Tyrod Taylor won’t get benched by the Bills this week, but it could still happen

Buffalo Bills starting quarterback Tyrod Taylor may not finish the season with that title. Because of Taylor’s struggles, head coach Rex Ryan may get fired after this season.

“A Sunday morning report that the Bills could fire coach Rex Ryan sooner rather than later included some discussion of people in the organization wanting to see rookie Cardale Jones get time at quarterback at the expense of Tyrod Taylor,” according to ProFootballTalk.

The Bills’ rushing attack is one of the best in the NFL, but the veteran quarterback isn’t doing a good job complementing it with an efficient passing attack. Indeed, Taylor is a dual-threat quarterback who can make plays with his arm and legs.

While he doesn’t commit a lot of turnovers, Taylor is having a hard time making plays consistently with his arm. So far this season, the veteran quarterback has thrown for 2,520 yards to go along with 13 touchdowns and six interceptions. He has also completed 60.6 percent of his passes.

His play has dropped off as the season has progressed. Over the Bills’ last seven games, Taylor is completing just 59 percent of his throws with five touchdowns and four interceptions. His QB rating through that stretch is just 80.3 versus 92.4 for the first six games of the season.

His numbers are not great, but it does show that he takes care of the ball. However, what’s alarming about Taylor is that he only averages 6.76 yards per throw. And he finished five games this season where he completed less than 60 percent of his passes.

The problem with Taylor is this: He is not consistently looking for big plays down the field, but when he does, his throws are usually errant. He prefers to play it safe.

Taylor played a better game on Sunday against the Steelers. He was 15-of-25 passing and threw for 228 yards, 9.12 yards per attempt, with two touchdowns and an interception. However, both his touchdown passes came late, after the Steelers jumped out to a 24-7 lead in the fourth quarter.

He was sacked five times in that game and didn’t complete his first pass until the second quarter.

Following the Bills’ loss to the Steelers, Taylor said he “left some plays out there.” The veteran signal-caller threw for 228 yards to go along with two touchdowns and an interception.

“Definitely didn’t play my best,” he said. “I let the team down a couple plays but gotta move forward. I was about to put some points up in the fourth quarter, but it was just too late.”

When asked if he would sit Taylor after the loss to Pittsburgh, Ryan said, “we’ll see.”

“I don’t have any idea, guys,” Ryan added. “I mean, I just got through putting everything into a game where we just got beat and we’ll put in everything we have moving forward. But to answer questions about anything else, about rumors or anything else, I think is ridiculous.”

However, Ryan said he will not make a switch at quarterback and will stick with Taylor.

At 6-7, Buffalo still has a chance at a wild card spot, but its chances are slim to none. With three games remaining, the Bills must see what they have in Jones.

Buffalo has a Week 15 matchup against the winless Cleveland Browns. Taylor will be the starting quarterback Sunday, but that could change before the season ends.