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Cheesehead
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The quarterback the Packers will be facing in Buffalo this Sunday is an old familiar name, about whom there are some unpleasant memories from the past. Kyle Orton is a 9 year National Football League veteran journeyman back-up and placeholder, who has been part of some notable stings against the Packers in the past. He has an all-time 4-2 career record against Green Bay and is undefeated against the Packers when he's the quarterback with the home field advantage.
Orton came into the league in the same draft class as Aaron Rodgers in 2005. He was a fourth round pick of the Chicago Bears out of Purdue. Orton had been a solid college quarterback. He led the Boilermakers to four straight bowl appearances; something such famous predecessors as Bob Griese, Mike Phipps, Mark Herrmann and Drew Brees were never able to do. In Chicago he was projected to be the back-up to Rex Grossman.
While Aaron Rodgers sat on the Green Bay bench his first 3 years Orton was thrust into immediate starting duty as the result of Grossman's chronic injuries. He started 15 games as a rookie in 2005 and won ten, helping the Bears supplant the Packers as NFC North champions. Orton's 10 wins is the fifth most for a first year qb in NFL history, behind Ben Rothlisberger, Matt Ryan, Joe Flacco and Russell Wilson.
Orton was seldom a spectacular quarterback but the Chicago situation suited him well; with a great defense, strong rushing game and outstanding special teams to support him. Orton may not have carried the team but he didn't hurt it with bad mistakes, either. Still, the Bears were committed to Grossman as the starter but Orton continued to get extensive duty due to Grossman's tendency to be injured a lot. By 2008 coach Lovie Smith was ready to name Orton his starter but general manager Jerry Angelos had other ideas. He traded Orton, two first round draft picks and a third to Denver for Jay Cutler.
Orton got off to a strong beginning as the starter in Denver. The Broncos started 6-0 with him and rookie head coach Josh McDaniels before the mirage faded and the team wound up only 8-8. But Orton did throw for over 3,800 yds and 21 td's that season, with 12 INT'. In 2010 Orton threw for 3,653 yds., 20 td's and only 9 INT's; but the Broncos had a losing season. Then Tim Tebow-mania began to take over.
Orton began the 2011 season as the starter. In an early season game against the defending Super Bowl Champion Packers at Lambeau Field he completed 22 of 32 passes for 273 yds. 3 td's, 3 INT's in the Broncos' 49-23 loss. But a few weeks later he was traded to Kansas City as the Broncos decided to go with Tebow and was again put into the starter's position when Matt Cassel got hurt.
As a result Orton would face the dynamic Packers for a second time that season. The Pack came into Arrowhead Stadium heading for what looked like the NFL's third undefeated regular season in history. They were 13-0, on a 19 game winning streak. But with Orton outperforming league MVP Aaron Rodgers by completing 23 of 31 passes for 299 yds the Chiefs upset the Packers 19-14. And perhaps showed the rest of the league how to beat the Packers, as they would be a "one and done" in the playoffs despite a 15-1 record.
Orton has been a career back-up to Rex Grossman in Chicago, Matt Cassel in KC, Tony Romo in Dallas and a placeholder for Tim Tebow in Denver and now E.J. Manuel in Buffalo. One has to wonder if he couldn't have been much better for himself and his teams if any club would have committed to him as their starter. While he's no Tom Brady, Matt Ryan or Drew Brees has had done well in the right situations with a defense and rushing game to support him.
There's probably a few Bears fans who think they should have kept him rather than trade for Cutler and used those prime draft picks to keep their defense intact. Orton did produce a 21-12 record as the starter in Chicago.
He's not a qb who will carry his team but a team can win with him if it's decent enough. For his career he is 40-39 with a 59.4% completion percentage, 17,374 yds., 97 td's, 66 INT's and a rating of 81.1.
