Scouting Chargers’ opponent: Bills
The Chargers (1-1) are a betting underdog a third time, as Sunday’s game with the surprising Bills (2-0) looms at Ralph Wilson Stadium.
A two-point favorite for the 10 a.m. (Pacific) match according to oddsmakers, Buffalo is alone atop the AFC East for the first time since Week 3 in 2011 after winning 23-20 in overtime at Chicago and 29-10 over Miami last Sunday.
The Chargers (1-1) are more talented and system-mature than a year ago. But so are the Bills, who under second-year coach Doug Marrone, a former Syracuse head coach and offensive lineman, are getting big returns from rookies like receiver Sammy Watkins, right tackle Seantrel Henderson and linebacker Preston Brown.
It’ll be the 34th meeting between the former American Football League franchises. The Chargers are 21-10-2, including a 1-1 mark when the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum was home.
Last time they met, in 2011 at San Diego, Antonio Gates caught two of Philip Rivers’ three scoring passes and the Chargers picked off Ryan Fitzpatrick three times in the 37-10 victory. The Bills were 23-14 winners in ’08 -- San Diego’s most recent visit to Orchard Park, N.Y. -- behind Marshawn Lynch’s go-ahead rush in the second half.
Speed surface
Synthetic grass is the surface at “the Ralph.” In their lone outing on carpet in 18 games last year, the Chargers were 27-10 winners over favored Cincinnati in the Wild Card game. The Chargers stage practices on grass fields. Players recovering from injury work on Chargers Park’s carpeted field.
Playmakers
Running back-returner C.J. Spiller, who has soft hands and sudden speed, returned a kick 102 yards against the Dolphins and gains 4.5 yards per rush, as does powerful, decisive RB Fred Jackson (6-foot-1, 215 pounds), a 33-year-old with fine vision. Spiller (5-foot-10 ½, 196) had 4.31 speed coming out of Clemson, where he played four years and averaged 5.9 yards per carry. He was drafted ninth in 2010, three spots ahead of Ryan Mathews. Forceful Anthony Dixon (seven carries, 63 yards) is a versatile third back.
General Manager Doug Whaley bet the store on Clemson’s Watkins in May. The ex-Steelers scouting exec dealt next year’s first-round pick and No. 9 this year for No. 4, owned by Cleveland. Watkins (6-0 1/2, 213, 4.42) is an eager runner after the catch. He thrives on quick screens, crosses and isolation routes. His 117 receiving yards against Miami were the most by a Bills rookie since Chris Burkett in 1985.
EJ Manuel was the first quarterback drafted in 2013, taken 16th by former Chargers talent man Buddy Nix (whom Whaley succeeded a month later). He was 25-6 as Florida State’s starter after sitting two years behind Christian Ponder. In 10 starts as a rookie he was 4-6 with a 77.7 passer rating. Torn knee cartilage suffered in the ’13 preseason and last December, plus a knee-ligament injury in October, hindered him in addition to sidelining him six games.
Manuel (6-4 ½, 238, 4.62) will throw flat-footed even from a clean pocket, but is getting the ball out faster this year and, heeding friend Colin Kaepernick’s advice, is taking on fewer tacklers. Is 32 for 48 for 375 yards with two TDs and an interception. When the Bears bit on a run fake, he cruised around end eight yards for the TD. Second-year WR Robert Woods (6-1, 201) had 40 catches a rookie. Fifth-year WR Mike Williams (6-2, 204) makes contested catches. He pulled down a 19-yard pass on the Manuel-directed winning drive at Chicago.
Top unit
The defense boasts four better-than-average linemen in 29-year-old left end Mario Williams (three Pro Bowls, 78.5 career sacks), NT Marcell Dareus (third overall, ’11), T Kyle Williams (three Pro Bowls, age 31) and right end Jerry Hughes (10 sacks in ‘13, age 26). The linebacking unit lost starters Kiko Alonso (knee) and Keith Rivers (groin).
