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Bills Have Confidence In Manuel... But Have More In McCoy
Following up on a previous item. ... The Bills have not one, but two quarterbacks that play-caller Greg Roman feels excited about.

Imagine that. Because it's not really like he has much choice, right?

With third-year passer EJ Manuel set to fill in for injured starter Tyrod Taylor, NFL.com asked Roman if Manuel had a chance to seize the starting job if he lit the world on fire tomorrow at Wembley against the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Remember, it was just last week -- before Manuel's start against the Bengals -- that NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reported that the Bills would have considered reopening the quarterback competition had Manuel played well in Week 6.

"That's a hypothetical question," Roman said. "That's what I plan on doing -- is having him light it up. And we cross bridges when we get to them. Right now, he's playing this game and, believe it or not, that's as far ahead as we're looking."

Still, Roman clearly believes in Manuel, telling reporters that "he played a pretty solid game" against the Bengals and saying: "We have full confidence in EJ and we love the skill set. He's doing really good in his preparation. I really think he's growing as a professional in how he prepares week to week and I think that will really serve him well moving forward."

Roman went on to say that when you watch "elite quarterbacks" in the NFL, "one of the characteristics of these people is that they are simply, in a machine-like fashion, doing what they're supposed to do over and over and over. And I think EJ's got the type of makeup to really go down that path."

Roman acknowledged that Taylor "simply won the job throughout the offseason and we really felt good about him, but at the same time, I felt really good about EJ, too, and what he was able to do and the progress he was able to make. So, it was a tough decision, it really was. It was tough. But (Taylor) won the job, it's that simple."

Despite Roman's views on Manuel's abilities, with Taylor, Sammy Watkins and Percy Harvin out, ESPN.com's Mike Rodak notes that running back LeSean McCoy will have to bear the load for the Bills offense.

McCoy is a safer play this week after he was surprisingly effective in his first game back from an injury.

Speaking in London, McCoy said he might have left some plays on the field in Week 6 because he was afraid of re-injuring his hamstring, but added that his confidence continues to rise.

Better still for McCoy owners, Profootballfocus.com's Mike Clay notes that of 23 offensive plays in inside the 10-yard line this season, 15 have been called runs. That 65 percent rate is highest in the NFL.