In six games vs. Green Bay he's 4-2, 4-0 at home, has thrown for 1,019 yds., 5 td's, 6 INT's, completed 58,7% and has a rating of 74.1. And in Buffalo this Sunday he will have some of the basic ingredients that have given him success against the Packers in the past. Home field and a good defense.
Orton came into the league in the same draft class as Aaron Rodgers in 2005. He was a fourth round pick of the Chicago Bears out of Purdue. Orton had been a solid college quarterback. He led the Boilermakers to four straight bowl appearances; something such famous predecessors as Bob Griese, Mike Phipps, Mark Herrmann and Drew Brees were never able to do. In Chicago he was projected to be the back-up to Rex Grossman.
While Aaron Rodgers sat on the Green Bay bench his first 3 years Orton was thrust into immediate starting duty as the result of Grossman's chronic injuries. He started 15 games as a rookie in 2005 and won ten, helping the Bears supplant the Packers as NFC North champions. Orton's 10 wins is the fifth most for a first year qb in NFL history, behind Ben Rothlisberger, Matt Ryan, Joe Flacco and Russell Wilson.
Orton was seldom a spectacular quarterback but the Chicago situation suited him well; with a great defense, strong rushing game and outstanding special teams to support him. Orton may not have carried the team but he didn't hurt it with bad mistakes, either. Still, the Bears were committed to Grossman as the starter but Orton continued to get extensive duty due to Grossman's tendency to be injured a lot. By 2008 coach Lovie Smith was ready to name Orton his starter but general manager Jerry Angelos had other ideas. He traded Orton, two first round draft picks and a third to Denver for Jay Cutler.
Orton got off to a strong beginning as the starter in Denver. The Broncos started 6-0 with him and rookie head coach Josh McDaniels before the mirage faded and the team wound up only 8-8. But Orton did throw for over 3,800 yds and 21 td's that season, with 12 INT'. In 2010 Orton threw for 3,653 yds., 20 td's and only 9 INT's; but the Broncos had a losing season. Then Tim Tebow-mania began to take over.
Orton began the 2011 season as the starter. In an early season game against the defending Super Bowl Champion Packers at Lambeau Field he completed 22 of 32 passes for 273 yds. 3 td's, 3 INT's in the Broncos' 49-23 loss. But a few weeks later he was traded to Kansas City as the Broncos decided to go with Tebow and was again put into the starter's position when Matt Cassel got hurt.
As a result Orton would face the dynamic Packers for a second time that season. The Pack came into Arrowhead Stadium heading for what looked like the NFL's third undefeated regular season in history. They were 13-0, on a 19 game winning streak. But with Orton outperforming league MVP Aaron Rodgers by completing 23 of 31 passes for 299 yds the Chiefs upset the Packers 19-14. And perhaps showed the rest of the league how to beat the Packers, as they would be a "one and done" in the playoffs despite a 15-1 record.
Orton has been a career back-up to Rex Grossman in Chicago, Matt Cassel in KC, Tony Romo in Dallas and a placeholder for Tim Tebow in Denver and now E.J. Manuel in Buffalo. One has to wonder if he couldn't have been much better for himself and his teams if any club would have committed to him as their starter. While he's no Tom Brady, Matt Ryan or Drew Brees has had done well in the right situations with a defense and rushing game to support him.
There's probably a few Bears fans who think they should have kept him rather than trade for Cutler and used those prime draft picks to keep their defense intact. Orton did produce a 21-12 record as the starter in Chicago.
He's not a qb who will carry his team but a team can win with him if it's decent enough. For his career he is 40-39 with a 59.4% completion percentage, 17,374 yds., 97 td's, 66 INT's and a rating of 81.1.
In six games vs. Green Bay he's 4-2, 4-0 at home, has thrown for 1,019 yds., 5 td's, 6 INT's, completed 58,7% and has a rating of 74.1. And in Buffalo this Sunday he will have some of the basic ingredients that have given him success against the Packers in the past. Home field and a good defense.
