Genesis Smith's Two Interceptions Lead Chargers' Week 3 PFF Grades

Rookie safety Genesis Smith graded 95.1 with two interceptions of Josh Allen, and Joe Alt led the offense at 83.6 as the Chargers fell to Buffalo in Week 3.

The Los Angeles Chargers fell to the Buffalo Bills on Sunday in a game their defense nearly decided on its own. Chris O'Leary's unit forced five takeaways, while the offense produced a single touchdown, and the gap between the two sides ran through the week's Pro Football Focus grades.

Rookie safety Genesis Smith set the pace at 95.1, intercepting Josh Allen twice for the first two picks of his career. One of the takeaways came on a fluke play, with the ball bouncing off several players before landing on Smith's stomach. The showing answered a rough Week 2 outing against the Las Vegas Raiders.

Tackle Joe Alt anchored the offense with an 83.6, his best grade of the season, against Buffalo's tough defensive front. After a Week 2 game in which he drew flag after flag, Alt rebounded with a 90.0 run-blocking grade and a 79.5 mark in pass protection, restoring the form that has put him among the league's top tackles.

Running back Keaton Mitchell graded 78.9 on a heavier workload than he saw over the first two games, backed by a 79.5 rushing grade. He scored the Chargers' only touchdown on a run that Alt and tight end Hayden Rucci sprung by sealing the edge. Wide receiver Tre Harris added a 75.1, pulled down a difficult catch at a key moment in the second half, and has been moving past Quentin Johnston for the No. 2 receiver job.

Extra offensive lineman Travis Burke posted a 72.1, grading above average as a run blocker (67.1) and in pass protection (70.1) while leading the Chargers with six receptions for 76 yards. Ladd McConkey played most of the offensive snaps but was quiet by his standards, finishing second on the team with four catches for 66 yards and a 67.7 grade.

Guard Cole Strange posted the offense's lowest mark at 30.1, his worst game of a season in which he has yet to grade above 47.1. His 33.2 in pass blocking was second worst on the team behind Trevor Penning's 24.6. Tight ends Oronde Gadsden II (38.6) and Hayden Rucci (47.4) also finished near the bottom: Gadsden managed only a 54.6 as a run blocker and a 45.7 receiving grade that was the lowest of any player, while Rucci's 29.6 in pass protection offset a 68.0 run-blocking score that ranked third on the team.

Quarterback Justin Herbert checked in at 51.1, with his interception standing out as a poor decision at a pivotal point in the game. Running back Omarion Hampton was held in check throughout and finished with a 52.0 rushing grade.

Cornerback Donte Jackson, again the team's top corner at 81.4, left with a concussion in the first half. Safety Tony Jefferson graded 81.1 and recovered a fumble forced by cornerback Tarheeb Still (75.9), who struggled in tackling and run defense but held up in coverage. Linebacker Del'Shawn Phillips (75.4) rated as the Chargers' best linebacker, placing in the top five in tackling (80.4) and run defense (71.1).

Cornerback Rodney Shelley, who entered after Jackson's concussion, was targeted immediately and posted the day's lowest grade at 25.1 while serving as the third cornerback ahead of a special-teams-only Deane Leonard. Edge rusher Akheem Mesidor (54.7) recorded his first career full sack by beating left tackle Dion Dawkins with a hand swipe, though a 47.5 run-defense grade dropped him into the bottom five. Linebacker Daiyan Henley (54.7) allowed three catches on four targets for 46 yards, 35 after the catch, leaving his coverage grade at 38.7 through three games. Edge Bud Dupree (45.5) and linebacker Troy Dye (52.6) joined them among the lowest defensive marks.