It's The Peterman Show

With the season upon us and AJ McCarron released after his comeback win in the 4th preseason game we're left with two quarterbacks. I would've liked to keep McCarron as a backup so Allen can learn with a clipboard this year. I think rushing Allen in would be a mistake but Peterman is set to start the season so let's talk about it. While in college he only started two years as he was a graduate transfer at Pitt. That being said I'll always remember when he torched Clemson for their only loss in 2016. He went up against Deshaun Watson and it was a shootout with Pitt winning 43-42. Peterman went 22-37 for 308 yards and 5 touchdowns. Playing even a soft team that would be a great line, but to pull that game out where the opposing QB went 52-70 for 580 yards 3 TD but did have 3 INT. Well I'm impressed especially since Clemson was the National Champion that year. You can certainly see once he had a chance to start he made the most of it.

• TENN (2013) 10 - 23, 43.5%, 45 Yards - 2.0 Avg Yards 0 TD/2 INT 42.5-Rating

• TENN (2014) 10 - 20, 50%, 49 Yards - 2.5 Avg Yards 0 TD/0 INT 70.6 Rating

• PITT (2015) 193 - 314, 61.5%, 2,287 Yards - 7.3 Avg Yards 20 TD/8 INT 138.6 Rating

• PITT (2016) 185 - 306, 60.5%, 2,855 Yards - 9.3 Avg Yards, 27 TD/7 INT 163.4 Rating

Peterman received an invitation to the Senior Bowl in 2017 and had a decent showing. He was invited to the NFL combine where he was considered a middle of the pack ranked QB. The Bills then took Peterman in the 5th round with pick 171 and was the 8th QB selected. I didn't think it was a bad pick and I still don't. He's never going to be a flashy, light the world on fire QB but I do believe he has the poise and ability to be a decent QB in the NFL. Starter? I'm not so sure yet but lets also give him the benefit of the doubt on the Chargers game. I know what you're all yelling at the screen now "are you serious!" But hear me out. The Bills were in the playoff hunt and then they pull this QB switcheroo since Taylor was pulled in the prior game in a 47 - 10 loss to the Saints.

So let's see what we have with Peterman. There were several reasons why this experiment was bound to fail. I can't imagine what it must have been like in the locker room and how awkward it must have been for Peterman. Tyrod who had been leading the team for almost 3 years at that point all of sudden pulled for a 5th round rookie. This seemed like a shock to everyone and I suspect probably even Peterman. I also believe McDermott really wanted to see if Peterman could be viable starter with the contract Taylor had coming up and the Bills needing to make a decision on what to do. The media was certainly in a frenzy which only added to the stress Peterman must have already had going on. We all know how it went down first career pass as a starter in the NFL for a pick 6, 6-14 for 66 yards and 5 INT's in the first half and Taylor came back in after the half.

McDermott shouldn't have started him in that game not when we were in the playoff hunt and that game almost came back to haunt us (Thanks again Andy Dalton and Co). Had we missed the playoffs everyone would have come back to that game and still did even though we made them. Peterman was overwhelmed and you could tell but it's like Shane Falco says in The Replacements " You're playing and you think everything is going fine. Then one thing goes wrong. And then another. And another. You try to fight back, but the harder you fight, the deeper you sink. Until you can't move... you can't breathe... because you're in over your head. Like quicksand." I think it sums it up perfectly. No one wanted to play better than Peterman this was his shot in a very contested situation but with everything surrounding it we owe him a break there. It was tough situation and everyone was tough on him but not like himself. Also, he still had that Jaguars INT still hanging over his head as well from the playoff game.

He knew he had something to prove this year after the issues last year and with Tyrod gone and Allen coming in he had to seize the chance now or it may not come again. He looked good in preseason, not perfect but pretty close and confident, comfortable, and has been releasing the ball quickly. He was 33-41 for 80.5% completion, 431 yards, 3 TD/1 INT. Very different than last year. You could tell right away he knew this was his chance and he wasn't going to blow it. At least without getting a proper chance to showcase what he can do. I want this to work for him. I like to root for the underdog, we all do as Bills fans as we've been in that role several times. He earned his chance to start and we have to circle the wagons for him. I think he has the talent and can be successful. I hope the offensive line can give him some time to go through his progressions and make the throws. He's not much of a runner and I'm not sold on our receivers still so everyone needs to play their part well for The Peterman Show if it's going to stay on the air. For now Allen will be part of the supporting cast. He'll get a chance to be the main character at some point but not today. Now the only question is what will the ratings be for The Peterman Show?

(Adrian Kraus/AP)