The Chargers have allowed 26 points apiece to the Cardinals and Raiders through their first two games. If the defense wasn’t having any fun before, it’s going to be a whole new ballgame when they travel to face the Buffalo Bills and the top-scoring offense in the NFL.
Josh Allen has accounted for nine total touchdowns this year with five coming through the air and four via his legs. The best quarterbacks in recent years have always been able to threaten defenses in multiple ways and that’s exactly
what Allen has become. You can’t take both away and its nearly impossible to put a lid on both facets of his game.
But to come away with one the most-improbable wins of the year, the Chargers will have to find a way to do just that.
There’s a world, however, where the Chargers finally find their rhythm against the league’s 28th-ranked scoring defense. The Bills are allowing 31 points per game, choosing rather to outpace their opponents over slamming the door on them. Buffalo also ranks 30th in pass defense, giving Justin Herbert a chance to potentially carry the team through the air if necessary.
Is it likely? Right now, no. No, it’s not. But any chance at all is better than no chance.
With all that said, let’s go ahead and dive into the numbers behind this matchup.
Chargers Offense
Total yards per game: 289.0 (22nd)
Passing yards per game: 185.0 (21st)
Rushing yards per game: 104.0 (19th)
Points per game: 14.0 (29th)
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Top Performers
Passing: QB Justin Herbert – 401 passing yards, 2 passing touchdowns
Rushing yards: RB Omarion Hampton – 137
Rushing touchdowns: RB Omarion Hampton – 2
Receiving yards: WR Ladd McConkey – 117
Receptions: WR Ladd McConkey – 8
Receiving touchdowns: WR Ladd McConkey, TE Oronde Gadsden II – 1
Chargers Defense
Total yards allowed per game: 349.5 (23rd)
Passing yards allowed per game: 262.5 (29th)
Rushing yards allowed per game: 104.0 (19th)
Points allowed per game: 14.0 (29th)
Top Performers
Tackles: S Derwin James – 17
Tackles for loss: EDGE Khalil Mack – 2
Sacks: EDGE Khalil Mack – 1
Passes Defended: CB Cam Hart – 3
Interceptions: CB Cam Hart – 1
Forced fumbles: CB Donte Jackson – 1
Fumble recoveries: N/A
Bills Offense
Total yards per game: 427.5 (2nd)
Passing yards per game: 271.5 (4th)
Rushing yards per game: 186.0 (5th)
Points per game: 38.5 (1st)
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Top Performers
Passing: QB Josh Allen – 582 passing yards, 5 passing touchdowns
Rushing yards: RB James Cook – 192
Rushing touchdowns: QB Josh Allen – 4
Receiving yards: TE Dalton Kincaid – 225
Receptions: TE Dalton Kincaid – 12
Receiving touchdowns: WR Josh Palmer – 2
Bills Defense
Total yards allowed per game: 368.0 (28th)
Passing yards allowed per game: 273.0 (30th)
Rushing yards allowed per game: 95.0 (12th)
Points allowed per game: 31.0 (28th)
Top Performers
Tackles: LB Terrel Bernard – 17
Tackles for loss: EDGE Gregory Rousseau – 4
Sacks: EDGE Gregory Rousseau – 4
Passes Defended: DT Deone Walker – 3
Interceptions: N/A
Forced fumbles: EDGE Gregory Rousseau – 3
Fumble recoveries: LB Terrel Bernard, DT Ed Oliver – 1
