Buffalo rookie quarterback E.J. Manuel, who was selected with the 16th overall pick in the first round, is trying to lead a push that would end the Bills’ 13-year playoff drought.
He will be the X-factor when the Falcons (2-9) face the Bills (4-7) at 4:05 p.m. at Rogers Centre in Toronto. The Falcons are 1-4 this season against rookie or second-year quarterbacks.
Manuel, who played at Florida State, missed four games with a right knee sprain. He has started seven games, and the Bills are 3-4 in those games.
He’s developing as a passer and has not passed for more than 300 yards in a game. He passed for 296 yards in directing a 24-23 win over Carolina on Sept. 15. He’s a read-option threat and has rushed 34 times for 117 yards and no touchdowns.
Overall, Manuel has completed 127 of 217 passes for 1,385 yards with eight touchdowns and four interceptions and has a 82.1 passer rating.
“He’s a big, athletic and strong quarterback,” Falcons coach Mike Smith said. “He’s got a strong arm. He can run. He uses his legs well. They do have a tinge of the speed-option or read-option. So we have to be prepared for that.”
In his previous outing, Manuel led the Bills to a 37-14 rout of the New York Jets.
He completed 20 of 28 passes for 245 yards and two touchdowns, one to wide receiver T.J. Graham and one to wide receiver Marquise Goodwin. With those two touchdown passes, Manuel moved into second place on the Bills’ list for most touchdown passes thrown by a rookie, with eight.
He has been able to lean heavily on a solid rushing attack. The Bills average 134.1 yards rushing per game, which ranks seventh in the NFL.
Running backs Fred Jackson and C.J. Spiller both have rushed for more than 500 yards. The Bills have 36 rushing plays of 10 yards or more in 2013, which is tied for ninth most in the league through Week 12.
“I know he’s coming off of missing time with a knee injury, but he is a very athletic quarterback,” Smith said. “He’s got a chance to be a really good player in this league.”
