A Chargers’ comeback with multiple opportunities to take the lead came up just short against the Buffalo Bills. Here’s how the team graded.
It’s hard for me to really say that the Buffalo Bills outclassed the LA Chargers in terms of their play on the field. Where they did have the Chargers beat was coaching. From misuses of timeouts to strange play calls on 3rd and 4th down situations, Anthony Lynn and company had a rough day at the office.
Justin Herbert had a rather average game himself. Other than the throw where he didn’t see Tre’Davious White coming back on Hunter Henry‘s route, I didn’t think there was anything egregious.
Accuracy was spotty, but he also was getting rushed with more pressures than any game I can remember this season. The absence of Bryan Bulaga due to a stomach illness really hurt him on the right side. Trey Pipkins allowed the most pressures on the offensive line with seven.
Unlike the Jets game where Keenan Allen and other Chargers’ receivers consistently got separation, there just weren’t many open chances for Herbert to hit that big play. It was kind of shocking to look at the box score to see that Herbert found a way to get to 316 yards even with the lack of help from the O-Line and his receivers.
Herbert lacked some of the same red-zone efficiency he had in previous games, but it was also a play calling issue to some extent. That last drive where they completed a Hail Mary to Tyron Johnson but then selected a running play with practically no time left was rather emblematic of the day as a whole.
Our own Jason Reed graded him with a C for his performance. I’d have to concur as it was an average game for Herbert, but he wasn’t helped by the team or coaches at all.