Buffalo Bills TE Charles Clay, Tre’Davious White earn Pro Football Focus honors

Pro Football Focus bestowed Team of the Week honors to Buffalo Bills tight end Charles Clay and cornerback Tre’Davious White after their dominant performances in Atlanta against the Falcons Week 4.

White’s Week 4 grade from Pro Football Focus was 89.2, and he once again showed why the Bills both drafted him with their 27th overall pick, and why Buffalo’s front office felt comfortable dealing away No. 1 cornerback Ronald Darby during the preseason.

Pro Football Focus credited the dynamic White with allowing only 18 total yards on 44 snaps in coverage, and had this to say of Buffalo’s play-making CB, who had four tackles (three solo) with one pass break-up and a 52-yard fumble recovery for a touchdown in Atlanta:

“The Bills rookie corner had another outstanding outing in a debut season that is beginning to look pretty spectacular. Aided by Atlanta’s top two receivers – Julio Jones and Mohamed Sanu – leaving the game injured, White allowed just four catches for 18 yards in the game. Even before Jones and Sanu left the game, he had held that pair to two catches for 8 yards on four targets.”

White leads the NFL with eight passes defended, and ranks third among rookie CBs in cover snaps per reception (13.0), well above the 10.6 league average (which is good).

Clay posted the second 100-yard receiving effort of his Bills’ career, hauling in five passes (on a team-most seven targets) for 112 yards. Clay carried the passing attack as Tyrod Taylor’s favorite target, as Clay and Taylor continue to build on the strong rapport they developed down the stretch in 2016.

Clay made several big catches, none bigger than his impressive, 44-yard catch that set up Buffalo’s first touchdown. On the play, Clay was interfered with and still managed to create enough separation to make the catch against Keanu Neal. Clay also added a 34-yard catch that set up a field goal for a 20-17 Buffalo lead in the fourth quarter.

Pro Football Focus gave Clay an 89.5 grade, and credited him with gaining 5.33 yards per route run, highest for any player at any position in Week 4. PFF had this to say of Clay’s impressive performance:

“Clay was the chief beneficiary of Tyrod Taylor’s impressive game against the Atlanta Falcons. Clay led the Bills in targets with seven, and came away with five catches for 112 yards, both also team-leading numbers. Taylor’s passer rating when aiming just at Clay was 113.7, and he beat four different Falcons players for receptions over his snaps.”