The Bills shocked the Chargers in Los Angeles Saturday night, winning their head-to-head matchup 24-22 and eliminating the Bolts from playoff contention.
On offense, this was due in big part to the heads-up play of QB Josh Allen during the contest, which included a pass for 38 air yards downfield (the QB’s longest of the season) to WR Gabe Davis, which went for 57 yards total and a touchdown.
JOSH ALLEN 57-YARD DOT TO GABE DAVIS 😱
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) December 24, 2023
(via @BuffaloBills)pic.twitter.com/OQ2Nx24Nt1
Allen went 15-for-21 for 237 yards with the touchdown, and one interception passing while adding two rushing scores on the ground. In the win, he became the first player in NFL history with four consecutive 40+ total touchdown seasons and extended his NFL record for consecutive games with a passing and rushing touchdown to 11.
“It’s tough because when you’re playing a team with nothing to lose, that’s a dangerous team. We gutted it out and we found a way,” Allen said to the press. “This is our playoffs. It didn’t matter how we get them done, just get them done.”
And the Bills did just that, though it wasn’t easy.
L.A. had a new coach and backup quarterback, which made it a challenge to prepare for and defend their own respective attack.
“(The Chargers) were doing some things that they hadn’t shown (this season). They came in well-prepared,” head coach Sean McDermott said. “I thought our guys settled in and responded. We did a good job in the red zone and had some big plays on third down to help us out.”
Ultimately, the Chargers got the short end of the stick thanks to a four-minute drill to run the clock down, with all three phases executing to secure the win. The offense did their part managing the clock, and K Tyler Bass secured the winning points on a field goal. Buffalo’s defense then sealed the victory by closing out the Chargers on their final drive with a sack by safety Ed Oliver followed by a failed lateral attempt to end the game.
“Just trusted our guys go make big plays,” Allen noted, via NFL Network. “Stefon Diggs on third down making some big conversions, Tyler Bass kicking a field goal in the end, and then Ed Oliver with the sack to end it, essentially. So, just trusting our guys to make plays, and we did tonight.”
Buffalo moved from the eighth playoff spot up into the sixth spot in the AFC playoff picture, thanks to their win and a loss by the Cincinnati Bengals (8-7)Â to the Pittsburgh Steelers.
If they win out in their final two games against the Patriots and Dolphins, the team will punch their ticket to the postseason. If the Dolphins lose just one of their remaining games against the Cowboys, Ravens, and Bills, Buffalo wins the division.