twoandfourteen

Jeremy Roenick is weighing in. "Blake Brutles" & "Tyrod the Terrible" are absolutely incredible.

Great... I don't really care. You can use all the minutia you can find to make all the excuses you want -- the point is that this is borderline unwatchable because these two players should not be starting QBs in the NFL.

QB ratings at the half: Bortles: 47.9 Tyrod: 43.8

I apologize, I'm a little on the edge... like I said, sometimes you can't tell! That is with all sincerity, by the way. But yes, you can pretty much look up any player at any position for pretty much anything. You can even check for splits in specific weather conditions, game times, etc. It's a little ridiculous, now that I think about it. I just started messing around with this thing a few days ago, so I'm still not totally up to speed with it -- but it's a fascinating tool. A little clunky to use at first, but just play around with it for a little bit and it starts to make sense. Those stats for Taylor were pretty easy to come up with -- I just searched for games where the Bills had allowed more than 20 points or less than 20 points. I already knew the two games that TT didn't play, so I just didn't count those. For Luck's most recent seasons, the way I did it would be a little trickier since I have no idea what he's missed in his career. However, you'll still get a general idea of what his record looks like -- it probably just won't be 100% accurate. There's probably a better way to do it, I just haven't figured it out yet. Here are Luck's "20 points" lists for 2012-2014. I used those years simply because he played in all 16 games in each season, so it was easy to be accurate: Colts allow more than 20 - link - Luck was 13-14 Colts allow less than 20 - link - Luck was 20-1 Here's the link to the Index home page: https://www.pro-football-reference.com/play-index/

If you want to adjust the list, click on "show/hide search form" and then just change the team. Then hit "get results". The only thing is that you don't know for sure who started, so you have to just keep that in mind. For example, here's the Packers record when allowing more than 20. But Rodgers didn't play in a bunch of the 2017 games.

Tyrod Taylor's record when the defense allows more than 20 points? 3-18 Link Tyrod Taylor's record when the defense allows less than 20 points? 20-2 Link The league average for points against in 2017 was 21.7, in 2016 it was 22.8, and in 2015 it was 22.8. I can't tell if you're mocking me or not. Good thing it doesn't really matter. Discovering the PFR index tool the other day has been a real game-changer as far as my daily productivity is concerned. If you really haven't used it, go mess around with it for a few minutes. I included the 180 out of my own curiosity. The searches take about 30 seconds, so why not share?

Tyrod led the team to the point where they could benefit from someone like Andy Dalton actually making a heroic clutch throw. That officially put the Bills in the playoffs. But yes, you are correct -- Tyrod did lead them to the point where they needed lots of help to get in. Now, one could reasonably expect that if the Bills had a QB who was actually capable of running even the 25th ranked passing offense in the NFL, they would have won at least 1 or 2 more games and put themselves in the Wild Card. But hey, the Bills are in and it's going to be a great day tomorrow no matter what. They either beat the Jags and it's on to New England or it's the last time we have to see 5 under center for the Bills. Win-win!

The point is that Taylor at his absolute best has never been as good as Smith is tonight. They are not the same player. Alex Smith has a ceiling that Taylor can't even see. Also, it takes a lot more than scheme and coordinators to account for a 1600 yard & 11 TD difference in production.

Dude. Just watch the game and you can see that Taylor doesn't even play the same sport Smith is playing tonight.

Here you go: Total games with a passer rating under 40 from 2007-2017 -- here Total games with a passer rating under 40 from 2015-2017 (TT's three seasons) - here Total games with less than 180 passing yards from 2015-2017 - here

There have been 45 games in NFL history where a QB has thrown 6 or more INTs. Predictably, QBs who throw 6 or more INTs in a game have an abysmal 1-44 win/loss record. Only one team in NFL history has lost a game in which they intercepted the ball 6 times. I'll give you three guesses, but you'll only need one. The great George Blanda threw 6 INTs in the first game of the 1962 season and still managed to lead the Houston Oilers to a 28-23 victory on the road in Buffalo. Bonus! Blanda had 2 games that season with 6 INTs, and 3 total during his career. He joins Joe Namath (3), Norm Van Brocklin (2), Bobby Herbert (2), and Brian Sipe (2) as the only QBs to throw 6 or more INTs in a single game more than once. He is also the only QB to ever throw 6 INTs in a single game more than once in the same season. Full list available here. (Hey, just trying to pass the time until tomorrow.)

This is a great point. Probably the biggest contribution any of those guys could make tomorrow is to get ejected with Ramsey.

I don't remember the specifics, but I do vividly recall sitting there when Tony Romo started the final drive and that old familiar feeling of "Well, this one's over" came on. National TV. Big spotlight. Defense took 5 INTs from America's Team. Of course the Bills were going to lose it in an incredibly heartbreaking way.

Jalen Ramsey may not have to really do anything. This offense is able to shut down its WRs all on its own. I just want to see Taylor go to KB 10-12 times. 300 yards might not be what we want -- I actually kind of agree with this for this one game -- but he can't be sitting at sub-100 yards passing in the 4th quarter, either.

After 3 points, 56 yards passing and an INT from a 7 year veteran who WAS ready, yes. After 3 points, 67 yards passing and an INT from a 7 year veteran who WAS ready, yes. After 3 points and 124 yards (74 going into the last min of the 4th Q) passing from a 7 year veteran who WAS ready, yes. After watching one of the worst passing offenses in football run for the third straight season by a 7 year veteran who WAS ready, yes.

