This post is sponsored by Sprint.
It's rare that an NFL team that is 0-6 has a player performing well enough to warrant praise of any sort. The 0-6 Buffalo Bills, fresh off of their latest gut-wrenching loss, find themselves in that rare circumstance. Ryan Fitzpatrick, apparently a starting quarterback extraordinaire, is getting our Sprint Game Ball of the Week for his scintillating Week 7 performance.
In Buffalo's 37-34 overtime loss to the Baltimore Ravens, Fitzpatrick tied or set career highs for completions (29), yards (374) and touchdowns (four). He became the first Bills quarterback to throw for over 300 yards in a game since 2006. He did this against a Ravens defense that entered the game surrendering 280.5 offensive yards per game - an average that jumped by 32 yards after Fitzpatrick and the Bills got done gashing them to the tune of 506 total yards.
Fitzpatrick was not perfect. His two interceptions were significant factors in the Bills' ultimate demise. Buffalo might not win until Fitzpatrick plays a perfect game. That shouldn't dilute the fact that he is playing the best football of his life by a country mile.
After four starts in 2010, Fitzpatrick has thrown for 11 touchdowns (with four interceptions), 969 yards (at 7.6 yards per attempt), and is completing 63.3% of his passes. Buffalo's offense is putting up an average of 24.3 points per game in those four games. Here's the most bizarre statistic of all: Fitzpatrick's 102.0 quarterback rating is good for second in the NFL, trailing only Peyton Manning. Peyton Manning.
Buffalo might be the only winless team in the NFL, but it's certainly not because of their quarterback play. Fitzpatrick is on fire right now, and looks to carry his considerable momentum into a Week 8 matchup with the Kansas City Chiefs.