The Los Angeles Chargers defense has been straight up struggling, letting the Cardinals and Raiders drop 26 points apiece on them in their first two games. Now, they’re heading into Orchard Park to face an absolute beast: the Buffalo Bills and the top-scoring offense in the entire NFL. If the Bolts’ defense wasn’t having a good time before, things are about to get wild against Josh Allen.
Allen’s Avalanche Versus a Shaky Chargers D
Josh Allen is playing out of his mind, accounting for nine total touchdowns already this season, with five through the air and four via his legs. This dude is a multi-threat nightmare for defenses, and you can’t take both away from him. It’s almost impossible to put a lid on both facets of his game at once. The Bills offense is a scoring machine, ranking 1st in the NFL with 38.5 points per game. They’re also 2nd in total yards (427.5 per game), 4th in passing (271.5 per game), and 5th in rushing (186.0 per game).
On the flip side, the Chargers defense is really up against it. After those 26-point outings, their overall numbers show they’re allowing 349.5 total yards per game (23rd in the league), 262.5 passing yards per game (29th), and 104.0 rushing yards per game (19th). They’re listed at 29th in points allowed with 14.0 points per game, which is a wild stat considering what they’ve been giving up. Even with some playmakers like S Derwin James leading the charge with 17 tackles, EDGE Khalil Mack bringing 2 tackles for loss and a sack, CB Cam Hart snagging an interception and defending 3 passes, and CB Donte Jackson forcing a fumble, they’ve got their work cut out for them.
Can Herbert Exploit Buffalo’s Back Door?
The Chargers offense hasn’t been lighting it up either, ranking 29th in points with a mere 14.0 per game. They’re 22nd in total yards (289.0 per game), 21st in passing (185.0 per game), and 19th in rushing (104.0 per game). Justin Herbert has put up 401 passing yards with 2 touchdowns, and Omarion Hampton has added 137 rushing yards and 2 rushing touchdowns. Receiver Ladd McConkey has 117 receiving yards on 8 receptions, with one touchdown, and TE Oronde Gadsden II also has a receiving touchdown.
Here’s the kicker: the Bills’ defense isn’t exactly ironclad. They’re ranked 28th in scoring defense, giving up 31 points per game, and a dismal 30th in pass defense. Buffalo tends to outpace opponents rather than slamming the door on them. This could be where Herbert and his crew find a rhythm. Is it likely that the Chargers pull off one of the most improbable wins of the year? Right now, no, it’s not. But any chance at all is better than no chance, and Herbert could potentially carry this team through the air if Buffalo’s secondary is really that soft.
The Chargers are facing a monumental task to contain Allen and the Bills’ offense, but Buffalo’s own defensive struggles could offer a narrow path to an upset. Can Herbert make them pay through the air? We’re about to find out if the Bolts can turn things around or if this is just another step on the road to a wild, high-scoring affair.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Bolts from the Blue.
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