...2-Some fans need to be convinced that this isn’t the start of another ho-hum non-playoffs season.
The Amerks won 3-1 over Syracuse Friday and 3-2 in overtime Saturday in Syracuse.
What wasn’t there to like? Linus Ullmark and Adam Wilcox were solid in goal. Balanced scoring. Outscored the Crunch 6-3. Penalty killing 10-for-10 (2-for-12 on the power play).
The next three games will be home: Friday against the Utica Comets, Friday Oct. 20 against the Charlotte Checkers and Saturday Oct. 21 against Utica.
GREAT EFFORT BY RHINOS CLINCHES PLAYOFF BERTH
The Rochester Rhinos had a dominant final road match of their United Soccer League regular season last Saturday night in a 2-0 victory over the Pittsburgh Riverhounds.
Rochester clinched a playoff spot for the 21st time in 22 seasons. The Amerks and Red Wings should be so fortunate. For the record, the only non-playoff season for the Rhinos was 2013 (6-10-10 record).
The Rhinos led early on goals by Jochen Graf (after just 22 seconds) and Wal Fall (14th minute) and then frustrated the Riverhounds with ball control defense for the rest of the game. Pittsburgh finished with zero shots on goal.
It was the 13th clean sheet (shutout) of the season for Rochester and the third for Penfield native Dan Lynd.
Coach Bob Lilley’s Rhinos rank second in the 30-team USL in both shutouts (13) and fewest goals allowed (27). San Antonio FC has 15 cleans sheets and has allowed 22 goals.
The Rhinos clinched a playoff berth Saturday night and are fifth in the Eastern Conference with 47 points in 30 games. Fourth-place Charlotte has 48 points in 31 games.
Rochester has two games remaining to pass Charlotte and earn a home playoff date. Both games will be at Capelli Sport Stadium: Tuesday vs. Bethlehem Steel FC, kickoff 7:05 p.m.; two-for-one general admission tickets; contact the Rhinos for more information), and Saturday vs. Red Bulls II, kickoff 6:05 p.m. It will be Rhinos Hall of Fame Night.
THIS JUST IN: KENNYS VARGAS HAS SOME POWER
Rochester Red Wings fans have witnessed some mammoth home runs by Kennys Vargas in recent seasons. They weren’t a fluke.
Among players with at least 10 home runs in Major League Baseball this season, Vargas had the longest average home-run distance. Believe It Or Not: Yankees rookie slugger Aaron Judge ranked only seventh:
1-Kenny Vargas (Minnesota) – 11 HRS; average distance 426.0 feet.
2-Joey Gallo (Texas) – 41 HRs (421.95)
3-Giancarlo Stanton (Miami) – 59 HRs (418.41)
4-Kendrys Morales (Toronto) – 28 HRs (418.07)
5-Chad Pinder (Oakland) – 15 HRs (417.00)
6-Mark Reynolds (Colorado) – 30 HRs (416.3)
7-Aaron Judge (Yankees) – 52 HRs (415.48)
8-Hanley Ramirez (Boston) – 23 HRs (414.91)
9-J.D. Martinez (Detroit/Arizona) – 45 HRs (414.21)
10-Brandon Moss (Kansas City) – 22 HRs (413.73).
ALTUVE-JUDGE NO CONTEST IN THE PLAYOFFS SO FAR
Jose Altuve (Houston) and Aaron Judge (New York Yankees) likely will finish 1-2 in the American League MVP balloting. Their performances in the ALCS (entering Monday) have been slightly different:
Altuve – 8-for-11 (.727); 5 runs; 3 HRs; 4 RBI; 3 walks; 1 strikeout
Judge – 0-for-10 (.000); 1 run; 4 walks; 8 strikeouts.
SHORT SHOTS
No surprise in this season of the long ball: entering Monday, the first 12 MLB post-season games produced 37 home runs.
The North Carolina Courage, who won the 2016 National Women’s Soccer League championship as the Buffalo/Rochester Western New York Flash, will try to defend that title in the 2017 championship game Saturday against the Portland Thorns FC in Orlando, Fla. The Courage won their semifinal game Sunday, 1-0, at home against the Chicago Red Stars. Denise O’Sullivan scored in the 89th minute for her first goal of the season. The Courage are 16-7-1 this season. Sunday’s crowd at Sahlen’s Stadium in Cary, N.C., was a season-best 10,017.
The new North American Premier League is up to seven teams and counting for the inaugural season starting January 1, 2018: Rochester RazorSharks, Albany Patroons, Akron-based Ohio Cardinals, Yakima Sun Kings, Owensboro (Ky.), Kansas City and Seattle.
Viewing tip for Tuesday, October 17: the NBA opening night doubleheader on TNT: Boston Celtics at Cleveland Cavaliers, 8 p.m.; Houston Rockets at Golden State Warriors, 10:30 p.m.
The Buffalo Sabres opening night shootout home loss to Montreal was continuing an annoying trend. In the last two-plus NHL seasons, Buffalo is 4-14 in shootouts (2-7 in 2015-16; 2-6 in 2016-17; 0-1 in 2017-18).
I’m sort of surprised that No. 2-ranked Clemson is a mere 21-point favorite over Syracuse Friday night at the Carrier Dome.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO...
Monday, October 9
Jerian Grant (25)...Jake Lamb (27)...Tim Melville (28)...Derek Holland (31)...Stephen Gionta (34)...Brian Roberts (40)...Annika Sorenstam (47)...Kenny Anderson (47)...Trevor Matich (56)...Mike Singletary (58)...Steve Ovett (62)...Brian Downing (67)...Shep Messing (68)...Freddie Patek (73)...Joe Pepitone (77). John Lennon would have celebrated his 77th birthday on this date. He was murdered in 1980.
Tuesday, October 10
Michael Carter-Williams (26)...Kolten Wong (27)...Geno Smith (27)...Shelby Miller (27)...Jeurys Familia (28)...Andrew McCutchen (31)...Troy Tulowitzki (33)...Paul Posluszny (33)...Dale Earnhardt Jr. (43)...Brian Holzinger (45)...Alexei Zhitnik (45)...Brett Favre (48)...Derrick McKey (51)...Mike Donnelly (54)...Mal Davis (61)...Gus Williams (64)...Gene Tenace (71).