Upon Further Review- Bills QB, WRs & DBs vs Cardinals

Quarterback

Ryan Fitzpatrick
Time on Field: 100% snaps played; 68 total
Stats: 18-of-32, 153 yards, 3 carries, 5 yards
Plus/Minus: -5
Observations: The woes continue for Ryan Fitzpatrick as the inconsistency remains. There were many plays waiting to be made that Fitzpatrick just did not hit. There were a total of eight plays that a proper throw would have resulted in at the very least a completion, but also some yards after catch were missed as well. Stevie Johnson found himself open on five different occasions that the ball was delivered high, wide, short -- it just wasn't accurate. Fitzpatrick also missed Donald Jones three times as well. However, there were a few nice throws. Fitzpatrick hit Johnson in stride on a slant route that he had missed previously, and also gave him a good opportunity for YAC on a comeback route on the left sideline. However, Fitzpatrick was mostly limited to screens and short throws. Perhaps that was just a design for the over-aggressive Cardinals defense on third downs, but Fitzpatrick did not take many chances down the field.
Grade: D+

Season GPA: 1.80

Defensive Backs

Jairus Byrd
Time on Field: 100% snaps played; 71 total
Stats: 4 tackles (solo), TFL, 2 INT
Plus/Minus: +5
Observations: It was a pristine effort from free safety Jairus Byrd. All game long Byrd was in on run support, helping break up pass plays after catches and forced two turnovers once again this season. His first interception was an absolute thing of beauty. Before Kevin Kolb even cocked his arm back, Byrd broke as hard as he could and undercut the awaiting Jeff King for the turnover. The second interception in overtime was more of a bad throw from John Skelton, but to be in position to make the play and finish it in a clutch moment was impressive in its own right. To this point, Byrd has been the MVP of the defense.
Grade: A
Season GPA: 3.38

George Wilson
Time on Field: 100% snaps played; 71 total
Stats: 7 tackles (6 solo)
Plus/Minus: +1
Observations: With the Arizona Cardinals going for a two-tight end look a lot of times early on, George Wilson was brought down in the box to help out. Wilson made a couple of strong run reads for tackles, and really played his assignment well in controlling his lane on a sweep. A missed tackle and a tackle that almost got away were some of his not-so-great contributions to the Bills.
Grade: B-
Season GPA: 2.69

Stephon Gilmore
Time on Field: 95.8% snaps played; 68 total
Stats: 5 tackles (4 solo)
Plus/Minus: +3
Observations: Stephon Gilmore had a solid afternoon/evening (depending on your time zone) going up against the Arizona Cardinals. His toughness and physicality were most evident. That has been a trait of Gilmore's in his most productive games. When he gets back to what he does best, he excels. Larry Fitzgerald beat him once on a comeback route for a first down in the fourth quarter, and Gilmore also got flagged for a defensive holding. Those were really the only two missteps the rookie had on Sunday.
Grade: B+
Season GPA: 2.69

Aaron Williams
Time on Field: 54.9% snaps played; 39 total
Stats: 2 tackles (solo)
Plus/Minus: -4
Observations: The struggles of Aaron Williams continue. He only had one pass caught on him, yes, but he was helped mightily by the Bills' front four. If it weren't for some key pressures, Williams would have gotten burned. On the flea flicker play in particular, Williams bit on the original handoff and allowed Andre Roberts to roam free going from right-to-left about 30 yards down the field. If it weren't for Kyle Moore bringing pressure off of the left side, that was a huge play waiting to be made with a halfway decent throw.
Grade: C-
Season GPA: 2.05

Justin Rogers
Time on Field: 54.9% snaps played; 39 total
Stats: 2 tackles (solo)
Plus/Minus: +2
Observations: Playing the nickel role yet again, Justin Rogers was able to be strong in run support and in his recognition of plays. There were a pair of plays that he got beaten over the middle of the field. However, Rogers had a solid showing for the Bills on Sunday.
Grade: B
Season GPA: 2.46

Terrence McGee
Time on Field: 46.5% snaps played; 33 total
Stats: None
Plus/Minus: -2
Observations: Terrence McGee's most notable plays came up when matched up against Andre Roberts. McGee allowed Roberts to get the better of him a pair of times (an overthrow down the seem where Roberts had inside position and a comeback route where McGee was worried about the deep ball), but he also stayed with him step for step in the second half on one play. The big reception to Larry Fitzgerald to set up the 38-yard field goal attempt to win it was on McGee. He allowed Fitzgerald to roam free in that situation, setting up his biggest reception of the contest. The Bills will need McGee, however, as Aaron Williams continues to struggle and lose time on the field.
Grade: C+
Season GPA: 2.54

Leodis McKelvin
Time on Field: 25.4% snaps played; 18 total
Stats: 2 tackles (solo)
Plus/Minus: +2
Observations: Leodis McKelvin had a solid showing for the Bills, especially in his extended time late in the game when Arizona was in four-receiver sets. On the two plays leading up to Jay Feely's 61-yard field goal, McKelvin was the key piece to putting a stop to them and forcing such a long attempt.
Grade: B
Season GPA: 1.61

Wide Receivers

Stevie Johnson
Time on Field: 98.5% snaps played; 67 total
Stats: 6 receptions, 82 yards
Plus/Minus: +5
Observations: On all 11 of Stevie Johnson's targets, there was a play to be made if the throw was on point. However, five of those times Ryan Fitzpatrick misfired, taking away a potential huge game. It's been the way it's gone this season. If Fitzpatrick had been able to hit on even half of his misfires to Johnson this season, the wideout's production would be on-par with some of the best in the league. He's getting open and at times doing it easily with his unorthodox style of route running. Just like any wide receiver, though, Johnson is at the mercy of how accurate his quarterback is. To this point, Fitzpatrick hasn't been.
Grade: B+
Season GPA: 3.18

Donald Jones
Time on Field: 86.8% snaps played; 59 total
Stats: 1 reception, 9 yards
Plus/Minus: Even
Observations: Donald Jones was a non-factor for much of the game but still had some opportunities to make a play cast aside by a poor throw. Perhaps the interception at the end of the game should have been a route run more towards the seam with how close Stevie Johnson was to that throw. Jones has had better games this season, but he's also had many worse in his career.
Grade: B-
Season GPA: 2.90

T.J. Graham
Time on Field: 77.9% snaps played; 53 total
Stats: 1 reception, 6 yards
Plus/Minus: -1
Observations: The rookie T.J. Graham was invisible for the majority of the game despite being the only receiver to take reps beside Stevie Johnson and Donald Jones. He was given an opportunity for a reception at the end of the game, and dropped the ball along the sideline.
Grade: C+
Season GPA: 2.71

Brad Smith
Time on Field: 5.9% snaps played; 4 total
Stats: 0-for-1, 0 yards, INT, 2 carries, 19 yards
Plus/Minus: Even
Observations: Brad Smith's only four plays on the field were all in the Wildcat formation. His run to get the ball down to the goal line was impressive, reading the blocking and negotiating his way down to the one-yard line. However, his performance will ultimately be remembered for his interception late in the fourth quarter.
Grade: C+
Season GPA: 2.66

- Those that did not appear in the game on offense or defense were not graded.

- For obvious reasons, this is a report that highlights my findings and opinions from the individual games.

- The GPA's attached at the bottom are an overall grade of how I felt that player performed, basing it all on the play-by-play film review done throughout the week. B- is considered average on my scale, not C.

- Plus/minus scores and GPAs will be tracked as the season goes along. An individual game's GPA will be weighted with how many snaps that player has on the field in the contest when figuring out a season long average.

Twitter: @JoeBuscaglia