Chargers vs. Bills score: Josh Allen and Gabe Davis help Buffalo survive L.A. for third straight win

Buffalo won in Week 16, but looked sloppy

The Buffalo Bills scraped by the Los Angeles Chargers for their third straight win on Saturday night, 24-22. Buffalo was double-digit favorites in this matchup, but trailed by a score of 22-21 late in the game thanks to three fourth-quarter field goals from Cameron Dicker. However, Josh Allen led a 13-play, 64-yard game-winning drive, as Tyler Bass hit a 29-yard field goal with 28 seconds remaining. 

This was a sloppy outing from Buffalo, as the Bills lost the turnover battle 3-0, and lost the time of possession battle while committing seven penalties for 64 yards. Allen completed 15 of 21 passes for 237 yards, one touchdown and one interception, and also added 15 rushing yards and two touchdowns on the ground. James Cook rushed 20 times for 70 yards, but also fumbled twice, losing one which directly led to the Chargers taking the lead late in the fourth quarter. Gabe Davis had a big outing with 130 receiving yards and a touchdown on four receptions, while Stefon Diggs caught five passes for 29 yards. 

Easton Stick had a solid outing with 210 passing yards while completing 23 of 33 passes. He also rushed for 25 yards and a touchdown. Austin Ekeler rushed for 65 yards on 15 carries, while Joshua Palmer led L.A. with 47 receiving yards on five catches. 

According to SportsLine data scientist Stephen Oh, the Bills now have a 70.7% chance to make the playoffs. Let's take a look at what went down Saturday night. 

Why the Bills won

I think it's fair to say the Bills deserved to lose this game. Apart from the slow start, a Cook fumble gave L.A. possession at the Bills' 32-yard line with seven minutes remaining to play. It gifted Dicker his fifth made field goal of the game, and the Chargers the lead. 

Buffalo was inconsistent on both sides of the ball, but did stand up when it mattered most. The defense held the Chargers to just a field goal after that Cook fumble, and then Allen led the offense 64 yards down the field on 13 plays while converting two third downs to set up the game-winning field goal. The Bills got the job done late in the fourth quarter. 

Why the Chargers lost

Down four points entering the third quarter, it did feel like the Bills were about to run away with the game. But they didn't. In fact, the Chargers punted just once in the final two quarters, but the problem is they didn't score any touchdowns.

Dicker, who was one of the players of the game, hit four field goals in the second half -- including three in the final quarter. The Chargers needed at least one touchdown, but that didn't happen. In all, L.A. went 4 of 14 on third downs and 1 of 3 in the red zone. Those numbers were the difference between winning and losing. 

Turning point

Facing a third-and-4 from the Chargers' 28-yard line with 2:34 remaining in the game, Allen dropped back and was faced with heavy pressure. He somehow got the ball out to Khalil Shakir, who appeared to get up and run the ball in for a touchdown. 

This was a turning point, because after the play was reviewed, it was observed that Shakir was actually touched down. It took six points off the board, but this call was worse for the Chargers. Instead of L.A. getting the ball back down five or six points with two minutes remaining and a timeout to use, Buffalo was able to run out plenty of clock before kicking the game-winning field goal. 

Play of the game

Down 10-0 early, the Bills needed a big play. That big play came in the form of this Davis touchdown.

What's next

The Bills return to Buffalo next weekend, and will host Bailey Zappe and the rival New England Patriots. As for the Chargers, they will travel to Denver to take on the Broncos. 

[Dec 23, 2023 at 10:58 pm ET · Jordan Dajani]

Bills go 13 plays, 64 yards and Bass is good from 29 yards out. 

The Chargers now have just seconds to operate. with no timeouts. 

[Dec 23, 2023 at 10:49 pm ET · Jordan Dajani]

On second glance, I think he was touched.

Refs come out and take the TD back. Right call. 

[Dec 23, 2023 at 10:48 pm ET · Jordan Dajani]

Allen is blitzed heavily on third-and-4, but he finds Shakir wide open. 

Shakir then gets up and runs all the way into the end zone. It's tough to see if he was touched when he was on the ground momentarily. Important to remember that the original ruling was TD. 

[Dec 23, 2023 at 10:45 pm ET · Jordan Dajani]

Allen moves the chains on third-and-8, finding Diggs for 11 yards. Bills now at the Chargers' 30-yard line with 2:45 remaining. 

