The Buffalo Bills officially hit 3-0 in Week 3, snatching a 24-16 victory over the Los Angeles Chargers, but man, was it ever an ugly one. After two gorgeous wins to kick off the season, Buffalo proved they can absolutely win when things go sideways, especially after falling behind 10-0 in the first half following three turnovers in just the first 16 minutes of the game. This was pure grit.
Buffalo’s Defense Stepped Up Big Time
Seriously, Buffalo’s defense was damn good, in a way that feels totally modern NFL. After the Chargers jumped out to that 10-0 lead, check out their drive results for the rest of the game: Missed field goal, Punt, End of half, Field goal, Punt, Interception, Turnover on downs, Field goal. That’s insane! I don’t even care about the yards allowed, because in today’s game, that’s just stingy. If you even count that missed field goal as a make, that’s still only nine points allowed on Los Angeles’ final eight drives. A 1.12 yards-per-drive rate is totally pedestrian for any offense. After giving up 31 points in consecutive weeks, surrendering just 16 points in a game where their *own offense* coughed up five turnovers? That’s flat-out sensational. It even felt like Justin Herbert was on his game, but he only finished with a 6.6 yards-per-attempt average, which is under the 7.0 benchmark for solid quarterback efficiency. For perspective, Jared Goff put up 8.6 YPA in Week 2, and C.J. Stroud hit 7.2 YPA in Week 1. This isn’t just good, it’s a statement.
Chargers Figured Out the Middle, Kinda
While the defense was making magic, it was clear the Chargers made a tactical move that messed with the Bills’ offense a bit. They absolutely took away the middle of the field. Josh Allen, who usually carves up defenses over the middle, was only 7-of-13 for 84 yards with two interceptions in Week 3. That’s a huge drop from his first two games where he went 20-of-29 for 316 yards, four touchdowns, and zero picks on over-the-middle throws. It’s obvious the Chargers knew Allen loves and excels throwing in that area, so they consistently used a “robber” safety to roam there, especially at the intermediate level. Rookie Genesis Smith was that “robber” on Allen’s first interception, jumping an in-breaking route meant for DJ Moore. Even Khalil Shakir, who normally feasts over the middle, only snagged one pass for six yards. This isn’t to say the Chargers unlocked a secret weapon against Allen, he can still rip throws outside the numbers, but it was a smart adjustment.
This win should serve as a massive reminder that football is the ultimate team game. The offense drove the Bills in the first two weeks, but the defense absolutely saved the day in Week 3. A 3-0 start to the season, especially with an ugly win like this, tells you everything you need to know about the kind of team Buffalo is this year. They might not be pretty every week, but they know how to get it done.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Buffalo Rumblings.
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