Your guide to postgame coverage: Buffalo Bills beat Los Angeles Chargers 27-17
Qina Liu
Updated
The Buffalo Bills are 8-3 and leading the AFC East after beating the Los Angeles Chargers 27-17 Sunday at Bills Stadium.
Hot Reads: Bills make it tougher than it needed to be in beating Chargers
Here are my hot reads from the Buffalo Bills' 27-17 victory against the Los Angeles Chargers on Sunday at Bills Stadium.
Hottest topic
The Bills had two weeks to stew over their crushing, last-second loss against the Arizona Cardinals.
That was a classic case of being unable to close out a game. On Sunday, the Bills flirted with doing it again, committing three turnovers on three straight possessions in the fourth quarter and allowing the Chargers to come back from an 18-point deficit.
The final seconds were eerily similar to the Arizona loss, with Chargers rookie quarterback Justin Herbert able to complete a desperation heave on fourth-and-27 to Tyron Johnson at the Buffalo 2 while he was surrounded by defenders.
The Josh Allen Experience was back in a big way Sunday, writes Jay Skurski.
It has been a pattern, considering how the Bills also allowed the Miami Dolphins, Los Angeles Rams, Las Vegas Raiders, New England Patriots and Seattle Seahawks to hang around in games Buffalo ultimately won.
But they got the win to boost Sean McDermott's post-bye coaching record to 4-0.
This didn't have the offensive explosiveness of most of their other victories. Josh Allen threw for only 157 yards and a touchdown, along with an interception and a fumble. He also had a touchdown run.
The Bills' defense did a nice job of holding dynamic rookie quarterback Justin Herbert mostly in check. Despite throwing for 316 yards, he only had one TD throw and was intercepted. For the first time in his 10 starts this season, the Chargers' offense was held to under 20 points.
The Bills improved to 8-3 and remain a game ahead of the Miami Dolphins in the AFC East. The Chargers fell to 3-8.
Bills wide receiver Cole Beasley connected with receiver Gabriel Davis for a 20-yard touchdown as the Bills took a 14-6 lead.
Cole Beasley’s trick-play throw to Gabriel Davis went for a 20-yard touchdown in the Buffalo Bills’ 27-17 victory over the Los Angeles Chargers.
Qina Liu
10 observations: Josh Allen provides a little bit of everything in Bills' win
The Josh Allen Experience was back in a big way Sunday.
The Buffalo Bills’ third-year quarterback provided some good, some bad and some ugly during his team’s 27-17 victory over the Los Angeles Chargers at Bills Stadium.
Allen finished the game 18 of 24 for 157 yards and one touchdown passing. He also ran nine times for 32 yards and another touchdown. That was good.
Allen also took a 15-yard unsportsmanlike conduct penalty for spinning the ball at a Chargers defender after his third-quarter touchdown run. That was bad.
“I play with my heart on my sleeve and let the emotions get the best of me,” Allen said. “I can't do that and put our team in jeopardy and lose 15 yards on the kickoff. I've got to be better than that.”
He’s also got to be better than committing a pair of turnovers in the fourth quarter – losing a fumble on a botched snap and throwing an interception – that let Los Angeles hang around deep into the game. Those were ugly.
Allen knows that. He also knows the biggest takeaway from Sunday’s game.
“We’re 8-3,” he said after the win. “That's what our goal was at the end of this game. Whatever it takes. We got it done. Our defense played outstanding. Obviously, on the offensive side of the football, we can do a lot more to help us out. Twenty-seven points and three consecutive turnovers in the third and fourth quarter or whatever it was, we left a lot out there. We know that. We've got to be better. And I've got to be better in taking care of the football."
When the Bills most needed it, Allen directed a six-play, 40-yard scoring drive that ended with a 43-yard field goal by rookie Tyler Bass that provided a two-score lead, helping the Bills close out an important win that allowed them to maintain their slim, one-game lead over Miami in the AFC East race.
