If you looked at the box score for Sunday’s game in Buffalo without checking the score first, you’d likely pick the Chargers as the team that wound up winning.
They had about the same number of yards on offense as the Bills, who committed five turnovers while being penalized 10 times for 88 yards. The Bills still wound up winning 24-16, however, and the Chargers are now 0-3 after entering the season as a popular choice to advance to the postseason.
After the game, several Chargers sent a message of keeping the faith and wide receiver Ladd McConkey underlined it with a pointed remark to those whose belief in the team has been shaken.
“If you’re not on board and you don’t think this can get turned around, then get out of here,” McConkey said, via the team’s website. “I feel like we got people to do it, we got all we need. We just have to go execute.”
That sounds like an easy enough solution, but actually watching the Chargers illustrates just how hard it is for the team to actually do it.
Josh Allen is a quarterback. When it comes to his nose for the end zone, he’s been performing like an elite running back.
Allen has scored two rushing touchdowns in each of Buffalo’s first three games of the 2026 season. No quarterback has ever done that.
Only three running backs in NFL history have ever done it.
Jim Brown did it in 1958. Stephen Davis did it in 1999. And Priest Holmes did it in 2003.
While Allen also had his first two turnovers of the year, he did enough to help the Bills dig out of a 10-0 hole (fueled by three total Bills turnovers in the first half) and move to 3-0, while sending the Chargers to 0-3.
It’s not often that a team can turn the ball over five times and win.
But that’s exactly what happened in Buffalo on Sunday, with the Bills coming from behind to defeat the Chargers 24-16.
Los Angeles was able to get off to a 10-0 lead after a fumble from James Cook on the first play from scrimmage and an interception on Buffalo’s third drive.
But the Bills were able to tie it up at 10-10 with Josh Allen’s 1-yard touchdown run late in the second quarter. Allen had set it up with a 37-yard pass to Keon Coleman with little time before the break.
The Bills had three turnovers in the first half. While they had two more fumbles in the second half, the Chargers punted after one and Justin Herbert threw an interception deep in the red zone on the second.
Josh Allen powered his way in for another 1-yard touchdown with 7:35 left in the contest to give the Bills their first lead of the day. Then James Cook was actually allowed to run in a touchdown, taking it in from 3 yards out to put the game away.
Aside from his fumble, Cook had an excellent day — rushing for 154 yards on 24 carries with his TD.
Allen finished 16-of-26 for 204 yards with two interceptions and a lost fumble. He had 22 yards on eight carries with two TDs.
On the other side, Herbert was 20-of-34 for 226 yards with a touchdown and an interception.
That was Los Angeles’ lone giveaway of the game, but the +4 advantage in turnover margin was not enough.
With the victory, the Bills are now 3-0. They’ll stay at home to host the Patriots next Sunday.
The Chargers are 0-3 and staring down the barrel of a long season. They will be on the road to face the defending-champion Seahawks next Sunday.
The Bills had three first-half turnovers, but are still tied 10-10 with the Chargers at halftime.
Josh Allen powered his way into the end zone on a tush push late in the second quarter to tie the score.
Allen had connected with Keon Coleman for a 37-yard pass down to the 1-yard line that set up the score.
That helped erase some sloppy play from the Bills for much of the first half. James Cook fumbled on the first possession for a turnover. Then Josh Allen threw a pair of interceptions.
But the Chargers could only manage 10 points off of the turnovers, with Cameron Dicker missing a 45-yard field goal wide left after Allen’s interception.
Allen is 10-of-17 for 112 yards with a pair of picks. James Cook has 10 carries for 59 yards.
On the other side, Justin Herbert is 9-of-16 for 85 yards with a touchdown.
The Chargers will receive the second-half kickoff.
Bills wide receiver DJ Moore hurt his shoulder in a Week 2 win over the Lions, but he had more than a week to recover from the injury and that was enough time for him to get cleared for action.
