Buffalo Bills Survive Upset Scare vs. Los Angeles Chargers, Keep Playoff Hopes Alive
The Buffalo Bills avoided a potential season-ending upset at SoFi Stadium on Saturday night, narrowly beating the Los Angeles Chargers in a 24-22 win to keep their driver's seat to the playoffs nice and warm.
Bills quarterback Josh Allen started a bit off and ended slow but came through on Buffalo's final drive to set up the game-winning 29-yard field goal from Tyler Bass with 28 seconds left.
"We found a way tonight," Allen told NBC after the game. " ... This is the playoffs for us. Every game is gonna come down to the wire, and we know it."
In between, Allen set a new NFL record, found Gabe Davis for a 57-yard touchdown and rushed for two more scores. He finished 15 of 21 passing for 237 yards, one touchdown and one pick while rushing five times for 15 yards and the two touchdowns.
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This nearly wasn't enough to beat a Chargers team that got five field goals from kicker Cameron Dicker, including three in the fourth quarter.
The Chargers got off to a nice start by taking a 10-0 lead in the first half. Los Angeles quarterback Easton Stick went 23 of 33 passing for 210 yards while adding seven carries for 25 yards and a touchdown.
After admitting how tough it's been to not be getting targets in recent weeks, Bills receiver Gabe Davis finished with four catches for 130 yards and the touchdown. He helped spark the offense with the long score in the second quarter after the Chargers looked like they'd be able to take the lead headed into halftime. Instead, Davis' score and Allen's late rushing touchdown gave Buffalo a 14-10 lead at half.
Coming off his career-best performance against the Dallas Cowboys, Bills running back James Cook had a crucial fumble on Buffalo's second-to-last drive of the game that gave the Chargers the ball back for a go-ahead score on a Dicker field goal.
But Allen led a 13-play, 64-yard drive to put Bass into range for the win.
The Bills will host the New England Patriots in Week 17.