Along the way, Allen gave Western New York a collective heart attack. He suffered an apparent ankle or knee injury when he was tackled by Chargers edge rusher Joey Bosa in the second quarter. After being looked at by trainers, Allen came out of the game for just one play. Matt Barkley came into the game and was absolutely demolished by Bosa for his troubles, resulting in a 7-yard sack on his only snap.
“Just twisted up a little bit,” Allen said of his injury. “It happens, but it's not going to affect me.”
As athletic trainers looked at Allen on the field, one thought raced through the mind of left tackle Dion Dawkins.
“It's a sour taste, because any time the quarterback gets hit, it falls on us,” Dawkins said. “Knowing the type of person Josh is, I never want to see him in pain. A couple times when he got hit and his ankle got rolled up and he was just laying there, it's just like, 'We didn't help this kid and we didn't give him any chance.'
"But the good thing is Josh is humongous. Josh is a giant guy and he can take more hits than other quarterbacks, which is something I'm extremely thankful for. We've got to a little bit better, but it'll be alright. I'm going to give him a hug and let him know that if he needs anything, that his offensive line is right here for him.”
The injury did not seem to slow Allen in the second half, although he appeared to be wearing a knee brace.
“The kid is special, man,” Dawkins said. “He consistently shows it week in and week out. He's the best athlete, honestly, that I've ever been around for his size and for what he does. You know, we have an angel on our team and Josh is that, and he shows it consistently every day.”
Allen’s performance Sunday might have fallen short of heavenly, but it was good enough to get the Bills back into the win column.
2. Stefon Diggs got going. The Bills’ No. 1 receiver was not officially targeted in the first half, although the ball came his way twice. Diggs drew a 47-yard defensive pass interference penalty in the first quarter, setting up Buffalo’s first score. He also had an 8-yard completion wiped out by offsetting penalties. The Bills got the ball to Diggs a bunch on their first drive of the third quarter, as he caught four of five targets on a drive that ended with Allen’s touchdown run. Diggs finished the game with seven catches (on nine targets) for 39 yards. He now has 80 receptions through the team’s first 11 games, surpassing Eric Moulds’ 76 catches in 2000 for most in that time frame.
3. The Bills shuffled their offensive line again. With left guard Cody Ford being lost for the season to a knee injury, offensive coordinator Brian Daboll was forced to adjust, starting his sixth different combination up front in 11 games. This one was: Left tackle Dion Dawkins, left guard Jon Feliciano, center Mitch Morse, right guard Brian Winters and right tackle Daryl Williams. This iteration of the line had an up-and-down game. While the team ran for 172 yards, Allen was consistently under duress. He was hit seven times and sacked twice.
Morse returned to the lineup after a one-game benching against Arizona in Week 10.
“In regards to the week prior, there was complete transparency and candidness from the coaching staff. It's my job to be professional and to go with the flow and I felt that’s what we did and now we’re here,” Morse said.
The offensive line had no answers for Bosa, who dominated the game. His final stat line borders on unbelievable: Eight tackles, three sacks, six tackles for loss, five quarterback hits, one pass defensed and a fumble recovery.
“He's a solid all-around player, and he showed it,” Dawkins said. “We knew coming in that a guy like that was going to make plays, but it seems like he unleashed himself and did his thing. … Joey definitely has my Pro Bowl vote.”
4. Levi Wallace went down briefly in the fourth quarter. The Bills’ cornerback missed the Week 10 game at Arizona after being deemed a close contact of Josh Norman, who tested positive for Covid-19. Both Wallace and Norman were removed from that list in time to face the Chargers, but it was Wallace who earned the start opposite Tre’Davious White. Wallace went down with 11:58 left in the fourth quarter after he forced a third-down incompletion by pushing Chargers receiver Mike Williams out of bounds in the Buffalo end zone. That led to Norman coming in for one play. Wallace, however, quickly went back in.
The Bills did not have any other observed injuries Sunday.
Bills wide receiver Cole Beasley connected with receiver Gabriel Davis for a 20-yard touchdown as the Bills took a 14-6 lead.
