With 2:40 remaining in the fourth quarter, undrafted free agent quarterback Thad Lewis was given a chance to tie the game. Crunch time is the best situation to see if a player has that highly coveted “X-factor,” especially at a high pressure position such as the quarterback position. Performing under pressure is an essential attribute for the most scrutinized position in all of sports.
Photo credit Ed Runyon
We were able to see first round draft pick E.J. Manuel thrive with the game on the line against the Panthers in Week 2. On Sunday, it was Thad Lewis’ turn to show the world just how clutch he is. It took Lewis only one minute and thirty-two seconds to drive 86 yards and throw the game tying 40 yard touchdown pass to Marquise Goodwin. The pass had the perfect amount of touch on it, hitting the rookie receiver in stride on his way to catching his first career touchdown in the NFL.
Lewis went above and beyond the call in regulation, but was unable to produce a successful drive in overtime, failing to gain a single first down. Both teams punted away their first overtime possessions, and Brandon Tate returned Brian Moorman’s punt to Buffalo’s 33 yard line, placing them in field goal range before the offense stepped on to the field.
“Coming into the game you’ve got to be confident in this league. If I was nervous in any way shape or form or fashion, Cincinnati would’ve ate us up,” Lewis said regarding his confidence level entering the game.
Entering the game this week, many experts predicted that Lewis would be too inexperienced to contribute at any level higher than just a “game manager.” Lewis quickly quieted the critics in the first quarter. On his first third down as the Buffalo Bills starting quarterback, Thad Lewis opened up the playbook and connected with receiver T.J. Graham on a 47 yard deep pass.
That play lead to a three yard quarterback keeper touchdown by Lewis to put the Bills ahead 7-3 in the first quarter. Later in the first half the Bills were stopped on four consecutive plays inside the Bengals two yard line. Following the defensive stand, Dalton drove the offense 98 yards culminating in a 20 yard touchdown catch by Giovanni Bernard.
Bills safety Jim Leonhard was asked if there is anything worse than allowing a 98 yard drive.
“98 yards and a loss,” Leonhard replied.
“A lot of things were going in a tough direction, but the players came back, they stood in there and they fought…We’re going to go in there and just keep working and keep fighting. It’s going to turn. That’s all we can keep doing,” Bills head coach Doug Marrone said following the loss Sunday.
On the Bengals second drive of the second half, they faced a dilemma. They had 4th and 15 on Buffalo’s 34 yard line and could either attempt a 51 yard field goal or go for it. Offensive coordinator Jay Gruden chose the latter, and the play resulted in a remarkable one-handed grab by Dane Sanzenbacher for 23 yards. The Bengals were able to keep the drive going, yet they weren’t able to produce any points. Mike Nugent made a 24 yard field, but it was nullified by a 10 yard offensive holding penalty. As a result, Nugent missed the 34 yard attempt that followed.
Photo credit Ed Runyon
Those three points proved to be crucial because the Bengals lead was only by two touchdowns, as opposed to it being a three possession game. From that point on momentum shifted strongly into Buffalo’s favor.
Just five minutes after the missed field goal, Lewis threw his first touchdown of the game to Scott Chandler to bring the score to 24-17 with less then 10 minutes remaining in the game. The Bills defense then forced the Bengals to punt, which gave the Bills and Thad Lewis a chance to tie the game.
Lewis finished the game 19 of 32 with 216 passing yards, two passing touchdowns and one rushing touchdown.
Lewis made the game exciting and downright fun to watch, yet was unable to get the victory. Lewis still has a lot to learn as a starting quarterback in the NFL, but loyalty to his teammates is not one of them.
“It’s a great job by the coaching staff, Coach Hackett calling up plays, the offensive line protecting, and the running backs did a great job running the ball and obviously the receivers and the tight ends so it was a team effort,” Lewis said.
On a side note, Thad Lewis was limping around the Bills locker room with a walking boot on his right foot after the game. Lewis is unsure of when and how he was injured and told reporters that “they (medical staff) told me the X-rays looked good” on the quarterback’s sprained foot. “I should be fine. That’s a great sign,” Lewis added.
Add Thad Lewis’s name to the long list of quarterback injuries in Buffalo this season.
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