By Nick Wojton / Billswire.usatoday.com
There’s always a bunch of games, within the game.
Buffalo Bills head coach Sean McDermott likes to preach that each and every one of his players must do their own job in order for the entire picture to come together. Each and every week there’s a bunch of matchups going on within the game that can make or break Buffalo.
With that, here are five key matchups to watch for during Chargers vs. Bills on Sunday:
Tre’Davious White vs. Keenan Allen:
Heading into Sunday’s game, both teams are in search of their first win. Los Angeles lost to the Kansas City Chiefs 38-28 in their opener. That doesn’t mean the Bolts’ offensive didn’t show up though. Quarterback Phillip Rivers surpassed 400-yards passing (424) on the day and had three touchdowns. Buffalo’s starter last week, Nathan Peterman, had 24 yards passing total.
Of Rivers’ yardage, the most went to wide receiver Keenan Allen. In total, Allen had eight grabs for 108 yards and a touchdown on 11 targets. A former third-round pick in 2013, Allen had a coming out party in 2017. His previously career-best was a solid 77 catches. Last year the Pro Bowler had 102 yards and 1,393 receiving yards. Yeah, Rivers likes him. With how suspect Buffalo’s secondary has been as of late, allowing three touchdown passes to Baltimore QB Joe Flacco, it’s likely that Tre’Davious White will likely shadow Keenan Allen in Sunday’s game. White wasn’t outstanding against the Ravens, but compared to his teammates, he was.
Worth noting, Allen rocked the Bills last season, too. He had 12 catches for 159 yards and two touchdowns in the 54-24 loss for the Bills. Time for redemption for Tre.
Jerry Hughes vs. Sam Tevi:
The Bills’ pass-rush was non-existent against the Ravens last week. There were two sacks, and one was on a scrambling Flacco at the line of scrimmage by Tremaine Edmunds. Against the Chargers, defensive end Jerry Hughes should have no excuses. Starting right tackle for LA, Joe Barksdale, is week-to-week, per LA head coach Anthony Lynn.
Hughes is a former double-digit sack-getter, but it’s been awhile. In 2013 and 2014, Hughes had 10 sacks. He hasn’t had more than six in a season since. Buffalo’s front office clearly wanted to improve the pass-rush this offseason by adding Trent Murphy and Star Lotulelei. After last week’s lackluster effort, the improvement has to start this week with Hughes against Barksdale’s backup, Sam Tevi, who allowed six QB pressures against the Chiefs last week, per Pro Football Focus. According to The Chargers Wire, Tevi struggled in a reserve role in the preseason. Time for Jerry to step up.
Melvin Ingram vs. Dion Dawkins/ Jordan Mills:
Like Hughes had to take advantage of an injury for Buffalo’s defense, offensive tackles Dion Dawkins and Jordan Mills have to Buffalo’s offense. Joey Bosa won’t play for the Chargers. He ate up Buffalo’s offensive line in 2017, making big contributions to Nathan Peterman’s five-interception outing. Without Bosa, that’s a big boost for Buffalo, but there’s still reason for concern.
In two of the past three seasons, pass-rusher Melvin Ingram has had 10.5 sacks. He scooped and scored last season against the Bills on a Bosa forced fumble. But without Bosa on Sunday, Ingram will likely move around the defensive line so both Dawkins and Mills will have to be prepared to face the Pro Bowler.