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SPORTS Thursday 23 November 2017
Bills reverse course in having Taylor start against Chiefs

By JOHN WAWROW 40-7. he called “a calculated on fixing the troubles on of- ball. This season, he’s had
AP Sports Writer Whatever confidence Mc- risk” in benching Taylor fense. 11 touchdowns passing
ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. (AP) Dermott lost in Taylor a at a time the Bills held the When asked a follow-up and scored another three
— Rather than risk another week earlier will have to AFC’s sixth and final playoff question about McDer- rushing, versus three inter-
meltdown with the Bills still quickly be restored to spark spot. The team is also in the mott, Taylor said: “The rela- ceptions and two lost fum-
in the midst of the playoff an offense that’s sputtered midst of a 17-season play- tionship is still there.” bles.
race, coach Sean McDer- no matter who’s played off drought, the longest ac- He then added: “Ulti- Running back LeSean Mc-
mott had little choice but quarterback during a tive streak in North Ameri- mately, we’re here to win Coy welcomed the switch
to reverse course at quar- three-game skid. ca’s four major professional games. That’s really what back to Taylor, saying the
terback. “Just do his job,” he said. “I sports. cures a lot of things. We’re offense has more “trust” in
Tyrod Taylor will start on expect him to prepare like Taylor summed up the past both working hard to do the seventh-year player.
Sunday when Buffalo (5-5)
travels to play the Kansas
City Chiefs (6-4).
And Nathan Peterman has
been sent back to the side-
line after the rookie threw
five interceptions in the first
half of a 54-24 loss at the
Los Angeles Chargers last
weekend.
“It’s the right thing for our
team,” McDermott said, in
switching quarterbacks for
the second consecutive
Wednesday.
The first-year coach, how-
ever, was in no mood to
revisit the reasoning be-
hind starting Peterman in a
move that ultimately back-
fired.
“Really, when you focus on
that, when you look in the
rearview mirror too long in
this league, you lose sight
of what’s in front,” McDer-
mott said. “We’ve got to
focus on the Chiefs, and
that’s for myself as well as
our team.”
In making his first career
start, the fifth-round pick
out of Pittsburgh became Los Angeles Chargers defensive end Joey Bosa, bottom, forces a turn over by Buffalo Bills quarterback Tyrod Taylor during the
the first quarterback to second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 19, 2017, in Carson, Calif.
throw five interceptions in Associated Press
the first half since the AFL-
NFL merger in 1970. Peter- he’s always prepared and week as “an interesting set whatever it takes to find “I’ve just seen Tyrod in bad
man finished 6 of 14 for 66 come out and lead this of days,” while saying he’s a win.”Taylor’s demotion games he’s played or bad
yards and was replaced football team.” not lost any confidence in came on the heels of two situations where he’s an-
by Taylor to start the third McDermott faced heavy himself. duds. swered, and you could
quarter with Buffalo trailing criticism for making what “You’ve got to be prepared In a 34-21 loss at the New count on him,” McCoy
for anything, and focus- York Jets on Nov. 2, Buffa- said. “Turning the ball over
wise, you can’t let things lo was trailing 34-7 before last game was bad for us.
break your focus,” he said. Taylor oversaw touchdown You can’t win like that.”
“Whether it was last week drives on the Bills final two Taylor’s demotion re-em-
or this week, I’m going to possessions. He followed phasized questions about
continue to prepare to do that up by going 9 of 18 for the quarterback’s future
whatever it takes to get this 56 yards and an intercep- beyond this season. The Bills
team a win on Sunday.” tion through 55 minutes of were already negotiating
And yet there could poten- a 47-10 loss to the New Or- to sign Brian Hoyer in free
tially be a chill in his views leans Saints. agency in March before re-
toward McDermott. Buffalo’s defense hasn’t signing Taylor — and only
When asked about the sta- been much better in hav- after he restructured his
tus of his relationship with ing allowed 135 points and contract from a five-year
the coach and offensive a whopping 638 yards rush- to a two-year deal.
coordinator Rick Dennison, ing the past three games. “I haven’t really thought
Taylor only mentioned Den- Whatever Taylor’s inconsis- about that to be really
nison by saying: “Me and tencies have been in going honest,” Taylor said, refer-
Rico are still good friends.” 20-18 over 2½ seasons in ring to his future. “All I can
He added the two contin- Buffalo, he’s at least been control is what I do week to
ue to talk and are working efficient in protecting the week.”q