{"id":35307,"date":"2017-12-17T19:06:13","date_gmt":"2017-12-18T00:06:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lwosonnfl.ms.lastwordonsports.com\/?p=35307"},"modified":"2017-12-17T19:06:13","modified_gmt":"2017-12-18T00:06:13","slug":"week-15-buffalo-bills-takeaways","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/2017\/12\/17\/week-15-buffalo-bills-takeaways\/","title":{"rendered":"Week 15 Buffalo Bills Takeaways"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Buffalo Bills<\/a> needed to step up in their final home game of 2017. They did. And in so doing, they came that much closer to ending the longest playoff drought in North American pro sports.<\/p>\n

Against the visiting Miami Dolphins<\/a>, Buffalo prevailed by a 24-16 scoreline<\/a>. The win moves the Bills to 8-6 on the year and assures they remain in the sixth and final playoff spot in the AFC after Week 15.<\/p>\n

Sunday’s contest was never really in doubt. The Bills took a 7-0 lead on their first possession, doing so for the first time since November 20th of last year in a win over the Cincinnati Bengals<\/a>. Their lead expanded to 24-6 at one point in the fourth quarter before the Dolphins scored the final ten points of the game.<\/p>\n

In a must win game, the Bills came out hungry and thoroughly outplayed their opponent. Though there’s much more to be done, the team is in good position to make the playoffs with just one more win. Expectations aren’t high that they can get it next week against the New England Patriots<\/a>, but that won’t be the case a week later against this same Dolphins team.<\/p>\n

For now, it’s time to break down how the Bills took care of business in Week 15.<\/p>\n

Week 15 Buffalo Bills Takeaways<\/strong><\/h1>\n

Good Tyrod Taylor Comes Up Aces<\/h2>\n

It seems everyone has an opinion about Tyrod Taylor<\/a><\/strong>. Is he franchise quarterback material? Can he lead a team to the playoff promised land and beyond? Should the Bills move on from him after this season? They’re all valid questions given the up and down nature of Taylor’s 2017 campaign. But on Sunday, he showed what he’s capable of when he’s at his best.<\/p>\n

The seventh-year pro out of Virginia Tech threw for 224 yards, adding a touchdown pass while going without an interception for the ninth time this year. His 94.6 passer rating and 7.7 yards per pass both rank sixth best among his 12 starts this season. Among NFL signal callers with at least 200 completions, no one has fewer picks than Taylor’s four.<\/p>\n

Taylor also exhibited his dual-threat capabilities, gaining 42 yards on six carries. It included two crucial runs late in the first half. The first came on third and three that kept Buffalo from settling for a field goal. Two plays later, he took it himself on a keeper and scampered nine yards for a touchdown to make it 21-6.<\/p>\n

“Tyrod was decisive when he needed to be decisive,” Bills head coach Sean McDermott said after the game<\/a>. “He made smart choices, (and) ran when he needed to. That gives opposing defenses headaches.”<\/p>\n

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.@TyrodTaylor<\/a> will do it himself! #GoBills<\/a> https:\/\/t.co\/X4UIx10aAc<\/a><\/p>\n

— NFL (@NFL) December 17, 2017<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n