Buffalo Bills rookie E.J. Manuel discusses clutch performance against Carolina

Buffalo Bills quarterback E.J. Manuel had a decent performance on Sunday from a purely statistical standpoint, throwing for 296 yards and a touchdown against the Carolina Panthers. However, it was the context in which that lone touchdown occurred that moves his performance from “decent” to “special,” as Manuel hit wide receiver Stevie Johnson for a two-yard TD with only two seconds remaining in the fourth quarter to give the Bills the win.

The rookie quarterback, now 1-1 as a starter, spoke after the game about the final drive and the winning pass:

"We knew the situation. I didn’t feel nervous or anything like that. We practiced it time and time again. I’ve been in too many situations before, not just in the NFL or in practice but also in college. We won games like that before. I’m not usually an emotional guy but I want to enjoy those types of things because that’s what you’re (here for), I’m going to be able to tell my grand kids about that 20 to 30 years from now. It’s definitely a momentous part of my young career (Reuters)."

Manuel’s performance, though not perfect — he threw an interception and lost a fumble — should have Buffalo fans excited. The Bills will take on the New York Jets next Sunday.

[Source: Reuters]