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Could A QB Challenged Team Make The Playoffs?

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NFL Quarterbacks

As OTAs wrap up and teams gear up for training camp, a surprisingly high number of NFL teams are having a “quarterback conundrum”, either overtly or covertly. Let’s take a look at some of the teams that are still up in the air on choosing their starting field general.

The Cleveland Browns made headlines much more often than they cared to last season due to Johnny Football‘s on-field and off-field antics. The Brown’s wisely signed quarterback veteran Josh McCown. Manziel has seen marked improvement after rehab but according to NFL.com, McCown would “have to crumble during training camp to lose his grip over the starting gig”. I believe Manziel will see significant action this season and if he has a solid performance in training camp and shows a dedicated attitude, he could still be the Brown’s starter. Everyone love’s to see a comeback kid.

Next up, we look at the Buffalo Bills. New head coach Rex Ryan is playing it cool, but the Bills are in trouble. Last season was a disaster with E.J. Manuel, who had a 80.3% rating, threw for 838 yards with 5 TDs, 3 interceptions and a fumble. (stats obtained by espn.com) The Bills pulled Manuel and began using Kyle Orton as starting QB for the rest of the season, but Orton is gone now. So it’s a three way battle between Manuel, Matt Cassel and Tyrod Taylor. Ryan is taking his time with a decision, stating on 6/10/2015 that he will go into training camp to see the guys practice in full pads before making any decisions.

NFL Quarterbacks 2015The New York Jets offensive coordinator Chan Gailey announced on 5/20/2015 that Geno Smith would return as the starting quarterback. However, since that announcement there has been an uptick in chatter about Ryan Fitzpatrick, the journeyman QB the Jets traded a draft pick to the Texans for. “Fitzy” has been seeing a lot of first team playing time in recent OTAs and Jets quarterbacks coach Kevin Patullo is impressed with his pocket presence.

With the Houston Texans trading Ryan Fitzpatrick, they have to decide between Ryan Mallett and Brian Hoyer, who they acquired from the Cleveland Browns. In a 5/14/2015 SB Nation poll, 82% of respondents voted for Mallett while 18% voted for Hoyer, so it is clear who the fans would like to see as starting QB. Head coach Bill O’Brien stated on 6/10/2015 that he will make the decision very soon because the entire team needs to know who the leader is going to be.

So there you have it. These are just four of the teams struggling with quarterback decisions. The NFL 2015-2016 season is certainly shaping up to be another wild ride! Do you think it is possible for a team without a clear leader at QB to make it to the playoffs? Lets hear what you think on our Fan Page or in the comments section below!

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AFC East Could Get Exciting

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Can the Jets secure first place?The 3-2 New York Jets host a struggling 0-4 Pittsburgh Steelers team at Met Life Stadium on Sunday afternoon while 3-2 Miami has a bye and the 4-1 New England Patriots host the 5-0 New Orleans Saints. The records indicate that a shift is coming.

If you go by the win loss record, the Jets should defeat the Steelers and the Saints should upset the Patriots. That would put the Jets in a tie for first place in the AFC east with the Patriots (the Patriots hold the tie breaker with a win against the Jets).

In the following weeks, the Patriots go to Met Life Stadium to play the Jets on October 20, then host the Dolphins back home on the 27th. So depending on how they both do this weekend, the matchup next week could be one to decide first place.

After their bye, the Dolphins have a division matchup with the Buffalo Bills and then the Patriots, so they are in control of their destiny as well, if they get some wins following the bye.

Even the Bills, should they recover from the loss of QB E.J. Manuel for the next couple weeks, have a chance to fight for the lead in the division. They do have to win against the Bengals this week and then survive the Miami game on the 20th and then win against the Saints in New Orleans on the 27th.

Should this division stay competitive for the remainder of the season, a lot of Bills, Dolphins and Jets fans will be hanging on the edge of their seats! Or will the Patriots run the table and beat out all of their division opponents and get in the playoffs as the winner of the AFC East?

Your opinions are encouraged! Comment below!