Chargers/Bills: Five Matchups to Watch For, Game Notes and Prediction

The 1-1 San Diego Chargers are traveling to Ralph Wilson Stadium to take on the 2-0 Buffalo Bills this afternoon at 1:00 PM eastern.

Here are the five biggest matchups that you should keep on eye on while watching this game.

Homefield Advantage/Travel Against the Chargers

The Buffalo Bills fan base has been completely rejuvenated after the team’s 2-0 start along with the recent news of their new owners (Terry and Kim Pegula). Ralph Wilson Stadium was electric last weekend against the Miami Dolphins, as you can feel the community really get behind this city.

The Bills have had quite the success at “The Ralph” recently, winning their last three games there while outscoring their opponents by a score of 85-24 (two wins against the Miami Dolphins and one against the New York Jets).

The San Diego Chargers have to travel across the coast to play in what would be a 10:00 PM PT kickoff time for them.

The crowd is going to be fully invested again this week, and if the Chargers come out sluggish, it will be a factor all game long.

WR Keenan Allen vs. CB Stephon Gilmore

Allen comes into this game a little banged up (battling a groin injury) but there is no denying the talent the receiver posses when he is on the field. He is listed as questionable for the game but was a limited participant in practice on both Thursday and Friday, so I see him suiting up for this one.

Opposite him is Gilmore, who returned to the lineup just last week after missing Week 1 due to a groin injury of his own.

This matchup will be fun to watch all game, as it features two young up-coming players in the league. Quarterback Phillip Rivers also showed last week against the Seahawks that he isn’t afraid of throwing at a team’s number one cornerback (he went after CB Richard Sherman when most teams don’t even throw to his side of the field).

Bills Secondary Against TE Antonio Gates

In recent years, the Bills defense has really struggled against stopping opposing tight ends, and the trend has continued so far this year.

Through their first two games, Buffalo’s defense has given up 16 receptions for 113 yards and one touchdown against opposing tight ends. This could spell trouble for the group as a very talented Antonio Gates comes to town.

Even at the age of 34 yards old, Gates has managed to hold off father time as he starts off this year with a bang. Gates went for 7 receptions for 96 yards and three touchdowns last weekend after hauling in 6 passes for 81 yards the week before.

The Bills really got gashed by Chicago Bears’ tight end Martellus Bennett, who at this point is probably a little bit faster than Gates, however, Gates still runs quick, explosive routes which allow him to get separation from defenders.

The Bills cannot for any circumstance leave a linebacker on Gates for the majority of the game. He is simply too good to have a linebacker stuck with that type of responsibility. I’m interested to see how they will counter. I expect them to run a lot of zone coverage with more of an emphasis on Gates. When they do have to go one-on-one, I wouldn’t mind the Bills getting creative and trying to stick free safety Aaron Williams on him. Williams has excellent coverage skills for a safety (from his days of playing cornerback) and could match some of Gates athleticism.

DT Kyle Williams and Marcell Dareus vs. Chargers Interior Line

The Bills have to be loving this matchup heading into this game.

The Chargers are really banged up on their interior line, and it isn’t even clear who is going to start for the team at center or one of the guard positions due to injuries.

Williams and Dareus have formed the best defensive tackle duo in the league, and will be able to generate pressure up the middle all day on this group. If they can make things tough on Rivers while just rushing four guys all day, it will really help out the secondary in being able to allocate more resources to slowing down the Chargers attack.  The two should also make things difficult when the Chargers try to run the ball.  It will also create a lot of space for their linebackers to operate in if the offensive line is forced to double team one of these two (which usually happens).

This is a matchup the Bills need to take advantage of.

Bills Rushing Attack vs. Chargers D

The Chargers sit right in the middle of the pack allowing opponents to average 108.5 yards against them on the ground a game. The Bills on the other hand have the seventh best rushing attack in the league, gaining 153 yards per game.

CJ Spiller, Fred Jackson and Boobie Dixon will continue to all get some turns running the ball in this one.

I think this is another matchup that really favors the Bills. A lot of people are pointing out how Marshawn Lynch only gained 36 yards against them but you have to remember that the Chargers held the ball for over 42 minutes that game, not allowing for the Seahawks to get much of a running attack going. He also gained those 36 yards on 6 carries (for a 6 yard an attempt average).

The Chargers won’t hold the ball that long again, and the Bills should have a successful day getting their backs going.

Other Notes

Questions about Chargers Backfield

Starter Ryan Mathews was injured last week so the Chargers will be looking towards Donald Brown and Danny Woodhead to take care of the rushing attempts

Woodhead is more of a pass catcher/change of pace back so look for Brown to get the carries between the tackles.

The Bills rush defense is very good to this point of the year, and I think this is another matchup that favors them. If this defense really wants to take the next step in terms of run defense, they need to stop allowing lesser backs to rush for over 100 yards against them (which has happened all too often in the past). I think they will come to play and the Chargers will have a tough time running the football (see Williams/Dareus matchup above). San Diego will get forced to play more one-dimensional football this weekend.

Can EJ Manuel’s Progression Continue this Week

Offensive Coordinator Nathaniel Hackett has really impressed me with his game plan each week this year. They have a good flow to them and really take into account what is going on in the game to that point. They also haven’t asked for EJ Manuel to do too much, allowing him to hit some of his first reads in the routes, and getting the ball out of his hand quickly.

Each week I expect the team to put a little bit more on EJ’s plate. The offense is still built around the run game, but it is nice to see the Bills take some shots down the field like they have the past couple weeks as well. As teams look to focus on stopping the running game and Sammy Watkins, these deep down the field plays are going to present themselves. Manuel has done a good job putting the ball up in space for his receivers to make plays, even when the throws aren’t the most accurate. He has really impressed so far in making the plays that he should.

It has been a refreshing start to the season for a team that hasn’t has a good, stable quarterback in such a long time.

Prediction

Even though the Chargers seem to be the more talented team on paper, I don’t think it is going to be an easy task to travel across the country and steal one from Buffalo. The Bills’ defense should be up to the task of stopping Rivers and the offense will score just enough to keep the circling of the wagons in Buffalo, 27-17 Bills.