The Buffalo Bills head into Sunday’s matchup with the Los Angeles Chargers in a spot they should like: at home, coming off extra rest after their Thursday night game against the Detroit Lions in Week 2, and facing a team that has not found its footing.
The Chargers are still searching for their first win after dropping both of their home games, first to the Arizona Cardinals and then to the Las Vegas Raiders. Their offense has been the problem, and the numbers tell the story. Los Angeles has coughed the ball up five times already, with Justin Herbert throwing three interceptions and losing two fumbles, while running back Omarion Hampton has also fumbled twice.
That’s where Buffalo’s defense comes in. The Bills are still working through growing pains under Jim Leonhard, but based on what they’ve shown over the first two weeks, they should have the edge over a Chargers offense that has looked disjointed and mistake-prone.
Buffalo’s own defense has only produced two takeaways so far, and both came in Week 1 against the Houston Texans. OLB Greg Rousseau was the difference there, posting two strip sacks on C.J. Stroud, including the game-winner late in the 4th quarter.
That makes the turnover battle the key swing point in this game. If the Bills can create takeaways early, they can force Los Angeles out of whatever plan it arrives with and push the Chargers into chasing the game.
And if Buffalo can shut down the run, that could make things even worse for the Chargers. With the passing game already struggling, Los Angeles may lean on Omarion Hampton to provide a spark. Take that away, and Herbert is left trying to solve a defense that should be in position to capitalize.
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 🡒]