ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. (AP) \u2014 Rather than continue watching a pedestrian offense muddle through a third consecutive game, Bills coach Sean McDermott sent his team a jolt by making an abrupt change at quarterback. Tyrod\u2026<\/b>
\nORCHARD PARK, N.Y. (AP) \u2014 Rather than continue watching a pedestrian offense muddle through a third consecutive game, Bills coach Sean McDermott sent his team a jolt by making an abrupt change at quarterback.
Tyrod Taylor was benched Wednesday and rookie fifth-round pick Nathan Peterman will make his first career start on Sunday, when Buffalo (5-4) plays at the Los Angeles Chargers (3-6).
McDermott acknowledged taking a \u201ccalculated risk\u201d in making the switch at a time when the Bills have a winning record. They sit sixth in the AFC standings, and control their own destiny in a bid to end a 17-season playoff drought \u2014 the longest active streak in North America\u2019s four major professional sports.
\u201cThis is about becoming better as a football team,\u201d he said. \u201cAs a decision maker, you have to be able to or willing to take calculated risks to get to where we\u2019re trying to go. And I\u2019m comfortable doing that.\u201d
As for the Bills record, the first-year coach said his objective isn\u2019t being a winner in November.
\u201cIt is and will be for the time that I\u2019m here be about becoming the best team we can possibly become,\u201d McDermott said. \u201cWe are made for more than 5-4. And I\u2019ve come here to be more than 5-4.\u201d
The quarterback switch comes after Buffalo\u2019s offense and defense were overmatched in a 47-10 loss to the New Orleans Saints. While the defense allowed 298 yards and six touchdowns rushing, the Taylor-led offense was hardly better.
Taylor was benched after Buffalo produced 99 yards and four first downs on eight drives. In two series, Peterman finished going 7 of 10 for 79 yards and a 7-yard touchdown pass to Nick O\u2019Leary.
McDermott backed Taylor as his starter immediately after the game and again on Monday, before having a change of heart upon waking up on Tuesday.
\u201cI thought about it. Slept on it. And I felt that we needed to move in a different direction at this time,\u201d McDermott said.
Buffalo has lost two straight with Taylor overseeing an offense that ranks 28th in the NFL in yards and 30th in yards passing. Take away the final two drives of each of Buffalo\u2019s past two games, including a 34-21 loss at the New York Jets, and the Bills have produced 10 points, 305 yards, 16 first downs and committed four turnovers on 18 possessions.
McDermott would only say \u201cwe\u2019ll see,\u201d when asked if Peterman will remain the starter beyond this weekend, but also acknowledged he\u2019s not going to \u201csend him out there with a leash.\u201d
The switch caught the entire team by surprise.
Peterman was emotional, while noting he\u2019s not proven anything yet.
\u201cIt\u2019s a great opportunity, but it\u2019s still all in front of me, and I\u2019ve got to go work to earn it,\u201d he said.
Peterman is more of a prototypical pocket passer than Taylor, which has the potential of making him a better fit in the offensive system installed by first-year coordinator Rick Dennison.
At college, Peterman left Tennessee after two seasons and finished as a two-year starter at Pittsburgh. The Panthers set a school record last year by scoring 532 points, and he finished fourth in the nation in averaging 15.43 yards per completion.
Taylor acknowledged feeling somewhat betrayed, saying \u201cthat\u2019s one of the feelings.\u201d
\u201cObviously disappointed,\u201d Taylor said. \u201cI don\u2019t agree with the decision, but ultimately coach McDermott has a vision for this team, what he feels is best for the team as well as the owner and GM. I have to move forward and continue to be a teammate and a leader that I am in a different role.\u201d
Taylor has a 20-18 record since taking over as the Bills\u2019 starter in 2015.
Taylor has been efficient. He\u2019s thrown 10 touchdowns versus three interceptions this season. He also enjoyed two fourth-quarter comebacks in wins over Atlanta and Tampa Bay.
As for the rest of the team, players were still attempting to get over the shock of being informed the news before practice
\u201cNothing like this is ever easy,\u201d center Eric Wood said. \u201cBut fortunately, or unfortunately, there\u2019s no time to really reflect on it.\u201d
Running back LeSean McCoy wasn\u2019t sure what to expect from Peterman, who hasn\u2019t had extensive playing time since the preseason.
\u201cIt could be good or bad, you just never know, that\u2019s why I really can\u2019t give you an honest answer,\u201d McCoy said. \u201cWe\u2019re going to support him. We want him to do well. We\u2019ll see if the switch was right.\u201d
The Bills are getting accustomed to sudden changes since McDermott was hired in January.
Buffalo traded starting receiver Sammy Watkins and starting cornerback Ronald Darby in separate deals on the same day in August. Last month, the Bills traded their highest-paid player, defensive tackle Marcell Dareus, to Jacksonville in further transforming a roster that now features just 23 holdovers from last year.
___
More AP NFL: http:\/\/pro32.ap.org and https:\/\/twitter.com\/AP_NFL
Copyright \u00a9 2017 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, written or redistributed.
Need a break? Play a quick game of solitaire or Sudoku. Or take one of our fun quizzes!<\/p>\n

\n

Similarity rank: 3.1<\/div>\n

Sentiment rank: -0.9<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n<\/div>\n