5. Trent Murphy was a healthy inactive. The Bills’ defensive end sat for the second time this season. Murphy, who is in the final year of his contract, has 17 tackles, two sacks and six quarterback hits (tied for third on the team entering Sunday) in nine games played. Murphy had played 44.4% of the defensive snaps entering Sunday. Without him, rookie defensive end A.J. Epenesa saw an uptick in playing time. Epenesa, who suffered a concussion in the Bills’ Week 10 loss to Arizona, finished with two tackles, including one for a loss. He also made one quarterback hit.
6. Dawson Knox got in the end zone. The Bills’ second-year tight end opened the scoring, catching a fastball from Allen in the first quarter for a 2-yard score. It’s been a miserable season for Knox, who has missed time because of a concussion, a calf injury and a positive Covid-19 diagnosis. The Bills made a somewhat surprising move by making No. 2 tight end Tyler Kroft a healthy inactive, so it was clear Knox was going to get a good deal of playing time. Knox’s touchdown catch came on his only target of the game. He became the 12th member of the team to catch a touchdown pass this season, furthering a team record.
With Kroft out, veteran Lee Smith played for just the fifth time this season. Smith finished with one catch for 3 yards.
7. Sean McDermott got in the win column. The Bills’ head coach has not had a good record on challenges since taking over in 2017. He earned his first win in more than a calendar year in the second quarter, though, when he correctly challenged what was initially ruled an Allen fumble. The quarterback’s arm was going forward as he lost control of the ball, which then bounced wildly off the helmet of Bosa. Officials initially ruled the play a fumble, with the ball going out of bounds at the Buffalo 4-yard line, setting up a second and 38 for the Bills (not much in the playbook for that). Replays showed Allen’s arm moving forward with the ball coming out just before it hit Bosa’s helmet. McDermott’s challenge win was his first since Nov. 24, 2019 against Denver. He is now 4-14 on challenges in his career.
8. The Bills were flagged nine times for 85 yards. The two teams combined for 14 accepted penalties for 176 yards Sunday, some of the unusual variety.
Kemp's crew had called 148 penalties with 118 accepted for 1,186 yards. His crew was second to Carl Cheffers' crew entering the week. Cheffers' crew had thrown 176 flags (135 accepted) for 1,170 yards.
League-wide, the average is 11.4 accepted penalties per game and 101.45 yards. Kemp's crew had averaged 12.9 yards for 123.6 yards.
Kemp's crew had called one unsportsmanlike conduct all season and six-roughing-the-passer penalties. The Bills were penalized for six such penalties, although one of them was declined.
9. Tyrod Taylor saw the field for the Chargers. Well, kind of. The Bills’ former starting quarterback took part in the pregame coin toss for Los Angeles. Taylor was supposed to be the Chargers’ starter this season, but a freak injury before Week 2 when the team doctor punctured his lung administering a pain-killing injection led to Herbert entering the lineup. It’s not a big surprise Taylor took part in the coin toss. Chargers coach Anthony Lynn, the Bills’ former offensive coordinator and interim head coach, is a Rex Ryan disciple. Ryan would always make players team captains in weeks they were going up against their former team.
10. Running back T.J. Yeldon and rookie quarterback Jake Fromm were the other inactives. Fromm has yet to be active for a game this season, while Yeldon has played just three times, all while running back Zack Moss was out with a toe injury.
Cole Beasley’s trick-play throw to Gabriel Davis went for a 20-yard touchdown in the Buffalo Bills’ 27-17 victory over the Los Angeles Chargers.
Qina Liu
Quarter by quarter: Bills close out a good win that might have been a rout
Here's a quarter by quarter look at the Buffalo Bills' 27-17 win against the Los Angeles Chargers at Bills Stadium on Sunday.
First quarter
Theme: A flurry of defense.
Punt contest: The two high-scoring offenses each were forced to punt twice.
