ORCHARD PARK Doug Flutie Jerseys Stitched , N.Y. (AP) — Derek Anderson went from having the Buffalo Bills lure him out of semiretirement one week, to taking over the starting job for injured rookie Josh Allen the next.So much for the 35-year-old having any chance of easing his way back into football some 10 months since attempting what Anderson once thought might well have been the last pass — an incompletion — of his 12-year career.“Things that happen in this game never amaze me,” Anderson said after practice Wednesday, a day after being informed he’ll start in Buffalo’s game at Indianapolis on Sunday.“I was fully aware of what I was getting myself into coming here,” he added. Obviously, not ideal. But we’re going to do the best we can.”It’s not an ideal situation because Anderson was signed to serve as Allen’s mentor. Allen, however, is now listed week to week after the first-round draft pick sprained the right elbow on his throwing arm in a 20-13 loss at Houston last weekend.What’s also troubling is how the Bills (2-4) had little choice but to go with Anderson ahead of turnover-prone backup Nathan Peterman, who has already thrown four interceptions in less than four quarters of playing time this season.Coach Sean McDermott acknowledged Peterman’s struggles as playing a factor in his decision, before adding: “I feel like this is the right decision for our football team right now.”That leaves the Bills putting their trust in a newcomer unfamiliar with their playbook and personnel. There’s also the rust factor, given Anderson attempted just eight passes in three games with Carolina last season, and is 2-2 in four starts over the past seven years.“Yeah, I think that’s obvious,” McDermott said of Anderson’s limited playing time.On the plus side Youth Jim Kelly Jerseys , McDermott said: “He brings experience, leadership, presence to the table and he’s worked hard the last week and a half here to get himself up to speed.”Anderson laughed when asked how long it might take to become accustomed to starting again.“Hopefully, very quickly,” he said. “It’ll take a minute to get used to it. But I think we’ll have a good plan.”That plan remains a work in progress, with Anderson preparing to inform offensive coordinator Brian Daboll by kickoff which plays he’s comfortable visualizing and which ones he can’t so they can be removed from consideration.“I’m not a rocket scientist, but I’m pretty smart,” he said. “Yeah, we’re getting there.”Anderson, who has a 20-27 record as a starter, is at least familiar with several coaches.McDermott was the Panthers defensive coordinator during most of Anderson’s seven seasons in Carolina. Daboll held the same job in Cleveland in 2009 when Anderson went 3-4 in replacing Brady Quinn as the Browns starter.Anderson is also reunited with receiver Kelvin Benjamin, who spent his first 3½ seasons in Carolina before being traded to Buffalo a year ago.Anderson will become the third quarterback to start this season and ninth to start a game since the Bills selected EJ Manuel in the first round of the 2013 draft. The list includes Matt Cassel, who took the first snap on a trick play in the 2015 season opener before giving way to Tyrod Taylor.The Bills’ intention to gradually develop Allen as a backup was scrapped after Peterman faltered in a 47-3 season-opening loss at Baltimore. Allen started the next game and is 2-3 since.The 23-year-old’s development will now be limited to watching from the sideline and studying game film.“I’m looking at it as a blessing in disguise right now to see how he operates,” Allen said Jim Kelly Jerseys Stitched , referring to Anderson.Allen spoke while wearing a brace covering most of his right arm.He was hurt while being struck from both sides by Whitney Mercilus and Jadeveon Clowney. Mercilus hit Allen’s throwing arm just after the quarterback released the ball for a 39-yard completion to Benjamin. He stayed in the game for one more play — an incompletion to Zay Jones — before going down to one knee.“I knew at that point that me staying on the field was going to hurt the team,” he said. “It (stinks) but it is what it is.”Allen said it was the combination of being hit twice that caused the injury.McDermott said a second medical opinion confirmed the initial diagnosis of Allen’s injury being a sprain and not requiring surgery. MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. (AP) — Jordan Phillips‘ eagerness to get the last word backfired on the Buffalo Bills.The animated defensive tackle drew a costly penalty for taunting his former team, setting up a touchdown with nine minutes left that helped the Miami Dolphins rally past Buffalo 21-17 on Sunday.Miami turned away two Bills drives down the stretch, and Charles Clay made a diving try but failed to catch Josh Allen’s desperation fourth-down pass at the goal line in the final minute.Article continues below ...“This one hurts a lot,” Allen said.The rookie quarterback threw for 231 yards and ran for 135 to set a franchise record for rushing yards by a quarterback for the second week in a row. Miami won despite being outgained 415-175.“It beats the heck out of the alternative,” said Miami’s Ryan Tannehill, who threw three touchdown passes .The Dolphins (6-6) snapped a two-game losing streak and won for only the third time since Week 3, helping their slim playoff chances. The Bills (4-8) will play their customary role of spoilers in the final weeks, assured of finishing at .500 or worse for the 16th time in the past 19 years.Phillips had said he was eager to settle old scores with the Dolphins after they released him in Week 5, and Miami was trying to rally from a three-point deficit when he tackled Kenyan Drake for a 4-yard loss deep in Bills territory.Phillips rose, pushed Drake’s leg away and drew a 15-yard penalty for taunting.When asked to describe the call, Phillips said, “Borderline is very generous. … I hit someone’s foot Youth O. J. Simpson Jerseys , and that’s an unsportsmanlike conduct? OK.”Bills coach Sean McDermott tempered his critique of Phillips’ penalty.“He’s playing emotional football,” McDermott said. “He made a great play in the backfield, but at the same time, you can’t beat yourself. If that’s how they’re going to call it, that’s how they’re going to call it, and we have to play smarter than that.”On the play after the infraction, the Bills stopped Miami for another loss, and Phillips directed showy applause toward the Miami bench. Bills coaches then took him out of the game, and he watched from the sideline as Tannehill hit Kenny Stills with a 13-yard scoring pass for a 21-17 lead.Allen then drove the Bills to the Miami 23 before he was sacked on consecutive plays, and Stephen Hauschka missed a 55-yard field goal attempt.The Bills drove 65 yards in the final 2 1/2 minutes but again came up short — literally. A completion to Zay Jones at the 6 was overturned by a replay review. Allen’s final pass was off-balance, wobbly and underthrown, but Clay said he should have made the grab.“I just didn’t come down with it,” Clay said. “You’ve just got to catch it. I feel like I let everybody down.”Allen threw touchdown passes of 15 and 25 yards to Jones, and the duo also connected on a 2-point conversion. But Allen was intercepted twice by Xavien Howard and twice missed open receivers for potential scores.A muffed punt by the Bills’ Isaiah McKenzie led to the Dolphins’ second touchdown O. J. Simpson Jerseys Stitched , which put them ahead 14-6.FIERY BILLSAfter the game, Phillips walked toward the Miami sideline and traded hugs with many of his former teammates.Meanwhile, Bills defensive end Jerry Hughes confronted an official in the tunnel near the locker room. Hughes accused the official of calling him a vulgar name.“I’ll catch you. I’ll catch you, guaranteed,” Hughes shouted, waving his index finger, as he was pulled away by Bills officials.Hughes later declined to elaborate on the reason for his anger.“I was angry?” he said. “I lost the game, so I am supposed to be angry.”INJURY REPORTBills C Russell Bodine left in the first quarter with a left leg injury and did not return.Dolphins reserve CB Cornell Armstrong left with a knee injury.UP NEXTThe Dolphins play host to AFC East New England on Sunday. The Patriots won the earlier meeting 38-7 in Week 4.The Bills play at home Sunday against the New York Jets, who lost an earlier meeting 41-10 in Week 10.
