Fitzpatrick leading Bills' no-name charge

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ORCHARD PARKFor every NFL first-round bust, theres a late-round diamond-in-the-rough that shines for a team. For the Buffalo Bills, quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick is that gem.

Not much was expected from obscure Buffalo this season, but Fitzpatrick has taken the surprising 3-1 Bills into the national spotlight with the help of his right arm and his head. The former 2005 seventh-round pick for St. Louisand first-time starterhas blossomed alongside head coach Chan Gailey in a match that has been made in cranium heaven.

Fitzpatrick is Ivy League, a graduate of Harvard. If he wasnt playing football hed certainly be making big decisions in the board room of a Fortune 500 company. Gailey played quarterback in college for Florida 40 years ago, and has been in the coaching game ever since. Intellect is the name of their game, and the two share the uncanny ability of knowing what the other is thinking.

The result has been an explosive and wide-open offense that has surged to the upper echelon of the league rankings after perennially being near the bottom pretty much since Y2K.

Hes got a good understanding of what youre trying to get done, Gailey said about his signal-caller. When you explain strengths and weaknesses, he gets it. He understands matchups, and he understands what defenses are trying to do. Its really not anything different than what I said midseason last year, its just weve gotten more experience with each other. Everybody has.

Since that midpoint of last year that Gailey refers towhen Buffalo was halfway to a winless season after a 22-19 loss to Chicagothe Bills have won seven of the past 12 games, with Fitzpatrick doing the heavy lifting with a cast of a who are they? group of receivers led by seventh-round pick Stevie Johnson, and undrafted free agents Donald Jones and David Nelson.

Before stumbling last week in a 23-20 loss to the Bengals, Fitzpatrick had completed 65 percent of his throws, averaged 280 yards passing and tossed nine touchdowns in Buffalos red-hot start that left them at 3-0.

Hes taking advantage of his opportunities, running back Fred Jackson said. This is the first time he was able to come in and be named the starter. Hes relishing that role. Hes taking full advantage of making plays for his team and going in the right spots. I love playing with him.

Jackson is another player of little notoriety the Bills have on their roster. A graduate of Coe College who also wasnt drafted, Jackson was originally signed to Buffalos practice squad in 2006, and emerged in 2009 when he became the first player in NFL history to rush for more than 1,000 yards and accumulate 1,000 kickoff return yards.

Through the first two games of this season he led the league in rushing, and his 5.8 yards per attempt through the first four games is the fourth-highest in the league.

He was the most underrated guy in the league, and now I feel like I talk about him too much, Fitzpatrick joked. Hes my favorite teammate of all time. The way he plays, the way he runs with the ball, the way he gives up his body in pass protection. Theres so many things that he does and that he brings that dont show up in the stats.

The suddenly resurgent Bills and Fitzpatrick have also gotten the attention of Eagles coach Andy Reid.

I have a ton of respect for Chan Gailey, and both he and his staff are doing a heck of a job, he said. The products there. Theyre playing good football on both sides, and theyre making plays.

Fitzpatrick was one of the best interviews Ive ever had at the Combine. Hes a brilliant guy, loves football, and thats the way hes playing.

Despite trading away 2004 first-round pick Lee Evans to Baltimore before the season started, and then losing receiver Roscoe Parrish for the year after he sustained an ankle injury in the second game of the season, the Bills continue to spread things out on offense with plenty of four- and five-receiver sets.

Buffalo has also been able to rally from double-digit deficits in two of their wins, with Jackson playing a major role in both comebacks with dynamic runs. In the 38-35 win over Oakland in Week 2, he embarked on a 43-yard gallop to the end zone early in the third quarter to cut the Raiders lead to 21-10.

A week later in Buffalos 34-31 win over AFC East rival New England, Jackson hauled in Fitzpatricks short pass over the middle and ran for 38 yards to the Patriots 1-yard line with 1:43 left in regulation, setting up Rian Lindells game-winning 28-yard field goal.

Where the Bills struggle, though, is without the ball, as they rank 27th overall in the league.

Its concerning, Gailey said about his defense. Youve got to get off the field. You cant give up the big plays. We hadnt done that as well as we need to. The yards do concern you. You cant give up those yards on a consistent basis and expect to win.

But so far, Fitzpatrick and Co. has been able to overcome the defensive deficiencies.

Were 3-1 and weve got a tough opponent coming in, he said. Were doing whatever we can right now to prepare, and trying to get to 4-1.

E-mail Bob Matuszak at bobmat@airmail.net.

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