It's happened 225 times over the years. From hall-of-famers to journeymen to rookies and everything in-between, lots of QBs have thrown down a 5 spot. But it's only a really bad thing if it happens over the course of two quarters with Tyrod Taylor on the bench. Got it. If a QB does it over the course of 3 or 4, that's ok though. Tyrod wasn't on the bench, so we can get past those games. What is it about the 5 in one half for a rookie in his first game that is a much bigger deal than someone like Roethlisberger or Manning throwing 4 in one half? Shouldn't the rookie be given a little margin for error? To me, it would only make sense that all of those other players should have the necessary experience to avoid 5 INTs in one game. By the way, Peyton Manning was only a few minutes short of joining your club. He had 4 in the 1st quarter, then the 5th came on the first drive after halftime. Let's put Peterman and that Chargers game into the proper perspective. That's all I'm saying.

Fortunately for you, I have an important presentation I need to finish this weekend. So, I was looking for a way to procrastinate and this is the perfect thing to do instead. Who doesn't like a little pro football reference wormhole on a Friday night? Join me, as we delve into the fascinating world of the "Fantastic Fives", QBs who have thrown 5 or more INTs in a game (since 1999). Since 1999, QBs who have thrown 5 INTs in one half: Ty Detmer (DET) had 5 in the 2nd half against the Browns in 2001. Threw 7 INTs that day. Ryan Fitzpatrick (NYJ) had 5 in the 2nd half against the Chiefs in 2016. Had 6 INTs that day. Threw an INT on 5 straight drives, in fact. Nathan Peterman (BUF) had 5 in the 1st half against the Chargers in 2017. How about 4 in a half? Peyton Manning (IND) had 4 in the 1st Quarter against the Chargers in 2007. Threw 2 more that day, 1 on the opening drive of the 3rd Q and 1 more in the 4th. Along with Peyton's 6 INTs that day, the Colts also missed 2 FGs and lost the game 23-21. Troy Aikman (DAL) threw 4 in the 1st half against the Giants in 2000. Had 5 INTs that day. Matt Barkley (CHI) threw 4 in the 2nd half against the Redskins in 2016. Had 5 INTs that day. Drew Bledsoe (NE) had 4 in the 2nd half against the Dolphins in 1999. Had 5 INTs that day. Daunte Culpepper (MIN) threw 4 in the 2nd half against the Bengals in 2005. Just missed the 5 in one half club by 1:06. 5 INTs that day. Brett Favre (GB) threw 4 on 4 straight drives in the 2nd half, also against the Bengals in 2005. Had 5 INTs that day. Josh Freeman (TB) had 4 in the 2nd half against the Panthers in 2009. Had 5 INTs that day. Dan Marino (MIA) had 4 in the 2nd half against the Cowboys in 1999. Had 5 INTs that day. Kyle Orton (CHI) threw 4 in the 1st half against the Bengals in 2005. Had 5 INTs that day. Ben Roethlisberger (PIT) threw 4 in the 2nd half against the Jaguars in 2017. Had 5 INTs that day. Tony Romo (DAL) had 4 in the 2nd half against the Bears in 2012. Had 5 INTs that day. Tony Romo (DAL) checks in again with 4 in the 1st half against the Bills in 2007. Had 5 INTs that day. Honorable Mention: Mark Sanchez (NYJ) threw 3 INTs in the 2nd half against the Bills in 2009. He also threw 1 INT in the 1st and 1 INT in OT. Steve Weatherford also threw an INT in OT on a fake punt attempt. Chris Chandler (STL) threw 3 INTs in each half against the Panthers in 2004. That lesson in symmetry resulted in 6 INTs on the day. The rest of the games can be found here and were mostly 3/2 or 2/3 splits between the two halves. But who cares about those -- It's not like any of them was a rookie throwing 5 INTs in one half in his 1st ever start, am I right? Actually, now that I think about it, I'm fairly certain that Nathan Peterman is the only guy on this list who was playing in his 1st NFL start. At least, since 1999. One more "Fun 5INT Fact" for today: A QB has thrown 5 INTs in a game 225 times in NFL history.

See, now this is the kind of thing we need more of around this place. Namath went for 280 on 43 attempts that day. I looked up how many games a QB threw for over 250 yds there were in 1968 -- I was kind of surprised that there were 62 of them, 30 in the AFL and 32 in the NFL. I would have guessed there would have been fewer than that. Here's a link to the full list if you're interested. http://pfref.com/tiny/hfLxB

Actually, it wasn't even about that... It was about how many 5 INT games there have been since 1999 and how surprising it was to see that the Bills defense has caused the most. But your point still stands.

Let's use your hypothetical. Whatever it is that makes you rank Taylor at 99 and Peterman at 100 would be the thing that "impressed" you, relative to the other guy. It is the skill that one has that is -- in your opinion -- better than the other. Or it could be several skills that separate the two. What we are doing here is evaluating 26's "scouting report" on Peterman against a known entity, in this case it's Tyrod Taylor. So, using Taylor as the baseline, we're trying to figure out how much worse Peterman's skill set is, at least according to 26. Excellent point -- I didn't know this, and for the Peterman nay-sayers it's much more effective than "5 INTS, HAHAHA". It's definitely interesting as far as identifying possible later round draft "gems". Also, I think the standard for QB play is so low around here that if a rookie comes in and makes a couple of strong throws into traffic (Peterman to KB in LA, for one example), it's probably more impressive around here than it would be on a team that has had stronger play from the position.

Right. So forget the draft. Limiting the conversation to just Peterman and Taylor, you are not impressed with the NFL skill set of one guy... that would mean that you are impressed with the NFL skill set of the other. You called him the "best QB on the team". Simple logic.

Many dislike him because he can not run a functional passing offense. End of story. Has absolutely nothing to do with his height, race, where he was drafted, hat size, or favorite food.