Sports · NEWS EXPLAINER
Bills Beat Chargers 24-16 Despite Five Turnovers
Buffalo erased a 10-point deficit and survived five giveaways as Josh Allen and James Cook scored fourth-quarter rushing touchdowns to keep the Bills unbeaten.
Buffalo overcame five turnovers and a 10-point deficit to beat the Los Angeles Chargers 24-16. Josh Allen and James Cook scored fourth-quarter rushing touchdowns as the Bills improved to 3-0.
The Chargers led 10-0 in the first half, but Buffalo’s defense repeatedly limited the damage from giveaways. Los Angeles fell to 0-3 after C.J. Gardner-Johnson’s late interception stopped its best chance to retake control.
Buffalo survived the turnover margin
The Bills lost three fumbles and Josh Allen threw two interceptions, yet the defense kept the deficit manageable. Early in the fourth quarter, Los Angeles recovered Allen’s fumble at the Buffalo 28-yard line. C.J. Gardner-Johnson then intercepted Justin Herbert at Buffalo’s one-yard line and returned the ball 41 yards, ending the Chargers’ scoring threat.
Buffalo had not won a game with at least five turnovers since beating Indianapolis in 1997, according to the Associated Press. The result made the late defensive stand as important as either of Buffalo’s fourth-quarter touchdowns.
Allen and Cook finished the comeback on the ground
Allen scored on a one-yard run with 7:35 left to put Buffalo ahead. About four minutes later, James Cook’s three-yard touchdown extended the lead after the Bills had trailed 10-0 in the first half.
Cook finished with 154 rushing yards, including 77 in the fourth quarter. Allen ran for two touchdowns, giving Buffalo a reliable answer even though its passing game and ball security were uneven.
The result sent the teams in opposite directions
Buffalo improved to 3-0 and remained unbeaten. Los Angeles fell to 0-3 for the first time since 2017 despite Justin Herbert throwing for 226 yards and a touchdown.
Allen’s 87 career touchdowns from scrimmage tied Thurman Thomas and Andre Reed for the most in Bills history. The milestone came in a game defined less by clean execution than by Buffalo’s ability to recover from repeated mistakes.
