Fresh from stunning the reigning Super Bowl champions, Mike McCoy's 1-1 San Diego Chargers travel to Buffalo to take on Doug Marrone's 2-0 Bills at Ralph Wilson Stadium. The Bills began in impressive fashion to seize the early lead in the AFC East.
Antonio Gates was in sensational form for the Chargers in Week 2, catching three touchdown passes on his way to a passing game grade of +3.1. Having been targeted 17 times already in 2014, Gates has been Philip Rivers‘ favored receiver; and his 2.77 Yards Per Route Run is fifth-best among tight ends with at least 10 targets. The Bills have allowed 16 receptions to tight ends in the opening two games and won't be relishing this meeting with an in-form Gates.
The Chargers beat the Seattle Seahawks in Week 2, but still conceded two touchdown catches to running backs who were glaringly open. That suits a Buffalo offense that features two dangerous receiving backs, Fred Jackson and C.J. Spiller, and likes to use them in the passing game (they were targeted a combined 101 times in 2013). With an Elusive Rating of 94.6, Spiller was the most elusive back in the NFL in 2012, exactly the sort of player who could make the most of the space the Chargers were offering up to running backs against the Seahawks.
Here are three more notable numbers for each side:
San Diego Chargers
Philip Rivers – After a sluggish opener, Rivers returned to his 2013 form against Seattle with a 104.93 PFF QB rating and an 85.3 Accuracy Percentage, both marks ranked fourth among quarterbacks in Week 2.
Melvin Ingram & Dwight Freeney – Ingram and Freeney, the Chargers' rush linebackers, have each registered one sack, one QB hit, and eight hurries, good for Pass Rushing Productivity grades of 17.6 and 14.6 respectively.
Shareece Wright – Wright is proving to be an asset in run support with an 8.8 Stop Percentage, and ranks in the Top 3 corners in that category in each of the first two weeks of the season.
Buffalo Bills
Aaron Williams – Williams has registered one pass defensed in each of the first two matches this season, and his +3.2 coverage grade ranks second among all safeties.
Sammy Watkins – After a quiet first match as a professional, Sammy Watkins exploded onto the scene against the Dolphins, catching eight of 11 passes thrown his way, for 117 yards, one touchdown, and a 137.3 WR Rating.
Kyle Williams – In just two games Williams has already registered two sacks, two QB hits, and six hurries for a total of 10 pressures, picking up where he left off in 2013 when he registered 13 sacks and 69 pressures.
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