TheBrownBear

Assuming EJ continues to play 7-8 games a season, we should have enough game film to evaluate him sometime in 2017.

I'm not a Thad lover (though I do like him as a longterm No. 2), but keep in mind that his 4 starts have come against expected playoff teams, two of them on the road, and one of them in terrible conditions. He hasn't had the luxury of playing against the Jags, Browns, Steelers, Bucs or Falcons. How can people continue to draw this ridiculous conclusion when talking about a 26 yr old with 5 career starts? How many starting NFL QBs reached their max potential 5 games into their careers?

As someone upthread mentioned, they need to learn how to win. I think the pieces are in place (with the exception of QB) from a personnel standpoint.

I don't really care. Probably Denver so all the second guessing of Manning's legacy can be put to rest. Maybe Cincinnati. I don't really like any of the contenders in the NFC for various reasons.

Awesome move. This guy is a beast.

Good point. When you think about it, the Bills are only about 3 plays away from the playoffs this year. First time you could honestly say that since 2004.

I'm not so worried about Manuel's durability. I think those were mostly fluke things and him having to learn the hard way about how to protect himself in this league. My big concerns are the absolute turds he laid in the Pittsburgh, Tampa Bay, first Jets game and the second half of the Ravens game. But...he is a rookie and these things happen. I actually like both EJ and Thad and I'm ok with the Bills entering camp in 2014 with them as the main QBs. I just happen to think Thad gives us a better chance to win at this point and I prefer watching him over Manuel. I get that Manuel needs reps and experience, but I'd like to see Thad play next week in another tough road game to have a better chance of evaluating him, and it seems like the prudent thing to do given the situation with EJs knees. Let's take another look at Thad, let EJ get healthy, and then enter 2014 with an open QB competition.

I want to win. I think we have a good shot with a healthy Thad Lewis.

Thad = 2-2 vs teams with combined record of 36-24. EJ = 4-6 vs teams with combined record of 65-81.

Exactly. I don't understand the need to protect EJ by bashing Thad that some fans feel compelled to do. Eyeball test tells me Thad is the better QB right now.

Holy crap. We just absolutely dominated that game. Thad, 4 starts against winning teams...2-2 record. Not bad for our backup QB.

Guy was a beast. Just amazing durability at the linebacker position. Let's hope he gets to enjoy a healthy retirement.

20%. Having said that, he's been better than I expected so far (though I obviously didn't expect much). He has stretches where he looks the part and gives me some hope that he can be a serviceable starter. I don't see any chance of him being "elite", but he can maybe grow into an Alex Smith kind of game manager.

5-9 in a mediocre division/league.

I don't think he's as bad as people have made him out to be. Like every other failure in the last 14 years, you can trace his (and his coaches') demise(s) to the lack of above-average QB play. Stock those 2003-2005 teams with a capable QB and you'd have a some playoff runs in there.

The link to the Bills' glory days youtube video kept me up a few hours past my bedtime last night. Man, I miss those days. I had forgotten just how good Thurman and Andre were in their prime.

My eyes and gut tell me that the OP will eventually be proven correct, but it is hard to justify completely giving up on EJ at this point. He's been terrible about 50% of the time, but he's also had stretches where he looks like a legit above-average QB. Sort of like Locker in his first couple of years. I'd give him another year and then prepare to draft one of the QBs in 2015 - a draft that should contain names like Winston, Mariota, Hundley, etc.

I will say Marrone has made us more competitive on a game to game basis. You can see it in the yardage totals. We were routinely dominated in total yardage under our past regimes - often even in the games we won. We are now able to play almost every team pretty much straight up - it's just a play or two here (or a too conservative playcalling stretch) that is keeping us from reaching our potential. Ignoring our loser history, I would say that this is a team that is on the rise and only a year or player away from being a legitimate playoff team. It's not like under Jauron or Gailey, where it was a 50/50 proposition that we'd be butt-raped by our opponent on any given Sunday. Now I fully expect us to have a chance at victory every week, even against "elite" opponents.

I still can't definitively say he is intentionally interfering with the play. It is so friggin strange watching it unfold, I just can't believe he meant to do what he did. On the other hand, I mean, I suppose it's possible that he instinctively did it without giving it any rational thought - just a complete brainfart without any consideration for the consequences of his action. Again - just really weird stuff there.

I am an EJ "hater" but I thought he looked like a passable game manager the past two weeks. He's shown enough to merit another year of development imo.

Agree. What kind of sh#thead roots for a guy to get hurt?

Jesus. U are a sick f#$%

Can't believe anyone thought this would be an easy win. Lol. There is no such thing as an easy win for a 4-7 team with a below average coach and QB.

I was one who believed he was washed up. Frankly, the previous three years he was a turnover machine and horribly unclutch in end-of-game situations. He is playing much better this year and if not for some late game defensive breakdowns, the Chargers would be at 8-3 or so. He is definitely NOT a game manager. Reminds me a lot of Kelly in that he's immobile, strictly a pocket guy, and willing to take big risks pushing the ball down the field.

So what happens between the AFC Championship and the Super Bowl that leaves us stuck at 12-7 for the season?