After nearly a month on the road, the Los Angeles Chargers picked the perfect day to get themselves back in the AFC playoff hunt.
Rookie quarterback Nathan Peterman threw five interceptions and the Chargers scored 37 points in the first half -- the most ever in franchise history -- en route to 54-24 blowout of the Buffalo Bills Sunday at StubHub Center. Los Angeles now sits two games back of the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC West.
The Chargers forced six turnovers on the day and scored twice on defense. The first came on linebacker Korey Toomer's 59-yard interception return for a touchdown on the first drive of the game to give Los Angeles an early 7-0 lead after a Nick Novak extra point.
On the next Bills drive, Peterman was intercepted again -- this time by cornerback Casey Hayward. The Chargers couldn't take advantage, though, as Novak missed a 46-yard field goal.
After a 27-yard touchdown rush by Bills running back LeSean McCoy, Los Angeles responded with a 33-yard Novak field goal to regain the lead 10-7.
And the picks kept coming.
Safety Tre Boston -- who had two interceptions in the fourth quarter of last week's game in Jacksonville -- was the next Chargers player to pick Peterman. Six plays later, quarterback Philip Rivers found wide receiver Keenan Allen for a 21-yard touchdown. It was Allen's first touchdown since Week 1, but he wouldn't have to wait long to get his second.
Hayward nabbed his second interception of the game on the Bills' next drive, giving the Chargers the ball on Buffalo's 15-yard line. After three straight rushes from Melvin Gordon, Rivers found Allen for a two-yard touchdown reception to give the Bolts a 24-7 lead after another extra point from Novak.
A 10-yard touchdown rush from Gordon was sandwiched in between two more Novak field goals, giving the Chargers a 37-7 lead at halftime. Gordon had 80 rushing yards and a touchdown on 20 carries, and moved into 10th place on the Chargers' all-time rushing list.
Peterman was benched in favor of Tyrod Taylor in the second half. The Chargers' dynamic pass-rushing duo put an exclamation point on the win when Joey Bosa sacked Taylor, who fumbled. Melvin Ingram scooped the ball and took it 39 yards for a touchdown. Bosa has 10.5 sacks on the season.
Allen finished the game with 12 catches for 159 yards and two touchdowns. Rivers went 21-of-33 for 250 yards and two touchdowns. The Chargers' five interceptions are the most in one half in team history.
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Los Angeles Chargers inside linebacker Korey Toomer runs for a touchdown after a inception against the Buffalo Bills during the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Nov. 19, 2017, in Carson, Calif. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
Los Angeles Chargers inside linebacker Korey Toomer celebrates a touchdown after a inception against the Buffalo Bills during the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Nov. 19, 2017, in Carson, Calif. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
Los Angeles Chargers free safety Tre Boston runs after his interception against the Buffalo Bills during the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Nov. 19, 2017, in Carson, Calif. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
Los Angeles Chargers free safety Tre Boston celebrates after his interception against the Buffalo Bills during the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Nov. 19, 2017, in Carson, Calif. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
Los Angeles Chargers cornerback Casey Hayward, left, intercepts a pass intended for Buffalo Bills wide receiver Deonte Thompson during the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Nov. 19, 2017, in Carson, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Los Angeles Chargers cornerback Casey Hayward, left, celebrates after his interception with outside linebacker Melvin Ingram during the first half of an NFL football game against the Buffalo Bills Sunday, Nov. 19, 2017, in Carson, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Los Angeles Chargers wide receiver Keenan Allen scores past Buffalo Bills defensive back Leonard Johnson during the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Nov. 19, 2017, in Carson, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Los Angeles Chargers cornerback Trevor Williams celebrates after his interception against the Buffalo Bills during the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Nov. 19, 2017, in Carson, Calif. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
Los Angeles Chargers wide receiver Keenan Allen, right, runs past Buffalo Bills free safety Jordan Poyer during the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Nov. 19, 2017, in Carson, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Los Angeles Chargers defensive end Joey Bosa, right, forces a turn over by Buffalo Bills quarterback Tyrod Taylor during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 19, 2017, in Carson, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Los Angeles Chargers outside linebacker Melvin Ingram, left, scores past Buffalo Bills wide receiver Zay Jones during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 19, 2017, in Carson, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Los Angeles Chargers outside linebacker Melvin Ingram celebrates after scoring against the Buffalo Bills during the second half of an NFL football game Sunday, Nov. 19, 2017, in Carson, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Kellen Clemens passes against the Buffalo Bills during the second half of an NFL football game Sunday, Nov. 19, 2017, in Carson, Calif. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
