Fansided

One silver lining for every team that missed the playoffs

By Luke Dahlgren

Nov 30, 2015; Cleveland, OH, USA; Cleveland Browns fans in the stands against the Baltimore Ravens at FirstEnergy Stadium. The Ravens won 33-27. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 30, 2015; Cleveland, OH, USA; Cleveland Browns fans in the stands against the Baltimore Ravens at FirstEnergy Stadium. The Ravens won 33-27. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports /
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Dec 27, 2015; Orchard Park, NY, USA; Buffalo Bills quarterback Tyrod Taylor (5) looks to pass during the second half against the Dallas Cowboys at Ralph Wilson Stadium. The Bills defeat Cowboys 16-6. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Hoffman-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 27, 2015; Orchard Park, NY, USA; Buffalo Bills quarterback Tyrod Taylor (5) looks to pass during the second half against the Dallas Cowboys at Ralph Wilson Stadium. The Bills defeat Cowboys 16-6. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Hoffman-USA TODAY Sports /

Buffalo Bills (8-8)

You found some sort of quarterback stability.

The Bills playoff drought is currently the longest in professional sports at 16 seasons, and the pain of it has been compounded by how the Bills have been dancing on the cusp of contention in recent years. Last year the Bills finished 9-7, just out of playoff contention, and in 2011 they squandered a 5-2 start to finish 6-10.

Even though the Buffalo Bills find themselves in more or less the same position in the standings as last year, the end of 2015 feels more hopeful than 2014. A large reason for that is Tyrod Taylor, who may have provided the Bills with their first stable quarterback situation since Jim Kelly in 1995. Since that time, the Bills have employed 15 starting quarterbacks, including extended stints from Todd Collins, Alex Van Pelt, Doug Flutie, Rob Johnson, Drew Bledsoe, J.P. Losman, Trent Edwards, Ryan Fitzpatrick, Kyle Orton and current backup E.J. Manuel. Not all were bad, but of those quarterbacks only Flutie and Tyrod Taylor could be safely considered successes.

Taylor entered training camp as the Bills’ third quarterback behind Manuel (a low-key first round draft bust) and Matt Cassel (still riding off of the strength of his 2008 campaign). Both floundered in camp and in preseason, and so the Bills were left with Taylor. Playing in fourteen games this past season, he kept the Bills competitive:

Tyrod Taylor 2015 Season Stats
8-6 W/L
3,035 pass yds, 20 TDs, 6 INTs
63.7% comp, 99.4 QB rate
568 rush yds, 5.5 YPC, 4 TDs

Taylor enters into 2015 as the Bills’ undisputed starter, Rex Ryan remains the incumbent head coach, and the team has some consistency heading into 2016. Taylor’s consistency and protection of the ball have provided proof that he can be a competent quarterback in the league. His big play ability with his strong arm and legs has provided evidence that he can be a playoff caliber signal caller.

Either way, the Bills will enter 2016 again as a popular pick to be a new playoff team in the AFC. This time, there won’t be a caveat at quarterback

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