ORCHARD PARK, N.Y.  — Many thought November 19th, 2017 was the beginning and end of Nathan Peterman's chance to be a starter in the NFL. Yet just over nine months later, Peterman's won the Bills three-man competition.

"Every time I've gotten back on the field it's a new opportunity that you're not tied to your past failures,” Peterman said. “I know some people might think that because that's all they've seen, but, again, for me it's every time I step on that field it's a new opportunity no matter the good things or bad things that happened in the past. That's how I'm approaching it."

The second-year QB gets the nod over rookie Josh Allen after an impressive run in preseason and training camp. The other quarterback who was in the mix for the job, AJ McCarron, was traded to the Raiders on Saturday for a 2019 fifth round draft pick.

Coach Sean McDermott says Peterman earned the starting nod based on his consistent performance from the spring all the way through the preseason. He continues to praise how Peterman's responded to that five interception debut, something also not lost on his teammates.

"I believe he’s a resilient young man. He has certainly come through sometimes of adversity throughout his career,” McDermott said. “Look, he’s still a young player, so I’ve been impressed with his mental toughness, his command of the offense, the way he’s generated yards and points in the preseason as well and the way he’s developed to this point."

"Like all of us, we have bad days. Some things are our fault. Some days they aren't,” defensive tackle Kyle Williams said. “I would hate to think that I would be judged off of one quarter or one game of my rookie year moving forward. You see a lot of growth in Nate. Nate has gone out and earned it and done it the right way and, like I said, look forward to playing with him and watching him perform."

Peterman starting means Josh Allen's the back-up to start his rookie season. McDermott says Allen's on schedule with his development and will run the scout team while maybe getting some time with the first team offense occasionally. It's something that Allen accepts, but isn't satisfied with.

"As a competitor, I want to play and that's what everybody on this team wants to do, is play football,” he said. “But you know I can't do anything about it except put my head down, continue to work, give the first team defense a good look on scout O and help Nate in whatever way possible. At the same time I have to prepare and be ready to play football in case something happens or, the game of football's weird that way, so you always have to be prepared."

Peterman says he won't worry about looking over his shoulder for Allen taking his job, instead continuing to focus on himself, the mindset that brought him back from what happen in Los Angeles to become this team's starter once again.