Interim head coach Giff Smith preached to the Los Angeles Chargers to play for each other during the week leading up to the Buffalo Bills game. The Chargers did just that, coming into the game with effort and energy.
“We wanted every player to fight for each other no matter what and if there was ever a guy that wasn’t going to do it, we were going to pull them out,” Smith said. “But we didn’t have any of that and we fought.”
The Bolts’ defense was aggressive throughout the contest. Safety Derwin James played at the corner frequently and at times lined up to defend Bills wide receiver Stefon Diggs. Diggs had a quiet night, only making 29 yards from five receptions.
“We wanted to keep [James] close to the line, keep it clean on that,” Smith said. “We felt like inside that our guys would play well and stop the run.”
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The Bolts made two forced fumbles and scored on three of the Bills’ turnovers. One highlight was when safety Alohi Gilman intercepted one of quarterback Josh Allen’s passes in the third quarter.
“He works hard every week, [Gilman] is a guy that we can count on,” James said. “He had two big plays in this game, that changed the game.”
Rusher Austin Ekeler reached over 900 scrimmage yards for the sixth consecutive season. The achievement is bittersweet.
“It feels good, it kind of sucks because the things that we’re going through right now as a team,” Ekeler said. “We can look back in the future, long after I retired, then I can … look back on my individual accolades but we gotta get some wins.”
Despite being sacked five times, quarterback Easton Stick passed for 210 yards in 24-22 loss to the Bills. Seven of his targets made over 10 passing yards, tight end Gerald Everett leading with 42.
This game marks the second start for Stick in his career.
“[I] definitely felt comfortable, comfortable with the plan,” Stick said. “[Offensive coordinator Kellen Moore] did a really good job and [Smith] too, getting this thing going in the right direction this week.”
Stick earned the Chargers lone touchdown on a one-yard rush.
“Even though he hasn’t been at the spot where he’s in the game, he just transferred right in, smooth transition,” Ekeler said. “Proud of the leadership he had.”
After the matchup, the Chargers were eliminated from playoff contention. The Bolts will travel to battle the Denver Broncos on December 31 at 1:25P.M.
