The Buffalo Bills continue their 2026 NFL season with a matchup against the Los Angeles Chargers at home at Highmark Stadium in Week 3. It will be a 1 p.m. kickoff.
While game plans, coaching, and strategy will play a part, but sometimes a big emphasis will sit with some individual players. In terms of the Bills defense, who could those be?
Here are Bills Wire's three potential X-factors on the Bills (2-0) defense against the Chargers (0-2) in Week 3:
WR Khalil Shakir
With the likes of wide receiver DJ Moore (shoulder) and Keon Coleman (ankle) on the injury report this week, the Bills will need to find ways to get Shakir involved. Tight end Dalton Kincaid will likely be treated as the top target for quarterback Josh Allen with that pair banged up, meaning Shakir needs
to step up.
RB James Cook
While we all like to think Allen can do everything himself under center (because usually he can), it's a lot easier when a rushing attack is there to help him... but that won't be easy against the Chargers. They have kept opponents to 2.7 yards per carry through two games.
Cook will have to earn every inch.
OL Spencer Brown
The likes of Allen and head coach Joe Brady have spoken about Chargers' pass rusher Khalil Mack throughout this week. He was one of their main talking points and reasons why the Bills cannot afford to make this turn into a "trap game" against the Bolts.
Brown will be tasked with keeping him out of the backfield.
This article originally appeared on Bills Wire: 3 potential X-factors on the Bills offense vs. Chargers in Week 3
