Buffalo Bills

Tyrod Taylor: Statistics That Will Surprise Buffalo Bills' Fans

Updated Mar. 4, 2020 2:49 p.m. ET

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Dec 18, 2016; Orchard Park, NY, USA; Buffalo Bills quarterback Tyrod Taylor (5) is knocked out of bounds by Cleveland Browns strong safety Ibraheim Campbell (24) during the second half at New Era Field. Bills beat the Browns 33-13. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Hoffman-USA TODAY Sports

Tyrod Taylor is desperately clinging on to the Bills’ starting quarterback job, but here’s some stats that would make any fan want to keep it that way.

By now, fans are pretty much done with the Tyrod Taylor era for the Buffalo Bills — along with that of Rex Ryan. However, you don’t have to be on board with him for another year to appreciate these stats he’s compiled in his two seasons — maybe counting.

In the Buffalo Bills’ home victory over the Cleveland Browns on Sunday, Tyrod Taylor finished with 49 rushing yards and passed Hall of Famer Jim Kelly to become the second-best rushing quarterback this franchise has ever seen.

When the 2016 season started, Tyrod Taylor had 568 rushing yards and had six players ahead of him on the Bills’ all time rushing list — for quarterbacks. Adding 520 yards this season — with two games remaining — Tyrod has moved all the way up to second with a total of 1,088 yards. He now only sits behind Joe Ferguson, who had a total of 1,174 rushing yards.

Taylor needs 87 rushing yards in these final two games to pass Ferguson.

The five players Taylor passed this season were: Rob Johnson (732 rushing yards), Jack Kemp (780 yards), Ryan Fitzpatrick (822 yards), Doug Flutie (885 yards) and most recently Jim Kelly (1,049 yards). Again, Taylor just needs 87 more yards to be the top rushing quarterback in Bills’ franchise history.

Tyrod Taylor couldn’t have passed Jim Kelly in a better game, considering it was the same game the Bills broke their franchise record for most rushing touchdowns in a single season. The record sat at 26 coming into this game, set by a squad in 1975 led by O.J. Simpson. The Bills now have 27 this season with two games left — a number that Taylor was a big part in with 6 rushing touchdowns this year.

Now we know how Taylor stacks against the greats this franchise has seen at the quarterback position. How does he rank against those players with his passing numbers?

These might surprise you, too. Keep in mind, Taylor brings a running element that no other quarterback has offered the Buffalo Bills. When you think about it, he’s one of the better quarterbacks we’ve seen in a while.

With his 2,694 passing yards this season and 3,035 last season, Tyrod Taylor has compiled 5,729 yards over 28 games in his two-year stint with the Buffalo Bills. Keep in mind, he has two games remaining this season, although they might not be games he sees 100% of the playing time.

Those numbers bring him a 205 yards per game average.

Now, let’s see how that compares to some of the greats before him in Buffalo. As of right now, Taylor ranks tenth in career passing yards (5,729 yards) with the Buffalo Bills. Above him are: Trent Edwards (5,739 yards), J.P. Losman (6,211 yards), Dennis Shaw (6,286 yards), Doug Flutie (7,582 yards), Drew Bledsoe (10,151 yards), Ryan Fitzpatrick (11,654 yards), Jack Kemp (15,134 yards), Joe Ferguson (27,590 yards) and Jim Kelly (35,467 yards).

Let’s look at this from a yards-per-game perspective because that’s where Taylor stands out a little bit more.

First off, we are going to assume that Taylor passes Trent Edwards this season, considering he only needs 10 passing yards to do so. He also could possibly pass J.P. Losman if he averages 242 yards over these next two games, as well as Dennis Shaw with 560 yards total over the next games.

Let’s say he only passes Edwards, then he will stand at No. 9 in franchise history — noting that he has played far less amount of games than the people above him. Which leads me to my next point.

Taylor has averaged 205 yards per game through the air these past two seasons, adding around 40 yards on the ground. Compared to the players above him on that passing yards list, only three players have a higher passing yards per game average than Taylor: Drew Bledsoe (211 yards per game), Ryan Fitzpatrick (212 yards per game) and Jim Kelly (222 yards per game).

Bledsoe has played in 20 more games than Taylor, Fitzpatrick played in 27 more games and Jim Kelly, well, played in 132 more games than Taylor. It’s arguable that statistically, Tyrod Taylor would stack up well against the best quarterbacks this team has ever seen.

Add in the fact that he is a better rusher than any of them and takes care of the ball better than any of them, it’s hard to see where you can complain. I mean, Taylor averages 0.4 interceptions per game. Where does that stand with the top-three quarterbacks from the Buffalo Bills?

Kelly: 1.1 interceptions per game, Ferguson: 1.2 interceptions per game, Kemp: 1.5 interceptions per game.

No one knows where Tyrod Taylor will play next season, but whoever gets him will definitely be getting a valuable quarterback that can be developed with the right coaching.

Personally, I hope that team is the Buffalo Bills.

Congrats on passing Jim Kelly and becoming the second best rushing quarterback in franchise history, Tyrod Taylor! Go for the top spot now.

What are your thoughts on these stats? Leave your comments below!

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