Archives for September 22, 2014

‘The Bills had a chance to go 3-0 with a win over a good team playing in their stadium. But as is so often the case, in a big spot, they fell flat on their collective face. Been there, done that. Now, Doug Marrone’s task is to get his team to bounce back next week.’

‘The game was every bit as one-sided as the 22-10 final and, from the time San Diego went 75 yards for a touchdown on its opening possession after a Bills three-and-out, you just had the idea this was a game coach Doug Marrone’s crew wasn’t going to win.’

‘Fred Jackson scored the Bills’ only touchdown late in the third quarter. Buffalo had several chances in the fourth quarter to cut into the lead, but the offense sputtered.’

‘Somebody else did make a play for San Diego. A few somebodies, actually.’

‘The focus wasn’t as sharp for the Bills as it was in first two weeks of the season. But penalties have been an issue in each of the first three weeks. Buffalo had eight penalties in Week 1 and six in Week 2. Not only did they have even more penalties in Week 3, but they were coming in worse spots and negating big plays. And defensive penalties helped San Diego keep a few drives alive.’

‘”That was a dangerous throw for sure, but given the situation you’ve got to take some chances,” Tasker said on the broadcast. “I know it’s hard and Sammy Watkins has been protecting some bruised ribs for a couple weeks, but he’s going to get told in that meeting tomorrow morning, ‘Hey, listen, you’ve got to go get that football.'”‘

‘”If you watch me every week, that’s how I dress every week,” Williams said.’

‘”I think my accuracy is fine,” Manuel said. “I noticed a few throws I could stick on guys, but at the same time, we just have to go out there and make plays. That’s the biggest thing, making plays when they’re there and just trying to hit those home runs. You can’t miss those.”‘

‘Manuel was outclassed by Rivers on Sunday, but it wasn’t the worst game for the second-year quarterback. With the Bills trailing for most of the game, Manuel was forced to play a different game than he did in the first two weeks of the season, one that doesn’t cater to his strengths.’

‘”Yeah, they ran a couple of plays that were really hard for our DB’s to defend,” Kyle Williams added. “It seemed like they accidently ran into somebody, and that’s hard on anybody. We had to overcome, they were going to make big plays, and they have good players. We just had to respond better.”‘

‘While the defense did well to hold San Diego to field goals twice, the long touchdown drive to start the second half put the Bills in a tough spot. Early in the game, Marrone had the option to get fourth and one in San Diego territory after a penalty, but opted to back the Chargers up inside their own 10 instead. In the fourth quarter on a third and one, the Bills ran a read-option run with Spiller right up the middle for a two-yard loss. The urgency on the final drive was also poor.’

‘”We’re just really fortunate to have the greatest quarterback in the league,” Floyd said in the cramped visitors’ locker room at Ralph Wilson Stadium following the Chargers’ emphatic 22-10 victory.’

Grate finish (San Diego Union Tribune)

Rivers dips into a deep well of able receivers (San Diego Union Tribune)

Brown is Bolts’ new workhorse (San Diego Union Tribune)

Give Chargers’ defense credit for win at Buffalo (San Diego Union Tribune)

Chargers get a road win, but it’s costly (San Diego Union Tribune)

Injury likely to sideline Woodhead for season (San Diego Union Tribune)

Quarter by quarter (San Diego Union Tribune)

Chargers report card (San Diego Union Tribune)

Photo gallery (San Diego Union Tribune)

Chargers lose RB Woodhead to ankle injury (AP)

Bolts Roust Bills 22-10 (Chargers.com)

Sacks to a Safety: Big Plays Defined Bolts’ D (Chargers.com)

Donald Brown Shoulders the Load in Big Way (Chargers.com)

Defense Uses Killer Instinct to Finish Game in Style (Chargers.com)

Bolts Overcome Adversity with Diversity (Chargers.com)

Eddie Royal Reigns in Buffalo (Chargers.com)

Bolts Take to Twitter to Celebrate Win Over Bills (Chargers.com)

Photo gallery 1 (Chargers.com)

Photo gallery 2 (Chargers.com)

Photo gallery (BuffaloBills.com)

Photo gallery 1 (Buffalo News)

Photo gallery 2 (Buffalo News)

Photo gallery 3 (Buffalo News)

Photo gallery (Rochester D&C)

Photo gallery (Syracuse Post-Standard)

‘Fred Jackson scored on an 11-yard catch for Buffalo (2-1), which blew an opportunity to get off to a 3-0 start for only the third time since 1993.’

‘Manuel and the offense were inconsistent. The Bills’ defense proved porous. And very little else went right for Buffalo in a 22-10 loss.’