Key play: Stefon Diggs used his speed to get behind safety Rayshawn Jenkins and drew a 47-yard pass interference penalty. It was a good throw by Josh Allen, because it likely would have been a touchdown if Jenkins hadn’t pushed Diggs. That set up a 2-yard TD pass to Dawson Knox.
Lineup notes: Charger Casey Hayward saw his 106-game start streak snapped. It was longest in the NFL by a cornerback. First-year NFLer Teavaughn Campbell took his spot. The Chargers were without quality right tackle Bryan Bulaga due to illness. Trey Pipkins took his spot.
Wide left: Charger Michael Badgley missed his first extra-point try, his third missed PAT of the season.
Catch machines: Diggs and Keenan Allen entered the game with a combined 154 catches, fourth most by any two foes entering a Week 12 game since 1970. Allen caught a 5-yard TD pass on the second drive.
Good starting: The Bills entered the week the second-highest scoring team in the NFL in the first quarter. They have outscored foes 80-36. The Chargers have been outscored 49-60 in the first quarter.
Second quarter
Theme: Cole Beasley does it all.
Key play: Beasley threw a 20-yard touchdown pass to Gabriel Davis on a lateral from Josh Allen. Beasley went in motion, caught the backward pass and fired an easy strike as the Chargers were fooled.
Scare: Allen’s right ankle was rolled up on as he threw an incomplete pass. But he missed only one play.
Big dog: The Chargers were on the move at their own 45 late in the quarter when A.J. Klein joined a four-man rush and beat a pickup-block attempt by Troymaine Pope. Klein and Jerry Hughes combined on the sack that derailed the Chargers’ drive.
Stalled: It was not a shock the Bills’ offense had some stalls, with two three-and-out drives in the half. Los Angeles' D is fourth in three-and-outs.
Second guess: With 21 seconds left and facing a fourth-and-3 at the Buffalo 48, the Chargers lined up to go for it. Then they called time out and punted. Down 11 and with the NFL’s No. 6 third-down offense, Charger coach Anthony Lynn should have been more aggressive.
Good D: The Chargers had outscored teams 106-56 in the second quarter, but were outscored by the Bills, 10-0.
Third quarter
Theme: Trading TDs.
Speed to the pylon: Josh Allen outraced cornerback Mike Davis to the pylon on the goal line for a Bills’ touchdown. Allen rushed three times for 18 yards on the drive.
Key play: The Chargers got a 33-yard run by Joshua Kelley on a 67-yard touchdown drive.
All-star: Taron Johnson had decent coverage on Keenan Allen on a two-point conversion fade route to the corner of the end zone. Allen was too tall.
Matchup watch: Chargers star edge rusher Joey Bosa was a handful for Bills right tackle Daryl Williams. Bosa was unblocked on a mixup between Williams and Jon Feliciano to get a sack in the second quarter. Josh Allen held the ball on a third down and Bosa got around Williams for a third-quarter sack, Bosa’s third of the game.
Mr. Consistent: Andre Roberts set up the Bills on their opening scoring drive of the half with a 38-yard kickoff return to the 43. The Chargers rank 29th in the NFL in kickoff coverage.
No lull: The Bills’ third-quarter struggles didn’t continue, as each team managed one touchdown drive. The Bills entered the game with the fourth fewest points in the league in the third quarter. Now, they’ve been outscored 84-37.
Fourth quarter
Theme: A good win that could have been a blowout. The Bills won despite two fumbles and an interception on three straight drives in the fourth quarter.
Key play: Clinging to a 24-17 lead, Tre’Davious White intercepted a Justin Herbert pass for tight end Hunter Henry with 5:17 left.
Zebra report: The worst call of the quarter was an unsportsmanlike conduct call on Zack Moss, after he flipped the ball behind his back at the end of a 31-yard run. It was obvious he wasn’t looking at or taunting the defender.
Second guesses: Chargers coach Anthony Lynn made a good call to go for it on fourth and 1 early in the quarter, even though it didn’t work. But then he burned a critical time out before a field goal to pull within 24-17. And they ran the ball with 25 seconds left from the Bills’ 2, which wasted about 12 seconds.
