Chargers rout Bills 37-10 to keep hopes of playoff alive in Week 14 – NFL Recap
The San Diego Chargers handed out 37-10 elimination to the Buffalo Bills this Sunday to keep alive their hopes of playoffs. An excellent performance by Philip Rivers who threw three touchdown passes ended Buffalo dreams of post
season.
The Bills facing losses of three key players, Fred Jackson, Kyle Williams and Eric Wood could not muster enough strength to avoid a sixth straight defeat. The Bills defence which had already slumped to the 22nd position in NFL
could not prevent Rivers, Antonio Gates, Nick Novac and others from scoring.
The Chargers kept hold of the game from the very first quarter after Antonio Gates took a 9 yard pass from Rivers to score a touchdown. As the second quarter progressed, the point deficit for the Bills further widened after a touchdown
by Mike Tolbert and a 47 yard field goal by Nick Novak.
In the third quarter, starting with a 37 yard field goal by Dave Rayner, the Bills tried to stage a comeback which was followed by a touchdown. Bryan Scott recovered a fumble in the end zone to score a touchdown. However the Chargers
checked the Bills progress with two quick touchdowns scored with the difference of a few seconds. Rivers threw a 2 yard pass to Antonio Gates which went for a touchdown followed by 26 yard touchdown by Steve Gregory who intercepted Fitzpatrick.
As the third quarter ended, the Chargers looked in complete charge of the game leading the score by 30-10. This lead only increased following a third 26 yard touchdown pass by Rivers to Patrick Crayton.
Rivers completed 24 of 33 passes for 240 yards with three touchdowns. Ryan Mathews had 20 carries for 114 yards while Tolbert went for 21 yards with a touchdown.
"Fortunately, it didn't cost us today. It was good to win again."" said Rivers.
Safety Eric Weddle managed an interception which went for a touchdown. Also a first down by Weddle of a fake punt went for a touchdown.
The Bills have now faced elimination from the playoffs for the 12 straight years. The start by the Bills 4-1 this season was impressive like that of the Chargers. However, they have failed to score a single win after having routed
the Washington 23-0 in October.
"I think the last few weeks we made some progress. Today obviously we took a step backward. We didn't do anything well." Buffalo quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick said.
Fitzpatrick did all he could to avoid a loss. He completed 13 of 34 passes for 176 yards with two interceptions.
Buffalo coach Chan Gailey blamed the defeat on the fake punt by the Chargers.
"We had a very small window to make that a game and we didn't stop that drive when they faked the punt," Gailey said. "We didn't stop that drive and we couldn't get anything going offensively consistently."
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