The Chargers will be looking to play spoiler on Saturday, hosting an 8-6 Bills team currently on the cusp of a playoff berth.
Here are four matchups to watch in Saturday’s game.
Chargers C Brenden Jaimes vs. Bills defensive tackles
Jaimes will get his first NFL start on Saturday, the third center the Chargers have started this season after Corey Linsley (heart) and Will Clapp (knee) were lost for the season. Jaimes was anonymous after coming into the Raiders game on Thursday – the best thing you can be as an offensive lineman.
Against Buffalo, there’s potential for some real problems, even if the Chargers move the pocket more with the athletic Easton Stick running the show. Bills defensive tackle Ed Oliver is among the best in the league, but Jaimes at least gets a lucky break with Jordan Phillips (wrist) on IR and DaQuan Jones (pectoral) looking to be another week away from returning.
The Chargers have struggled with interior pressure all season, so even if Buffalo is down to Oliver and Tim Settle or Linval Joseph, Jaimes will need to rise to the occasion to keep the ball moving for Los Angeles.
Chargers EDGE Khalil Mack vs. Bills offensive line
Buffalo had a good gameplan for star Cowboys pass rusher Micah Parsons last week, tricking Parsons and moving the pocket for Josh Allen to keep their quarterback clean. They’ll likely need to do something similar against Mack, who has 15.5 sacks this season.
If they don’t, or even if they do, because the Chargers have those tricks on tape, Mack has a pretty decent matchup against Bills tackles Dion Dawkins and Spencer Brown. Brown in particular has been vulnerable this season at right tackle. If the Bills send extra help in Mack’s direction, this could also end up being a big game for Tuli Tuipulotu, who has begun to hit the rookie wall a bit in recent weeks.
Chargers TE Gerald Everett vs. Bills CB Taron Johnson
Everett figures to feature in the gameplan more heavily with wide receiver Keenan Allen unavailable with a heel injury and Easton Stick throwing more short passes to mitigate the impact of the Bills pass rush.
The Chargers tight end has been an underrated receiving option this season, turning at least one play a game into a Godzilla-like romp through opposing secondaries for chunk yardage. Johnson is one of the league’s more competent slot corners, however, and if Everett draws that matchup for a majority of the game, Los Angeles may be forced to look elsewhere in the passing game.
Chargers CBs Michael Davis & Asante Samuel Jr. vs. Bills WR Stefon Diggs
Any time you play against a wide receiver like Stefon Diggs, there are going to be questions about how to limit them. That’s especially true when you have the corners the Chargers do.
Samuel will likely get this matchup most of the time on Saturday. While a relatively good player, Samuel is sometimes too content to let his receiver make a catch so that he can make a quick tackle. (The exception to this rule, funnily enough, is when he’s matched up with Davante Adams.)
Davis has struggled this season, first as a rotational player with JC Jackson in the lineup, then as a starter before being benched for Deane Leonard. Leonard is doubtful for Saturday’s contest with a heel injury, which puts Davis in line to be re-inserted into the starting lineup. On Thursday against the Raiders, Aidan O’Connell threw at Davis 11 times. He completed 7 of those passes for 112 yards and 2 touchdowns.
