Fitzpatrick Gains Bills' Starting Job After Igniting Offense

Coming into Foxboro Stadium to take on the New England Patriots yesterday afternoon, the Buffalo Bills had struggled to put points on the board. Through the first two games of the season under quarterback Trent Edwards, the team averaged a league-low 8.5 points per game, granting them the title of the NFL’s least productive offense.

Enter former Harvard quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick ’05.

Last season, while competing with Edwards for the starting quarterback job, Fitzpatrick went 127 for 227, throwing for 1,422 yards with nine touchdowns and ten interceptions. Head coach Chan Gailey hoped that giving the nod to Fitzpatrick would provide a desperately needed offensive spark, and Fitzpatrick proved to be just what the doctor ordered.

In just one game, Fitzpatrick surpassed the total offensive output of Buffalo’s first two games, completing 20 for 28 passes for 247 yards and two touchdowns. He kept the Bills close until the fourth quarter, but was intercepted twice, including one by Brandon Meriweather that sealed the deal in New England’s favor.

Even though Buffalo has gone winless through the first three games of the 2010 season and has lost the last 14 meetings with the Patriots, the Bills have to feel pleased with the improvement in offensive production. In fact, Edwards was released earlier today by the Bills, a sign that Gailey has officially handed the starting quarterback duties over to Fitzpatrick.

With more success in the red zone, the Bills should be able to best their 7-9 record from a year ago and an ignited offense led by Fitzpatrick could very well make the AFC East race this season a very competitive one up until the very end.