Bills go 3-0 despite 5 turnovers against Chargers

The Los Angeles Chargers entered Highmark Stadium with desperation to get their season up and running after a pair of embarrassing home defeats to begin their campaign. The team looked lifeless and short of answers across all 8 quarters heading into this game, and an 0-3 start loomed large as they took on one of the league’s hottest teams – the Buffalo Bills.

Buffalo had been as good as flawless offensively to start their season, accumulating 77 points across games against the Houston Texans and Detroit Lions, looking much like the team most expected under new head coach Joe Brady.

The Chargers ignited themselves by forcing a much-needed turnover on the game’s first play, as Daiyan Henley swooped on the ball after a loose carry by the usually-reliable James Cook. His running back counterpart, Keaton Mitchell, took no time to capitalise and score the first points of the game for Los Angeles, giving them an unlikely early lead.

What had been an all-conqueriong Buffalo offense had a second turnover before halftime, as Josh Allen was picked off by Genesis Smith, showing that the Chargers were truly up for the fight in somewhat of a must-win game.

Unbelievably, lightning struck twice as Smith intercepted Allen again with some good fortune, as the ball could not help but bobble into his lap, somehow without hitting the ground in the process. Cameron Dicker had a rare miss from 45 yards out, however, in what brought the home crowd back to their feet and loomed as a potential momentum shifter.

It proved to be just that, as the Bills scored 10 points in the final 6 minutes of the half to go into the locker room all square, as Allen found the end zone from no more than a couple of inches away.

The much-discussed reverberating sound inside Highmark Stadium played its part in helping Buffalo make a red zone stop early in the third quarter after a few false starts against the Chargers, although Cameron Dicker did give the visitors back the lead.

Dalton Kincaid appeared to have broken loose for a massive gain, before a savvy play by Tarheeb Still saw him jar the ball loose and force a turnover, as Los Angeles dove on the ball for a 3rd takeaway.

Though confidence still remained strong among the Bills Mafia, it became increasingly more difficult to see how they would overcome the turnover issues, as an Allen fumble produced the team’s 5th turnover of the afternoon.

But somehow the game’s most important takeaway was produced by CJ Gardner-Johnson, who picked off Justin Herbert, on the back of which, Allen punched in yet another short-yardage touchdown to take the lead for the first time.

With 3 minutes to play, James Cook III made the final mark on the game with the sealing touchdown, as the Bills secured a far-from-perfect, but equally as important victory, doing the near-impossible by winning while losing the turnover battle by 4.

It was an improved effort by the Chargers, but they will ultimately be disappointed by blowing the lead and opportunity to get a win on the board. It’s a long way back from 0-3, and their upcoming month is nothing short of football’s hell.

Touchdowns
Atlanta: Robinson 2, Robinson Sr., Hooper
Green Bay: Watson, Golden

Top Performers
Los Angeles Chargers: Harris, Smith, Henley, Tuipulotu
Buffalo: Cook III, Rousseau, Gardner-Johnson, Moore

Injuries
Los Angeles Chargers: N/A
Buffalo: Benford (toe)

Crowd: TBC at Highmark Stadium