Buffalo Bills vs. Los Angeles Chargers Preview: Playoff Chances in Sight
The Buffalo Bills travel in Week 16 to face the reeling Los Angeles Chargers on a rare Saturday night showdown. This is a matchup of two teams headed in opposite directions.
Buffalo looks to keep the momentum after back-to-back wins, most recently routing the Dallas Cowboys 31-10. Buffalo’s run game and defense dazzled as the Bills racked up 266 yards on the ground while holding the Cowboys to 195 total yards.
On the flip side, the Chargers suffered a 63-21 by the Las Vegas Raiders on Thursday without quarterback Justin Herbert, who is out for the rest of the season with a fractured finger on his throwing hand.
After the defeat, L.A. parted ways with coach Brandon Staley and general manager Tom Telesco. The Chargers have lost 5 of their last 6 games and are likely looking ahead to NFL Draft positioning.
Josh Allen
USA TODAY
LA will be playing its first game under interim head coach Giff Smith.
Buffalo's defense looks to get after backup quarterback Easton Stick in his second start for the Chargers. In Thursday's loss, Stick completed 23 of 32 passes for 257 yards with three touchdowns and one interception. He rushed twice for 11 yards and lost two fumbles.
If the postseason started today, the ninth-ranked Bills would be left out; However, after beating the Cowboys and Kansas City Chiefs, the Bills' odds at making the playoffs has increased to 71 percent. Buffalo is chasing the first-place Miami Dolphins in the AFC East. With three games remaining, every win gets it closer to qualifying for the postseason.
FUN FACT: The Bills have allowed the least amount of sacks (19) in the NFL.
RECORDS: Los Angeles Chargers (5-9) vs. Buffalo Bills (8-6)
ODDS: Buffalo is a 10.5-point favorite vs. the Chargers
GAME TIME: Saturday, Dec. 23rd, 2023 at 8 p.m. ET
LOCATION: Sofi Stadium - Inglewood, CA
TV/RADIO: Peacock, WGR 550
THE FINAL WORD: Bills linebacker Terrel Bernard claimed his defense – despite the injuries and inconsistencies – has found its identity.
“Defensively, we’re physical, fast, affecting the quarterback, stopping the run, and taking the ball away,” Bernard said. “Those are the things that we preach and those are things that we live by... We feel like we’ve steadily improved on that throughout the year and today was another step in that.”
