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Career backup Tyrod Taylor wins Bills’ starting quarterback competition

Buffalo quarterback Tyrod Taylor runs for a touchdown against Pittsburgh on Saturday.

Buffalo quarterback Tyrod Taylor runs for a touchdown against Pittsburgh on Saturday.

(Gary Wiepert / Associated Press)
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Tyrod Taylor is a Super Bowl champion. He also has never started an NFL game.

The second part is about to change as the Buffalo Bills announced Monday that Taylor will be their starting quarterback going into the 2015 season.

Taylor beat out Matt Cassel and EJ Manuel for the role after all three quarterbacks posted strong showings in the Bills’ 43-19 preseason win over Pittsburgh on Saturday.

“It came down to the explosiveness Tyrod gives us,” Coach Rex Ryan said.

Taylor came to the Bills during the off-season after spending the first four years of his NFL career as Joe Flacco’s backup in Baltimore. The Ravens won the Super Bowl in Taylor’s second season, but the sixth-round pick from Virginia Tech did not play during the postseason.

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He’s played in 14 games, all as a backup, completing 19 of 35 passes for 199 yards with no touchdowns and two interceptions. He also has rushed 27 times for 136 yards and a touchdown.

During the preseason, Taylor led the Bills to four touchdowns, all scored on rushes. He completed 24 of 31 passes with no interceptions.

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