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What the Chargers Defense is Preparing For Against Josh Allen & Bills Offense

Sep 24, 2026 at 04:00 PM

Jr. Writer

The Bolts defense has approached the week with the mindset of improvement after a pair of games that was not up to everyone's standards.

It's a message that has been ringing among Chargers Defensive Coordinator Chris O’Leary and his unit.

"We know that any time you lose a game, it's not good enough," O'Leary said. "For us, we're chasing better, there's specific areas we're still continuing to chase."

Derwin James, Jr., added: "Everybody has been leaning on each other. It's been fun to see this group working hard, can't wait for us to go do it on Sunday."

And this week, they know the task at hand requires it.

The unit prepares to face the Bills and 2024 NFL MVP Josh Allen, who is off to a hot start this season in all facets.

Allen has quarterbacked the league's highest scoring team through the first two weeks of the season, throwing for 582 passing yards and tallying five touchdowns with no interceptions.

O'Leary and the team know what to expect from the opposing signal caller comes Sunday.

"I don't like using the word unicorn, but he's special, there's no doubt about it," O'Leary said about Allen. "For a guy that speed to run, power to run, arm strength down the field, accuracy, decision making, all of it. He's the total package. We're excited for the challenge, but we definitely respect what he can do."

Chargers Head Coach Jim Harbaugh added: "Been an MVP for a reason. He's playing at an elite level."

The Bills lead the NFL in yards per passing play at 9.07 yards per play entering Week 2 and are converting 57.14 percent of their third downs, a mark that's third in the league.

A big part of it is the ability for Allen to make things happen in all ways, something the team is on alert to try and limit in Week 3.

Not only has he continued to be a threat in the ground game, he's also pushing the ball down the field with three of his five passing touchdowns coming on passes over 20 yards.

"Play-making style, great at seeing the field," Harbaugh said about Allen. "Does a tremendous job as a passer. Extreme, great arm talent. His ability to run, get the ball in the end zone — both ways — as a dual-threat [quarterback]."

James added: "He can make any throw, run it like a running back. Even when he's taking off, we got to be ready to get him on the ground. We got to keep playing too, because he turns those plays into eight, 10 second plays. He's one of the best at doing that."

Allen's running ability still remains among the best in the league since becoming the Bills starter.

He's currently tied for second in the NFL with 92 yards on the most attempts (20). Of those 20 attempts, 10 of them have gone for first downs.

His four rushing scores in 2026 are tied for most among all players as he continues to stand out in that aspect after leading all quarterbacks in rushing last season.

"With a quarterback of that size, you expect more of a pocket passer," defensive lineman Jamaree Caldwell said. "With him and his feet, it's like, 'I have to rush smart,' everything I have to do is smart. Even with any other quarterback, but with this quarterback in general, you have to be smart in general.

"They dial up plays for him to run, that's how effective he is with his feet," Caldwell said.