Kyle Orton needed one game to do what EJ Manuel hasn’t yet

By Cory Buck | Oct 6, 2014

Oct 5, 2014; Detroit, MI, USA; Buffalo Bills quarterback Kyle Orton (18) drops back to pass during the second quarter against the Detroit Lions at Ford Field. Mandatory Credit: Tim Fuller-USA TODAY Sports /

The Buffalo Bills benched EJ Manuel last week because they wanted to see what their offense would look like under a cooler, veteran hand. It took exactly one game to learn just what that was. In that one game, a Week 5 victory over the Detroit Lions, Kyle Orton hit a throwing milestone that is common enough today in the NFL for one game, but was one that EJ Manuel had yet to hit.

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Kyle Orton was the first Buffalo Bills quarterback to throw for more than 300 yards since Ryan Fitzpatrick hit the milestone in 2012. EJ Manuel as a rookie and as a second-year QB never hit that figure, as noted by Mark Guaghan of the Buffalo News. When you also note that Orton played most of the first half against the Lions shaking off some major rust, his 308-yard performance looks even better.

Orton even threw a pick-six in the first half, giving the Lions a 14-0 second quarter lead, but from there he settled down and rallied the troops as if nothing had happened. The team climbed back in the game and hung around long enough for kicker Dan Carpenter to boot a 58-yard game-winning field goal.

Now the Bills are hoping that with another week of practicing with the first-string offense, Orton will have another big game in him as he prepares to match feats with Tom Brady and the New England Patriots.

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