Chargers at Bills Preview: Buffalo’s Fast Start Meets Los Angeles’ Urgency

Chargers at Bills Preview: Buffalo’s Fast Start Meets Los Angeles’ Urgency

The Los Angeles Chargers (0-2) will visit the Buffalo Bills (2-0) on Sunday, Sept. 27, with kickoff set for 1 p.m. EDT at Highmark Stadium in Orchard Park, New York. Buffalo will bring the NFL’s top-scoring offense into the Week 3 matchup at 38.5 points per game, after a 36-31 season-opening win at Houston and a 41-31 victory over Detroit.

Josh Allen will arrive with 582 passing yards, five passing touchdowns and four rushing touchdowns through two games, while avoiding a turnover. The Bills offense will also feature James Cook, who has rushed 34 times for 192 yards, and Dalton Kincaid, who has 12 receptions for 225 yards. Buffalo coach Joe Brady has nonetheless pointed to unfinished work, saying, “The house isn’t catching on fire, but smoke is showing,” after the defense allowed 31 points and at least 24 first downs in each of its first two outings.

Los Angeles will pursue its first lead of the season after opening with identical 26-14 losses to Arizona and Las Vegas. The Chargers have committed five turnovers while scoring four touchdowns, and Justin Herbert will enter with 401 passing yards, two touchdown passes, three interceptions and six sacks taken. Herbert said the response will center on correction: “It’s moving on to the next play and understanding we’re close. We’ve made mistakes, and how do we fix them?”

Protection will stand as a pivotal thread against Buffalo’s front. The Bills have recorded seven sacks, with Greg Rousseau leading the NFL with four, while the Chargers will be without starting center Tyler Biadasz and starting guard Branson Taylor; backup guard Kayode Awosika also will be out, and left tackle Rashawn Slater is nursing a groin injury. The Chargers lead the all-time series 25-14-2, though Buffalo won the most recent meeting 24-22 on Dec. 23, 2023, in Los Angeles.