Buffalo Bills at Los Angeles Charges: Risers and Fallers

A look back at the Buffalo Bills’ Week 11 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers.

There’s a theme starting to develop over the Buffalo Bills’ last three games.

Let’s just forget about it and move on.

Another disappointing effort from the Bills last week against the Los Angeles Chargers. And a result that has everyone second-guessing Sean McDermott and the “process.”

While many of McDermott – and Brandon Beane’s – decisions have panned out so far, the decision to start Nathan Peterman over Tyrod Taylor on the road in LA did not. Peterman threw five interceptions and was benched at halftime.

Now there’s no way McDermott could see a five-interception performance coming. No one could. Not even if you didn’t agree with the move. But it proves to be the wrong move at the wrong time.

You know the drill, this column profiles the players who took steps forward and also regressed each week. Welcome to Risers and Fallers.

Risers

Dion Dawkins

Once again the rookie left tackle finishes with a strong performance. While Joey Bosa was able to wreak havoc, Dion Dawkins kept the equally-talented Melvin Ingram at bay.

Dawkins once again finished as the top-graded player on his team, scoring an 84.0 by Pro Football Focus. He finished as the second-highest graded tackle in Week 11.

Dawkins held the talented Ingram to just one tackle.

LeSean McCoy

The Bills are going to need more performances like this out of LeSean McCoy if they want to turn it around.

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The talented running back had one of his best weeks of the season, rushing for 114 yards and a touchdown on 13 carries. McCoy kept the Bills in it early after a couple quick Peterman interceptions, with his big 37-yard run on the team’s second drive.

He also caught on touchdown later in the day.

According to PFF, “he had three runs of more than 15 yards and gained 39 yards after contact.”

Tyrod Taylor

If only Tyrod Taylor played from the start.

The Bills quarterback had one of his better games of the year against the Chargers. Fumble aside, he was 15-of-26 passing for 158 yards and a touchdown. Taylor also scored one with his legs.

The most-impressive aspect of Taylor’s afternoon was that he actually took some shots downfield. It was almost as if the benching sparked something for Taylor.

He finished with a 71.1 QBR, which was actually higher than Philip Rivers.

Fallers

Nathan Peterman

There’s no way else to slice it. Five interceptions is never ever going to cut it.

Nathan Peterman was really, really bad against the Chargers. So much so that his play forced Sean McDermott to jump ship completely.

Buffalo Bills

If Peterman’s outing against the Chargers wasn’t a nightmare, I think he’s starting Sunday against the Kansas City Chiefs.

Jordan Mills

Joey Bosa had four quarterback hits. Four.

And a sack and a forced fumble.

Jordan Mills was up against a tough test. And he failed miserably.

Patrick DiMarco

This one is pretty simple.

Patrick DiMarco played just eight snaps and one of them killed a drive and set up the avalanche that would follow.

DiMarco dropped a perfect pass from Peterman that wound up in a Chargers defender’s hands. It was Peterman’s first of five interceptions.

Next: Buffalo Bills @ Kansas City Chiefs: 3 Bold Predictions

If DiMarco catches that ball, it’s possible the game has a slightly different outcome.