Defense wakes up too late; Offense can't get rolling.
by Steve Saslow
Here are our position by position grades:
Quarterback:EJ Manuel struggled with accuracy throughout the game and never seemed to be on the same page with the wide receivers. He made one big play when he avoided a sack and hit Scott Chandler for a 37 yard gain. He finished 23 of 39 for 238 yards most of the yards were in garbage time. He didn't turn the ball over but did fumble once.
Grade C: Just can't make the plays when playing from behind.
C.J. Spiller struggled for most of the game and finished with just 25 yards on 10 carries and added 37 yards on three receptions including a 25 yard catch.
Fred Jackson was the only one making plays on offense leading the way with 34 yards on the ground on just six carries for a 5.7 yard average. He also had 78 yards on eight catches and the Bills only touchdown. A few of his catches were in garbage time.
Grade C: F for Spiller, A for Jackson.
Sammy Watkins was effectively taken out of the game and had alligator arms on a few throws that were off the mark. Finished with just two catches for 19 yards.
Robert Woods Was open a few times but Manuel couldn't connect much with him. He had three catches for 19 yards.
Mike Williams had two catches for 11 yards and a holding penalty.
Marquise Goodwin couldn't hold on to the one throw his way when he got hit very hard.
Scott Chandler caught a tight end screen but ran out of bounds short of the first down. He was called for a costly holding penalty that negated a long run by Spiller. Got wide open for a big 37 yard gain when Manuel escaped a sack. Finished with five catches for 74 yards.
Grade F: Terrible day for this unit as they were frustrated all game long.
Chris Williams left the game in the first half after re-aggravating his back injury.
Kraig Urbik replaced Williams in the lineup and gave up a sack.
Grade D: Were manhandled most of the day gave up three sacks and little room to run the football.
Mario Williams got no pressure but had five tackles, two for loss.
Marcell Dareus had great pressure on Rivers forcing him to the sidelines and to throw an incompletion to force a field goal. He had five tackles and clogged up the middle well.
Kyle Williams had four tackles and two QB hits.
Jerry Hughes was in on three tackles.
Manny Lawson had a rare sack.
Grade C: Did a decent job but needed to get more pressure.
Brandon Spikes was called for a stupid unsportsmanlike penalty on the Chargers opening scoring drive and had no solo tackles.
Nigel Bradham was busy as he was in on 13 tackles.
Preston Brown was called for pass interference on the Chargers second scoring drive. He was in on 11 tackles.
Grade D: Didn't make any big plays.
Stephon Gilmore missed two tackles on the opening scoring drive. He missed a tackle on a run outside and grabbed the facemask while getting shaken up on the play. He got beat by Green for a 26 yard catch.
Leodis McKelvin was beaten by Malcolm Floyd for a 49 yard bomb. His second 49 yard catch of the game.
Nickell Robey was beaten for the first 49 yard pass to Floyd who was benefited by a pick. He then lost Ladarius Green for a 20 yard catch on their second scoring drive. He was then benched.
Corey Graham did not enter into the corner rotation until midway through the 2nd quarter. He had one pass breakup.
Aaron Williams had good coverage on a bomb to Floyd that when incomplete. Led the way with 14 tackles.
Ron Brooks replaced Robey late in the 2nd quarter and made a third down tackle.
Duke Williams was called for defensive holding that negated a third down incompletion.
Da'Norris Searcy hurt his ankle early on and didn't finish the game.
Grade F: Too many open receivers all game long.
Colton Schmidt had five punts for a 45.2 yard average and a 44 yard net including two inside the 20.
Dan Carpenter hit his only field goal attempt. A 45 yarder in windy conditions.
Leodis McKelvin picked up a bouncing punt which was a gamble. Ron Brooks got called for a holding penalty on that negative return. He had a 15 yard kickoff return.
C.J. Spiller had an 18 yard kickoff return.
Coverage Units gave up six yards on three punt returns.
Grade B: Did their job in the game but couldn't come up with a big play.
Doug Marrone didn't seem to have the team prepared for the windy conditions and they came out flat.
Nathaniel Hackett went with the short passing game because of the wind and they didn't fool the Chargers at all. Seemed to be way out of sync in the passing game.
Jim Schwartz had his defense give up six plays of 20+ yards.
Grade F: They laid an egg in their first loss of the season.
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