7 studs and 4 duds in Bills’ 27-17 win over Chargers

Studs and duds from the Buffalo Bills’ Week 12 win over the Los Angeles Chargers.

The Buffalo Bills are putting their final reviews on their latest matchup, this one being their recent 27-17 win over the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 12.

In the effort, we saw the Bills let another opponent get close to them in the end, but, Buffalo (8-3) pulled it off. In doing so, we saw a bit of an unorthodox style of success for the Bills in terms of their 2020 season.

After looking at the tape and letting the dust settle, here are seven studs and four duds from the Bills in their win over the Bolts:

Studs

Buffalo linebacker A.J. Klein (Gannett photo)

DE Jerry Hughes

Jerry Hughes had another one of his patented under the surface big games for the Bills. He did have a noticeable half sack, but he also added four tackles, two of which were for loss, and he set the edge very well a few times against the run. Hughes also had the highest grade of any Bills defender against the Bolts in Week 12, according to Pro Football Focus‘ grading system.

LB AJ Klein

The star from this one, AJ Klein was named Bills Wire’s Player of the Game. Since being unleashed as a weapon to try and track down opposing quarterbacks, Klein’s thrived for the Bills. He had 1.5 sacks with two quarterback hits and an impressive 3.5 tackles for loss. Klein certainly got after opposing running backs very quick as well and at least twice, single-handedly, stopped the Chargers on third down via a pass breakup and tackle for loss.

RB Devin Singletary

Devin Singletary and Buffalo’s rushing game, overall, had their best game-to-date in Week 12. Singletary personally had 72 rushing yards, a 7.5 per carry average, and added three catches for 20 yards. Singletary did this despite playing in 40 percent of snaps on offense.

Bills wide receiver Gabriel Davis. Credit: Rich Barnes-USA TODAY Sports

WR Gabriel Davis

Without wide receiver John Brown in the lineup, the Bills showed opposing teams will get a lot of Gabriel Davis in the coming weeks. Both Davis and Stefon Diggs played in all but two snaps on Buffalo’s offense against the Chargers. With those, Davis made a ridiculous 44-yard contested catch and added another 20-yard touchdown catch. He led Buffalo with 79 total receiving yards.

CB Tre’Davious White

On a crossing route, Jalen Guyton beat Tre’Davious White in this one, as did Mike Williams on a fourth-down contested catch. But sometimes a play is just so clutch it outshines all of those. In general, White had few mistakes, but his interception in the second half was as big as they come. He broke off of his coverage, read a rookie QB’s eyes, and made the interception just moments after the Bills turned the ball over on offense.

DT Ed Oliver

Ed Oliver is starting to come into form. Like White, a clutch turnover via a forced fumble on Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert. That came right after he pretty much gift wrapped three points to the Bolts via two penalties. Good mini redemption story there. In addition to his hard stats, Oliver earned a career-high day from PFF. His overall grade of 80.7 tied a career-best and his pass rush grade of 90.8 was the best he’s had.

RB Zack Moss

Like Singletary, Moss, who played in the other 60 percent of Buffalo’s snaps on offense, had a good outing. He totaled 59 rushing yards and a 6.6 yards per carry average. But he certainly is that “changeup” from Singletary. While Singletary was very impressive with his one-cut approach to gaining yards, Moss bowled forward for his. Per PFF, Moss had 52 of his 59 rushing yards after contact. That’s insane to think about.