The Bills’ offense has been loud enough to drown out almost everything else through two weeks. Josh Allen and company have scored 36 or more points in each game, first against a strong Houston Texans defense and then again in the debut of the new Highmark Stadium against the Detroit Lions, where Buffalo hung 41.
The defense, though, is still searching for its footing under Jim Leonhard in a new 3-4 scheme. Buffalo has made some good plays, but it has also given up 62 total points, and the concern is obvious: the Bills can’t keep leaning on Allen to carry the whole load.
That’s why Week 3 could matter so much. Lou Scataglia of NFL Spin Zone projected a Buffalo win over the Chargers, 35-20, a result that would hint at the defense finally taking a step forward while the offense keeps rolling.
" This could be a perfect game for Buffalo's defense to have a breakout performance, as both Arizona and Las Vegas' defenses feasted on the Chargers. This would also then likely open up a few more possessions for the Allen-led Bills offense to throw a ton of points on the board." said Scataglia.
" This is also a game that the Bills simply cannot lose given the high expectations they have, even with a new head coach. Buffalo wins this one by double-digits and gets out to a 3-0 start." Scataglia added.
There have been flashes already. In Week 1, Buffalo survived a tight game by shutting down C.J.
Stroud late. Against Jared Goff and the Lions in Week 2, the Bills allowed just 10 points, even if three touchdowns came in the second half.
Still, holding the Chargers to 20 would be a much cleaner statement. Through two games, Los Angeles has scored just 28 points combined, and the offense has looked lost. That opens the door for Buffalo to make a real defensive impression.
For the Bills, the path is clear: attack a shaky Chargers team, protect home momentum, and make sure this one doesn’t turn into another week where Allen has to do everything himself.
In Other News...
Bills Fans Just Got An Unexpected NFL Celebration Controversy
Amon-Ra St. Browns Week 2 night against the Bills is still echoing well beyond the final whistle. The Lions wide receiver was fined four times by the NFL for his celebrations in that game, with each penalty topping $14,000, turning what had been a high-energy performance into one of the leagues latest discipline stories.
The NFL also handed out celebration fines to several other players, including Kyle Juszczyk, JaMarr Chase and Matt Goncalves, and described some of the actions as offensive demonstrations. For Buffalo fans, its a reminder that the leagues crackdown can reach well past the box score, even when the game itself is long over. [Read more 🡒]
Bills Face A Ground Game Test Fans May Not Expect
The Bills are about to run into a Chargers defense that has made an early habit of smothering the ground game. Los Angeles enters the matchup leading the league in yards allowed per rushing attempt and ranking seventh in yards allowed per game, and the numbers have been backed up by the tape rather than by a lucky stretch of opponents or a small-sample illusion.
What makes it more interesting for Buffalo is that the Chargers have been consistent in the dirty work, too, not just in keeping runners bottled up but in finishing plays with tackles for loss and standing firm in tight spaces. The sample is still relatively small, and some outside runs have found more room, but this looks like a real test for a Bills offense that may need to earn its yards the hard way. [Read more 🡒]
Bills-Chargers History Is Full Of Buffalos Best And Worst Memories
The Bills and Chargers have been tangled together for as long as Buffalo football has had a modern history, with the rivalry reaching back to the American Football League days in 1960. Buffalo owns some of the most cherished wins in the series, including AFL championship victories over San Diego in 1964 and 1965, and the matchup has had enough postseason weight over the years to give the Bills a 2-1 edge in playoff meetings.
Still, the larger series has tilted the other way, with the Chargers holding a 25-14-2 lead overall, and the games between these teams have produced a few unforgettable oddities along the way. There was the 2008 delay at Orchard Park caused by a power outage, and the 2017 meeting that turned into a nightmare for rookie Nathan Peterman, reminders that this one has never really been short on either drama or pain for Buffalo fans. [Read more 🡒]