Moore is active for the Bills as they try to move to 3-0 on the season at home against the 0-2 Chargers. The Bills will also get defensive tackle Ed Oliver back in the lineup. Oliver missed the Lions game after injuring his hip in pregame warmups and was listed as questionable along with Moore and wide receiver Keon Coleman.
Coleman is also active for Buffalo while backup quarterback Trey Lance is active for the Chargers. DJ Uiagalelei was summoned from the practice squad as insurance after Lance was listed as questionable, but there will be no change behind Justin Herbert.
Chargers at Bills
Chargers: S Elijah Molden, QB DJ Uiagalelei, OL Alex Harkey, G Kayode Awosika, TE Charlie Kolar, WR Brenen Thompson, DT Dalvin Tomlinson
Bills: WR Skyler Bell, OL Jude Bowry, OL Ar’maj Reed-Adams, DL T.J. Sanders, LB Mike Danna, S Jalon Kilgore
Panthers at Browns
Panthers: TE Ja’Tavion Sanders, QB Haynes King, WR Xavier Legette, S Nick Scott, LB Devin Lloyd, OT Albert Reese, DT Cam Jackson
Browns: CB Tyson Campbell, QB Taylen Green, LB Justin Jefferson, C Parker Brailsford, G Teven Jenkins
Jets at Lions
Jets: WR Adonai Mitchell, DB Minkah Fitzpatrick, TE Mason Taylor, RB Kene Nwangwu, CB Nahshon Wright, K Blake Grupe, LB Kiko Mauigoa
Lions: G Ben Bartch, TE Tyler Conklin, S Bishop Fitzgerald, DL Ahmed Hassanein, LB Devin White, DL Mekhi Wingo
Texans at Colts
Texans: TE Brevin Jordan, CB Collin Wright, WR Nico Collins, G Ed Ingram, DE Jadeveon Clowney, OL Nate Thomas
Colts: WR Ashton Dulin, WR Darius Slayton, DE George Gumbs, G Dailton Tucker, RB DJ Giddens, QB Riley Leonard
Patriots at Jaguars
Patriots: S Craig Woodson, LB Dre’Mont Jones, QB Behren Morton, OT Dametrious Crownover, TE Eli Raridon, DT Leonard Taylor
Jaguars: WR CJ Williams, S Jalen Huskey, LB Jack Kiser, OL Daniel Faalele, DE Wesley Williams, DT Albert Regis
Chiefs at Dolphins
Chiefs: TE Jared Wiley, QB Garrett Nussmeier, DB Chamarri Conner, DE Jack Pyburn, OT Josh Simmons, DE Tyreke Smith
Dolphins: QB Brady Cook, WR Caleb Douglas, RB Jaylen Wright, CB Marcellus Dial, OL DJ Campbell, DL Rob Beal Jr., OL Chukweubuka Godrick
Titans at Giants
Titans: OL Atonio Mafi, DL Jackie Marshall, OL Brandon Crenshaw-Dickson, TE Kylen Granson, DB Jaylon Jones, RB Michael Carter
Giants: RB Devin Singletary, TE Thomas Fidone, OL J.C. Davis, DL Josh Tupou, DL Bobby Jamison-Travis, CB Deonte Banks, S Tyler Nubin
Bengals at Steelers
Bengals: CB Josh Newton, C Connor Lew, OT Myles Hinton, TE Jack Endries, DT BJ Hill, DT Landon Robinson
Steelers: RB Rico Dowdle, QB Drew Allar, QB Will Howard, CB Joey Porter Jr., RB Eli Heidenreich, DT Kevin Jobity Jr., DT Gabriel Rubio
Seahawks at Commanders
Seahawks: S Julian Love, S Ty Okada, DT Brandon Pili, QB Jalen Milroe, WR Montorie Foster, CB Avery Smith, LB Connor O’Toole
Commanders: QB Jayden Daniels, LB Frankie Luvu, LB Javontae Jean-Baptiste, G Sam Cosmi, TE Chig Okonkwo
