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Week 10: Valiant Defensive Effort Wasted In Devastating Loss
Turnovers by offense and special teams ends promising effort.
by Steve Saslow
Here are our position by position grades:
Quarterback:
Kyle Orton did not have his completion percentage helped by many dropped passes and several passes thrown away because of pressure. He did overthrow Chandler in the end zone on a third down pass in the 2nd quarter. Made a perfect throw in the seam to Hogan for a touchdown on the Bills first drive but overthrew him in the end zone in the final minutes when he was open for a possible winning score. He finished with 29 completions in 48 attempts for 259 yards.
Grade C: Didn't make enough plays in the red zone.
Running Backs:
Fred Jackson had a nice blitz pickup to allow Orton to connect with Chandler to convert a third down on the Bills opening scoring drive. He then converted another third down on the same drive with a nice catch and run. He finished limited duty with 49 yards on seven touches mostly in the passing game
Boobie Dixon led the team with 62 yards on nine carries including a 27 yard run.
Bryce Brown was headed to the end zone for a sure touchdown on a great run when he fumbled it out of the end zone for the safety. It destroyed the Bills momentum in the third quarter. He did make a lot of plays though leading the team with 65 yards receiving on six catches and averaged five yards a carries on seven runs for 100 total yards of offense but that fumble negates all the goodwill he accomplished.
Frank Summers dropped a pass and had a one yard run. He's just not that much help to the offense.
Grade C+: Made some plays in the second half but couldn't take over the game.
Receivers:
Sammy Watkins dropped a pass that was a bit behind him but was targeted a team high 10 times and had just four catches for 27 yards as he may have been limited by his groin injury.
Robert Woods made a nice catch and run for 20 yards to extend the Bills 2nd drive. He ended that drive however by dropping a perfectly thrown third down pass that would have given the Bills a first down deep in field goal range. He ended the day with six catches for 52 yards.
Chris Hogan got open in the seam and caught a 25 yard touchdown pass on the Bills first series. He had five catches for 57 yards.
Scott Chandler had two receptions on opening scoring drive including a big third down reception. He almost saved a touchback on Brown's fumble but couldn't pull the bouncing ball in before it went out of the back of the end zone. He finished with three catches for 17 yards.
Lee Smith couldn't haul in a pass that was a little high from Orton. Was also called for a false start penalty.
Chris Gragg dropped the one pass headed his way.
Grade D: Too many dropped passes.
Offensive Line:
Eric Wood gave up a sack in the 2nd quarter while the Bills were in the red zone.
Kraig Urbik had a holding penalty late in the first quarter.
Seantrel Henderson was called for a false start penalty in the fourth quarter as the Bills were lined up to go for it on 4th and inches. His penalty was as slight a move as you can have but it made the Bills punt.
Cyrus Kouandjio was active for the first time this year but didn't see any playing time despite taking some first team reps at right guard in practice this week.
Grade B-: Only gave up one sack but there were numerous pressures did get some push in the running game in the second half as they averaged five yards per carry.
Defensive Line:
Mario Williams got pressure on Smith but he escaped for a 12 yard run. He then sacked him to force a 2nd quarter punt.
Jerry Hughes had a tackle for loss on the first series and a sack on the second series. He had four tackles and two sacks in a very solid performance that saw his dollar value continue to increase in free agency.
Marcell Dareus had back to back pressures to force incompletions and eventually a punt to end a promising drive late in the first half. Had a huge sack to force the Chiefs to punt after the Brown fumble. Also sacked Smith in the fourth quarter twice. He had seven tackles with his three sacks just simply dominating.
Kyle Williams brought down Jamaal Charles for three yard loss on first play of the game. He had five tackles in all.
Manny Lawson got pressure on Smith to force an incompletion in the first quarter. He lost containment on Charles 4th and 1 39 yard run for a touchdown.
Jairus Wynn recovered a fumble by Knile Davis.
Grade A: Six sacks by the best unit on the team.
Linebackers:
Brandon Spikes tackled Charles for a loss on the Chiefs 2nd series. He had three tackles.
Nigel Bradham had a big hit on Smith forcing incompletion on 3rd down late in the first quarter. He tackled Knile Davis for a loss and forced a fumble that the Bills turned in to three points. He finished with seven tackles.
Preston Brown led the way with eight tackles.
Grade B: Solid effort from this unit.
Secondary:
Stephon Gilmore was solid in coverage which is obvious since we didn't hear his name all day long.
Leodis McKelvin had six tackles and a pass defensed but gave up a few decent plays.
Corey Graham made a nice open field tackle on a 17 yard run by Charles may have saved a touchdown.
Aaron Williams was called for a roughing penalty when he barely made contact with Smith as he slid down.
Duke Williams got pressure on Smith that resulted in the QB stepping up and being sacked by Mario Williams to force a punt.
Da'Norris Searcy had three tackles.
Grade A-: Didn't give up much on defense.
Special Teams:
Colton Schmidt is first punt was downed at the 14 but it was only a 27 yarder. His second punt was very weak but got a great bounce to make it a 48 yard punt with no return.
Dan Carpenter Hit both field goal attempts from 26 and 21 yards out and hit his extra point.
Leodis McKelvin fumbled the ball away on a punt return in the fourth quarter. He did have 50 yards on six returns
Marquise Goodwin had 84 yards on four kickoff returns for a pedestrian 21 yard average.
Coverage Units Jordan Gay made a nice tackle on a 38 yard kickoff return. They allowed just 8 yards on 3 punt returns.
Grade C: The fumble by McKelvin may have cost them the game.
Coaching:
Doug Marrone is getting killed for his conservative game plan. The false start on 4th and inches they probably weren't going to run a play anyway. They just seem to play not too lose.
Nathaniel Hackett had a decent game plan as they moved the ball a lot but couldn't come through when they had too.
Jim Schwartz continues to have one of the best defenses in the league.
Grade C: Devastating loss now can the coaches get them re-focused for a big game in four days.
 Bills Blitz
NFL.com Gamebook
Chiefs Game Preview
Gameday Homepage
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