ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. — It would be hard to imagine that the Buffalo Bills could still be in the thick of the playoff race if coach Doug Marrone did not make the switch at quarterback from EJ Manuel to Kyle Orton.

Since taking over in Week 5, Orton helped lead the Bills to three victories in the four games he started, and two of those wins were of the fourth-quarter comeback variety where Orton had to make big plays in the waning seconds to pull both out.

It’s a stretch to imagine that Manuel would have been capable of leading those comebacks under such duress. Thus, the Bills reached the midway point of their season, and their bye week, with a 5-3 record.

Of course, in the midst of this playoff race that Buffalo finds itself, there are now whispers circulating about what the Bills will do with Orton after this season. Is it possible that the 10th-year veteran, who started 74 games in the NFL, could be the Bills’ quarterback of the future instead of Manuel, who was selected in the first round of the 2013 draft?

So far this year, Orton completed 67.4 percent of his passes and his yards per attempt of 8.0 is tied for sixth best in the league.

His passer rating of 104.0 is fourth best behind three guys named Aaron Rodgers, Peyton Manning and Ben Roethlisberger. In the fourth quarter, his rating is a league-best 132.5.

Although he played only four games, the case can be made that Orton is the Bills’ most valuable offensive player because he was so instrumental in the three victories over which he presided to keep the Bills relevant — so far.

Orton signed a two-year contract when he joined the Bills in late August. He is making $5.5 million this season and has a player option for next year at the same price, which means a strong finish in 2014 gives him plenty of leverage.

He could exercise his opt-out and seek a big-money, long-term deal in free agency with any team listening, perhaps including the Bills, or Buffalo could renegotiate a more lucrative one-year deal with him. That last scenario would give Orton flexibility for 2016 and beyond, and it would give the Bills more time to determine whether Manuel is the quarterback of the future.

Would there be a market for Orton? There could be. Even though he turns 32 on Nov. 14, take a look around the NFL right now. Of the top 13 quarterbacks in passer ratings, 12 are 30 years old or more. The list includes Rodgers (30), Manning (38), Roethlisberger (32), Tony Romo (34), Tom Brady (37), Phillip Rivers (32), Carson Palmer (35), Drew Brees (35), Eli Manning (33), Jay Cutler (31) and Alex Smith (30). The interloper is 25-year-old Andrew Luck. No one on that list of 30-year-olds has started fewer games than Orton, meaning he’s a young 32 in terms of NFL wear and tear.

“I don’t think that’s out of the question at all,” Marrone said of Orton perhaps entering a period where he’s in the prime of his career. “When you look at the quarterbacks now, at 31, at 37 or 35, I think it’s difficult to put a limit on when it’s going to end.”

Predictably, Orton doesn’t want to discuss it right now.

“I hope I play well this week, and that’s really all I’m thinking about,” he said. “We’ve got a huge game coming up against Kansas City.”

On that point, he’s correct. The Bills face a critical four-day stretch right out of their break as they host the Chiefs and then travel to Miami to take on the Dolphins in the Thursday night game. All three teams are 5-3 right now, and the Bills’ season could hinge on these two games. If they lose them both, their playoff chances would take a catastrophic hit because their December schedule includes road games at Denver and New England, and a home game against Green Bay.

“You just embrace the challenge,” running back Anthony Dixon said. “Two games in five days. It’s going to be fun. We’re playing football. This is what we love to do, so let’s strap it up and play. When you’ve got a winning record, teams are looking to earn their stripes against you. They’re looking to put forth their best effort so that they can feel some type of way about themselves.”

NOTES: RB Fred Jackson (groin) was limited in practice Wednesday, but his game status is unknown . … LB Ty Powell (ankle) is not a sure thing for this game . … OL Cyril Richardson was away for a few days because of a death in his family. He may not be active for the game Sunday. … WR Mike Williams missed Monday’s practice because of a death in his family, but he was back Wednesday. … CB Ron Brooks (groin) was limited in practice by a groin injury.