Buffalo Bills: Top 3 takeaways from win over the Chargers

Inability to stop the screen

After missing the past several weeks with a hamstring injury, Chargers running back Austin Ekeler exploited a new weakness in Buffalo’s defense: their inability to stop a screen pass.

Many thought that Ekeler would be on a “pitch count” of sorts as Sunday’s game was the first he had played since Week 3 against Carolina. That is not counting the game he was injured in, recording one rushing attempt against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Where Ekeler was effective was in the screen pass game, something he has been known for. On 11 catches for 85 yards, Anthony Lynn and Justin Herbert went to the screen pass to counter the pressure that Buffalo was bringing. The combination of implementing the screen pass to counter rushing blitzes which were swiftly complemented by a deep pass to Chargers’ tight end, Hunter Henry, saw the Bills’ defense on their heels a lot.

A reason as to why Los Angeles was so effective in the screen-game was the absence of Matt Milano, who is improving his value off the field.

Milano is just as effective, if not more, in pass coverage as he is in run stoppage. Him being sidelined due to injury has allowed the tackle box to become a “softer” area of coverage and could explain why the screen was so effective.