Bills rally to beat Chargers 24-16, improve to 3-0
Buffalo overcame a slow start to defeat Los Angeles 24-16, highlighted by strong defensive plays and a strong second-half performance by running back James Cook.
Buffalo rallied from an early deficit to defeat the Los Angeles Chargers 24-16 on Sunday, moving to a 3-0 record to start the season. The Bills' defense made several key stops, including holding the Chargers to a field goal after a drive that began at the Bills' 43-yard line and intercepting a pass at the goal line.
Defensive end Greg Rousseau recorded his fifth and sixth sacks of the year, becoming the first Bills player to record at least six sacks in the first three games of a season and joining a small group of NFL players with three consecutive games of at least two sacks. Rookie defensive back Davon Igbinosun stepped in after an injury to Christian Benford, finishing with five tackles and a pass breakup. Veteran cornerback CJ Gardner-Johnson intercepted a pass at the Chargers' goal line, returning the ball to the Bills' 42-yard line, and added two pass breakups.
Running back James Cook recovered from a fumble on the opening play to rush for 154 yards on 24 carries, averaging 6.4 yards per attempt. Wide receiver Ty Johnson contributed four receptions for 50 yards in the passing game.
The Bills' offense struggled early, with quarterback Josh Allen completing 16 of 26 passes for 204 yards, throwing two interceptions and losing a fumble. The team also committed ten penalties totaling 88 yards, including a penalty that nullified an interception and others that extended Chargers drives. The Chargers sacked Allen four times and recorded seven additional quarterback hits.
Overall, Buffalo's red-zone defense limited the Chargers to a single touchdown after four attempts inside the Bills' 20-yard line, while the offense generated most of its points in the second half.