Fitzpatrick, next 3 games...

[cage]

So, in your eyes these next 3 games are going to make or break Fitz? C'mon, really, his last year and a half means nothing to you if he doesn't perform well in the last 3 games? Just looking for an excuse to bash the guy aren't you! Stoooooopid thread!

 

From the standpoint of whether to think of him as long term solution as QB, absolutely the next 3 games are critical. Great games and hes a legitimate candidate, crappy games and he goes back to the category of adequate back-up or as 1 year starter while first round pick gets ready after that.

 

"his last year and a half"... I don't have a clue what he did before the past 8 games that would give him consideration as QB of the future for this team.

 

Nobody's bashing him, I love the way he's playing. I'm simply pointing out that the next three games are crucial to determining off season strategy around the QB position.

 

He's been starting and upside surprising for about 8 games. He's had 7 excellent games and 1 horrible one. Add three division games to this and we've got a larger body of work. 10 excellent games and 1 bad one is very hopeful... 7 excellent games with 4 bad ones, including the last 3 against division opponents leads to a different conclusion.

 

I don't know where you get a year and a half from, but the next three games determine off season strategy, its as simple as that!

Edited December 18, 2010 by cage

[JPS]

From the standpoint of whether to think of him as long term solution as QB, absolutely the next 3 games are critical. Great games and hes a legitimate candidate, crappy games and he goes back to the category of adequate back-up or as 1 year starter while first round pick gets ready after that.

 

"his last year and a half"... I don't have a clue what he did before the past 8 games that would give him consideration as QB of the future for this team.

 

Nobody's bashing him, I love the way he's playing. I'm simply pointing out that the next three games are crucial to determining off season strategy around the QB position.

 

He's been starting and upside surprising for about 8 games. He's had 7 excellent games and 1 horrible one. Add three division games to this and we've got a larger body of work. 10 excellent games and 1 bad one is very hopeful... 7 excellent games with 4 bad ones, including the last 3 against division opponents leads to a different conclusion.

 

I don't know where you get a year and a half from, but the next three games determine off season strategy, its as simple as that!

I disagree. I think the next 3 games are almost irrelevant. Fitz will do his thing. He'll throw 3-5 TDs and win one out of the 3 games. The reason the Bills lose has little to do with Fitz. I think Gailey is satisfied with Fitz enough to call him the starter for the next 3 years and keep drafting the Levi Browns of the world until they see a spark.

 

Until the Bills fix that defense, I don't care if they have Brady at QB....they lose. I expect OL, DL and a pass rusher. Maybe 2 of each.

[EastRochBillsfan]

All I know is that if Fitzpatrick gets to 30 tds in the next 3 games and Jerry Sullivan runs down a street in his underwear or whatever it is exactly he's supposed to do, he's my qb of the foreseeable future.

[San Jose Bills Fan]

Of course the last three weeks are relevant. Every player and coach is evaluated every week.

 

What if Fitz throws for 9 TDs, 0 ints, leads the team to 3 victories, and makes Jerry Sullivan run down Hertel in his skivvies?

 

You don't think that'll impact the Bills plans going forward?

 

What if Fitz throws for 0 TDs, 6 ints, and goes 0-3.

 

You don't think that'll impact the Bills plans going forward?

 

C'mon people. Look for the truth. It's not at the polar extremes.

 

All I know is that if Fitzpatrick gets to 30 tds in the next 3 games and Jerry Sullivan runs down a street in his underwear or whatever it is exactly he's supposed to do, he's my qb of the foreseeable future.

 

There's a saying about great minds…can't remember what it is though.

Edited December 18, 2010 by San Jose Bills Fan

[JESSEFEFFER]

There is much riding on the next 3 for most of the roster. They have many guys that barely have a foot in the NFL door. Be a high draft pick and get big money and you will stick around (McCargo, McKelvin) without justifying it on the field. As a free agent or low draft pick you have something to prove everytime you step on the field. Fitz is the epitome of that. So the OP is a legit question.

 

Some looking at the normal QB stats are saying that Fitz's play has slipped over the last 7. I say this: The Bills are a Lindell missed 2nd kick and a Steve Johnson dropped TD away from being 5 and 2 in their last 7. I do not think this is a team that could be within a sniff of 5 and 2 if the QB play was substandard.

 

Some of the quantifiable things that passer rating does not account for that most all football fans would affirm as important to QB play are avoiding sacks and fumbles, converting 3rd downs, being efficient in the redzone, running ability, and taking hits without letting their play suffer. It could be demonstrated that Fitz is a plus in all these areas making him everything his passer rating says he is and more. He is PASSER RATING PLUS.

 

In these last three games he has a chance to give further evidence of this. If he out plays Henne and Sanchez and thereby denying their teams a playoff spot, we would all take notice. If he stands toe to toe with Brady in a game that means something to the Pats (maybe for the #1 AFC seed)and sent the Hoodie to a post game press conference having to explain why his team lost to the Bills in such an important game, the entire NFL would take notice.

 

In short, be the difference, lead the team, and make a statement about this team's relevence to 2011.

[cage]

 

In short, be the difference, lead the team, and make a statement about this team's relevence to 2011.

 

Well said!!

[mead107]

10 TD passes would be fantastic.

[fansince88]

We've had a lot of discussion about Fitzpatrick, whether he's our QB of the future, whether we need to draft someone in Round 1 and so on...

 

I would submit that regardless of all the hoopla thus far, the next 3 games all against division rivals that we've performed poorly against the last few years will determine how the Bills should proceed with him. He's under contract through next year, so if he's going to be THE MAN then two things will happen from that:

-- He needs to be resigned in the off-season to a substantial contract (think Matt Schaub)

-- Draft plans most likely no long involve a QB in the first 3 rounds

 

So the question is: What do we need to see over the next 3 games in order to proceed in that fashion?

-- How many games MUST we win?

-- MUST we be competitive in all three, including New England (ie no more Minnesota duds?

-- How MUST the offense perform in these games?

-- Can injuries on OL and WR be an excuse if Offense doesn't play well?

 

For the Bills now everything is about optimism and confidence for the future and what pieces are in place. Right NOW we feel it, that's great, but if the next three games don't go well, then all the optimism we feel now will have been shattered.

 

Have at it...

Hope we win this one I have 7 bucks on it?

[Rob's House]

I definitely disagree with that.

 

If he won all three games in the division to close out and threw for 300 yards plus in two of them with 5-6 TD passes and 0-1 INTs he would get a big, fat contract and be declared QB our long-term solution at QB.

 

Conversely, if we lose all three games and he can't get base 150yds/game with 0-1 TD passes and 5-6 INTs then everything that's happened with him till now would be forgotten, every article in the press and discussion on this board would be about which QB we're drafting with our Top 5 pick.

 

With both of these extreme scenarios unlikely, the question is where does he have to fall in-between there??

I agree completely.

 

I don't think one bad game says much because everyone has a bad outing on occasion. If he looks sharp in at least two games, in light of how consistent and competitive he's been throughout the season, I say you lock him down and move fwd with him as your long-term starter.

[EastRochBillsfan]

 

There's a saying about great minds…can't remember what it is though.

 

I KNEW there was a reason why I liked you.

[PromoTheRobot]

Hard to say what will happen without Evans. That could really mess things up. So as long as Fitz keeps us in games I'm fine. As far as I'm concerned he's the guy for 2011.

 

PTR