By Nick Wojton / Billswire.usatoday.com
Nathan Peterman did it again.
After rookie quarterback Josh Allen went down, the Buffalo Bills (2-4) turned things over to Nathan Peterman against the Houston Texans (3-3) in Week 6.
Early in the fourth quarter it appeared that Peterman was ready to show why he’s still on the Bills. He threw an impressive touchdown pass to Zay Jones. Then things went downhill from there.
Peterman tossed two interceptions, which has become the story of his career, including the game-winning pick-six for the Texans.
“Tough,” Peterman said to reporters. “I’m not going to let it define me. Like I’ve said, when you put everything you have into this game every week you want to come out with a win for your teammates, all the guys in this locker room. It’s tough to lose like this, for sure, but I’m going to learn from it.”
“Just keep your head up, you’ve still got another chance and we did have another chance, for sure. But again, things to learn from,” Peterman added.
Peterman’s roster status is very much in question following his game, so he might not have a choice on the defining factor. Like several of his nine career interceptions, Peterman telegraphed the play with his weak arm.
Houston cornerback Jonathan Joseph, the recipient of Peterman’s pick-six, said just as much.
“It’s one of those things when he’s the free guy, Kareem (Jackson) is the free guy blitzing, I know that the quarterback is going to count him as the hot guy and he had to get the ball off. I was just playing the quarterback’s eyes and the routes,” Joseph said.
Peterman backed up what Joseph said, acknowledging the blitz and his “bad decision” to throw the ball. The second-year quarterback blowing up a game for the Bills was not new. His head coach’s response about him following the game was.
Sean McDermott, typically a defender of Peterman, wasn’t that on Sunday.
“Well, we’ve got to have more respect for the football. I felt he tried to force the football in those situations. You can’t do that. You have to take what the defense gives you,” McDermott said.
Throughout Monday, Bills fans will likely follow the sports ticker to see if the team decides to cut Peterman after another woeful performance. It might not happen immediately with Allen’s injured elbow, but at this point, after another poor outing, it’s hard to not feel for Peterman. Any supporters of his evaporated on Sunday before Joseph even reached the end zone.
Will Peterman have a chance to learn from his mistakes… again? He hopes so.
“It’s tough. You put everything you have into winning the game. It hurts for my teammates. Everybody out there for 60 minutes, giving it all they had, trying to come in here and help us win and didn’t do it today. I’m going to learn from it and take it day-by-day,” Peterman said.