Nick Canepa’s grade sheet for the Chargers after Sunday’s 24-16 loss to the Bills in Buffalo is a messy one, and the biggest number in it is the one that should have delivered a win: five turnovers forced.
The Chargers got that kind of day from the defense and still walked away beaten, which is why the offensive miss on the other side looms so large. Up 13-10 with 13:25 left, Justin Herbert had a real shot to push the lead to 10.
Instead, he didn’t spot a safety and was intercepted at the goal line. Herbert will take the heat, but the issue was bigger than one throw: his pass catchers weren’t getting open.
Buffalo was there for the taking, and the Chargers let it slip.
The run game was part of Jim Harbaugh’s plan, and Keaton Mitchell supplied the first touchdown while flashing his speed on a 20-yard run. Omarion Hampton also found room in the middle. But the passing game never gave the offense enough balance.
That showed up everywhere at receiver. Ladd McConkey had some good early work and added a nice catch late, but Oronde Gadsden’s early drop set the tone for a day when drops kept piling up.
Quentin Johnston had his first catch since kindergarten recess, then came back with the drop of the game. Canepa called him a bust.
Tre Harris had a few moments and, more surprisingly, actually got open. New tight end Clayton Ricci moved at the wrong time, with guard Cole Strange following with another mistake at the goal line.
The offensive line wasn’t clean either. Rashawn Slater gave up a sack in an uncharacteristic moment, Trey Pipkins’ bad knee has him on injured reserve, and Joe Alt was flagged for a big hold, sort of. Still, the line wasn’t the reason this game got away.
Defensively, the Chargers did enough to make the afternoon feel like one of those games that should have been buried early. Justin Eboigbe’s tackle forced the opening fumble by James Cook, and Eboigbe later left under his own power.
Jamaree Calwell tipped a pass back to Josh Allen. The linebackers kept the pressure coming, with rookie Akheem Mesidor picking up his first full sack, Khalil Mack following with a sack that led to a big Daiyan Henley recovery, and Henley also grabbing a Bills fumble on the first play of the game.
Henley added a strong tackle on Cook. Tuli Tuipulotu had the first sack, stopped a QB run, and later collected a gift sack.
Del’Shawn Phillips also got a mention for making something happen.
The secondary came up with its own share of plays. Rookie safety Genesis Smith came out from Pharaoh’s clutches and had a nice early interception, then added another remarkable one.
Tony Jefferson continued to make plays. Donte Jackson helped force a field goal with a stop.
Rodney Shelley was still chasing Keon Coleman and drew a horrific hold as Buffalo converted a second-and-26. Tarheeb Still punched the ball loose, and Jefferson recovered it while Buffalo was moving.
Special teams were solid enough, though not spotless. Cameron Dicker opened the scoring with a short field goal to make it 10-0 near the end of the first quarter, then missed from 45 yards before later knocking in another short one and a final kick late. The punt return unit also had to do a better job tracking the ball.
And then there was the coaching grade, the one that says the whole day went sideways in a way the defense couldn’t rescue. Harbaugh’s defense forced five turnovers from a team that doesn’t usually give them away, and the Chargers still got beat.
He is now 0-3 against first-time coaches. It is really hard to lose a game - no matter where - when you get five turnovers.
He needs a receiver.
Next up is Seattle, and Canepa’s grade there is already set at F.
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