[Dec 23, 2023 at 10:41 pm ET · Jordan Dajani]

Bills defense has been inconsistent at large, but they have stood tall on third downs. The Chargers have just one touchdown tonight, and that was thanks to a turnover that gifted them a short field. 

Cameron Dicker gives L.A. the lead with a 53-yard field goal. 

22-21 with under 5 minutes to play. 

[Dec 23, 2023 at 10:36 pm ET · Jordan Dajani]

OH MAN. James Cook fumbles on the first play of the drive, and the Chargers recover on the Bills' 32-yard line. 

[Dec 23, 2023 at 10:32 pm ET · Jordan Dajani]

Chargers are going to settle for another field goal to trim the deficit to 2 points. Dicker is good from 45 yards out. He's 4/4 tonight and has made 18 consecutive FGs

BUF 21 LAC 19

7:19 remaining in the game. Both teams have 2 TOs remaining. 

[Dec 23, 2023 at 10:27 pm ET · Jordan Dajani]

Stick finds Erickson for a gain of 23 yards, and I think Benford just suffered a head injury on the play. 

[Dec 23, 2023 at 10:22 pm ET · Jordan Dajani]

Geez. Two flags in a row from the Bills offensive line. That's definitely two tonight on Mitch Morse, the captain center. 

The most recent flag negates a 28-yard pickup from Gabe Davis. 

Second and 27

[Dec 23, 2023 at 10:17 pm ET · Jordan Dajani]

The Chargers add another field goal. 11 plays, 46 yards and Dicker is good from 47 out. Stick has been rather effective throwing the ball tonight.

BUF 21 LAC 16

12:36 remaining in the fourth quarter

[Dec 23, 2023 at 10:02 pm ET · Jordan Dajani]

Another Josh Allen 1-yard TD

10 plays, 75 yards, and the Bills have a 20-13 lead with 1:23 remaining in the third quarter. 

[Dec 23, 2023 at 10:01 pm ET · Jordan Dajani]

Bills passing offense CLICKING on this drive. Diggs catches two balls for 10 yards, Shakir catches a slant for 16, then Gabe Davis for 36 down the left sideline. Bills in the red zone. 

[Dec 23, 2023 at 9:53 pm ET · Jordan Dajani]

Thanks to a 21-yard Stick run, the Chargers got into field goal territory. Dicker is good from 40 yards out.

8 plays, 36 yards, 3 points

BUF 14 LAC 13 7:22 remaining in the third quarter

[Dec 23, 2023 at 9:46 pm ET · Jordan Dajani]

The play after James Cook fumbled (recovered by Gilliam), Josh Allen throws an interception deep down the field on a ball intended for Diggs. 

[Dec 23, 2023 at 9:40 pm ET · Jordan Dajani]

I said it on Halloween. Rasul Douglas could be the most important trade-deadline addition in the NFL. He sticks Stick for a loss of 10 yards on third-and-8. Chargers punt after 25 yards on five plays. 

The Bills have put together two touchdown drives in a row. What happens to start the second half? 

[Dec 23, 2023 at 9:27 pm ET · Jordan Dajani]

Halftime: BUF 14 LAC 10

First downs: BUF 8 LAC 10 
Total yards: BUF 186 LAC 150
Third downs: BUF 0-3 LAC 3-7
Penalties: BUF 3-25 LAC 2-15
Turnovers: BUF 1 LAC 0
TOP: BUF 11:57 LAC 18:03

Josh Allen 7/11 124 yards 1 TD
Easton Stick 10/14 101 yards

James Cook 8 carries 37 yards
Leonard Fournette 3 carries 17 yards
Josh Allen 2 carries 8 yards 1 TD
Austin Ekeler 9 carries 47 yards

Gabe Davis 3 catches 94 yards 1 TD
Stefon Diggs 1 catch 0 yards
Gerald Everett 4 catches 26 yards

[Dec 23, 2023 at 9:20 pm ET · Jordan Dajani]

And right before halftime, the Bills take the lead. Allen rushes for 2 yards right tackle, and it's 14-10 BUF with 38 seconds remaining in the second quarter.

8 plays, 63 yards and a TD. Gabe Davis has 94 yards and a TD on 3 catches. Stefon Diggs has one catch for 0 yards. 

[Dec 23, 2023 at 9:12 pm ET · Jordan Dajani]

Bills defense finally settling in. Chargers punt after going 12 yards on 7 plays. L.A. has punted on two straight drives now.