By Nick Wojton / Billswire.usatoday.com
Nathan Peterman will lead the Buffalo Bills into battle on Sunday against the Chicago Bears.
This story is being written by a digital publication dedicated to Bills coverage. If you’re here, Peterman needs no introduction.
In the off chance you need a reminder, Peterman, a second-year pro, has a 1-2 overall record as a starting quarterback. It goes downhill from there. Peterman has a 45.7 completion percent with a 3-to-9 touchdown-to-interception ratio in his career. His current QB rating this season is 20.8 while his career interception rate is an astonishing 11.1 percent.
That guy… is starting on Sunday for the Bills as the team’s head coach Sean McDermott confirmed on Wednesday.
Buffalo’s front office severely mismanaged their quarterback situation this season. It’s not their fault Josh Allen and Derek Anderson are both currently sidelined with an elbow sprain and concussion, respectively, but they certainly were not prepared for it.
AJ McCarron was signed this offseason and couldn’t beat out Allen or Peterman during the preseason. Maybe even keeping 2017’s starter Tyrod Taylor could’ve been an option? Instead, McCarron was traded, Peterman started, and it was a disaster on opening day. But disaster struck twice for Peterman this season as he tossed a game-sealing, pick-six interception a mere three weeks ago in relief for Allen.
Don’t forget his five-interception half last year as well.
All that aside, McDermott took to the podium on Wednesday and made a comment which has become as common place as his thoughts on the “process.” McDermott didn’t say Peterman needs to earn his team’s confidence, or his own. The coach said everyone’s already got it.
“I’m confident and I believe his teammates are confident in Nathan,” McDermott said.
Coaches, players and fans alike can hide all they want from it, but the truth is already out there. To this point in his career, Peterman hasn’t earned the confidence of many, if anyone. In training camp, to his credit, when fans and media members could watch full practices, Peterman looked like the better player. He did during the preseason, too. But when the bright lights come on, Peterman looks like a deer in headlights.
The QB said on Wednesday that the roller coaster he’s been through as a professional is just a ride he tried to keep as level as possible.
“I definitely attribute that to my faith, absolutely, to be even keeled and know that God’s with you through it all. It’s life, I mean if anybody here has been through a bunch of perfect things in their life and nothing’s ever gone wrong, I’m extremely happy for you, but that doesn’t happen very much to the people I know and obviously me. I’m thankful for all the opportunities I’ve been through, all the lessons I’ve learned and [I’m] ready to be better from them,” Peterman said.
And despite everything, the QB claims he’s kept his confidence through it all.
“I think it’s important, and as a professional athlete, you’ve got to be able to move on and keep your confidence high, especially as a quarterback. That’s the most valuable asset I’d say as a quarterback is confidence. It’s important to keep that high,” Peterman said.
The fact that Peterman is still on an NFL roster can be attributed to his team’s mismanagement at his position this offseason. Buffalo signed Matt Barkley as an emergency QB this week to backup Peterman, but Barkley won’t be in any shape to contribute until he learns the playbook. Peterman is the only option and one has to wonder, if he flounders this opportunity, can the Bills really keep him on their roster once again?