Skip to main content
Advertising

Chargers Official Site | Los Angeles Chargers - chargers.com

10 Insights Entering Week 2 at Buffalo

Kansas City Chiefs at Los Angeles Chargers on Sunday, September 09, 2018 in Carson, CA. Final score: 38-28 .
Kansas City Chiefs at Los Angeles Chargers on Sunday, September 09, 2018 in Carson, CA. Final score: 38-28 .

Below are 10 quick-hitting insights entering the Chargers' Week 2 matchup against the Buffalo Bills:

1) This Sunday will be a homecoming for General Manager Tom Telesco and Head Coach Anthony Lynn. Telesco, a Buffalo native, started his NFL career as a summer intern for the Bills from 1991-94. Head Coach Anthony Lynn spent two seasons with the Bills as assistant head coach/running backs and offensive coordinator under Rex Ryan (2015-16).

2) Bills rookie quarterback Josh Allen will make his first career NFL start against the Chargers. The last time Los Angeles faced a quarterback making his debut was in Week 11 of 2017 against Buffalo's then-rookie Nathan Peterman. The Chargers forced six turnovers, including five Peterman interceptions, in a 54-24 win.

3) Despite five quarterbacks having been selected in the first round of the 2018 NFL Draft, Allen will be just the second to start a game this season. The Jets' Sam Darnold won his debut 48-17 last Monday in Detroit.

4) Sunday will also feature the No. 16 and No. 17 overall picks from this past year's draft. Buffalo selected Virginia Tech linebacker Tremaine Edmunds, who had seven tackles, two passes defensed, a sack and a forced fumble – while playing all 80 defensive snaps – last week at Baltimore. James, selected one pick later, had three tackles, two passes defensed and the Chargers' lone sack against the Chiefs while also playing every snap on defense.

5) Buffalo running back LeSean McCoy rushed for 114 yards and scored two total touchdowns against the Chargers in last season's matchup. In Week 1, though, the Ravens held him to just 22 yards on seven carries. Allen had Buffalo's longest rush of the day (14 yards).

6) The Chargers lead the all-time regular season series against the Bills, 23-10-2. The last time the team was in Buffalo, Philip Rivers went 18-of-25 for 256 yards and two touchdowns in a 22-10 victory in Week 3 of 2014.

7) After Week 1, the Chargers have the NFL's top offense (541 total yards) and rank sixth in time of possession (34:26). Buffalo ranks 32nd in total offense (153 yards) and 31st in time of possession (24:46).

8) Wide receiver Keenan Allen had one of the best games of his career last season against the Bills: 12 catches on 13 targets for 159 yards and two touchdowns. Last week, he caught eight passes for 108 yards and a touchdown. Dating back to 2017, Allen has over 100 yards receiving in six of his last eight games.

9) Rivers is 5-1 all-time against Buffalo. It's one of six teams that he's won at least five games against in his career (Denver, Oakland, Kansas City, Tennessee and Jacksonville).

10) The Bills employ a pair of high school champion wrestlers – one is a rookie and the other is their head coach. Sean McDermott was a two-time national champion out of Pennsylvania. Defensive tackle Harrison Phillips was a state and national champion from Nebraska. In football, Phillips (Stanford) and Chargers rookie Uchenna Nwosu (USC) were both All-Pac-12 first-team selections in 2017.

Related Content

Advertising