Moving chains: With 23 first downs, the Bills posted their 11th straight game with 20-plus first downs, surpassing the team record of 10 set in 1992.
Trending: Sean McDermott is 4-0 coming out of a bye.
Where the Bills stand in the AFC playoff picture
With the win against the 49ers on Monday, the Bills moved to 9-3 overall and retained their one-game lead over the Miami Dolphins in the AFC East. The Dolphins beat the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday.
Through Monday’s games, the Bills would be seeded in third in the AFC. Buffalo takes on current top seed Pittsburgh on Sunday night.
In the hunt Next
1. Steelers (11-1) at Bills
2. Chiefs (11-1) at Dolphins
3. Bills (9-3) Steelers
4. Titans (8-4) at Jaguars
5. Browns (9-3) Ravens
6. Dolphins (8-4) Chiefs
7. Colts (8-4) at Raiders
On the bubble
1. Raiders (7-5) Colts
2. Ravens (6-5) Cowboys
3. Patriots (6-6) at Rams
Cole Beasley’s trick-play throw to Gabriel Davis went for a 20-yard touchdown in the Buffalo Bills’ 27-17 victory over the Los Angeles Chargers.
Qina Liu
Why 14 penalties called in Bills-Chargers shouldn't be so surprising
The Bills and Chargers combined for 14 accepted penalties for 176 yards Sunday, a few of the unique variety.
Upon further inspection, that might not be as surprising as it first seemed.
Kemp's crew had called 148 penalties with 118 accepted for 1,186 yards. His crew was second to Carl Cheffers' crew entering the week. Cheffers' crew had thrown 176 flags (135 accepted) for 1,170 yards.
League-wide, the average is 11.4 accepted penalties per game and 101.45 yards. Kemp's crew had averaged 12.9 yards for 123.6 yards.
Kemp's crew had called one unsporstmanlike conduct all season and six roughing the passer penalties.
Twitter reacts to Buffalo Bills' 27-17 victory over Los Angeles Chargers
For a minute, Buffalo Bills fans watching from home were experiencing déja vu of two weeks ago, when their team lost on a Hail Mary pass. Then the Bills secured the 27-17 victory over the Los Angeles Chargers Sunday at Bill Stadium. Bills Twitter celebrated the win.
Losing back-to-back games due to a Hail Mary would have been such a Buffalo Bills thing to happen. Nice try, Herbert.But these are the new Bills, not the one’s that circle the wagon. THESE Bills are 8-3 with a stranglehold on the division. #BillsMafiapic.twitter.com/t9J9KV9Tyd
Watch now: Beasley to Davis gives Bills non-QB touchdown passes in consecutive games
Buffalo Bills wide receiver Cole Beasley connected with fellow receiver Gabriel Davis for a 20-yard touchdown as the Bills took a 14-6 lead against the Los Angeles Chargers in the second quarter.
Against Arizona before the bye, receiver Isaiah McKenzie connected with quarterback Josh Allen for a touchdown pass.
The Bills have touchdown passes from non-quarterbacks in consecutive games for the first time in franchise history.
It is only the second time the Bills have had two non-quarterback touchdown passes in the same season since 2009 when punter Brian Moorman and running back Fred Jackson threw TDS.
Non-quarterbacks have thrown 11 TD passes in franchise history.
See photos of game action from the Los Angeles Chargers at the Buffalo Bills in Orchard Park on Sunday, Nov. 29, 2020.
Josh Allen on spinning ball penalty: 'I play with my heart on my sleeve'
Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen had a passing and rushing touchdown in the same game for the 15th time in his career. That ranks second by a quarterback in his first three NFL seasons behind Cam Newton, who has 20.
Allen's day was filled with ups and downs, including his missing one play with an ankle issue.
"Just twisted up a little bit," he said. "It happens. But it's not going to affect me."
Allen's 3-yard rushing touchdown in the third quarter came on a dive to hit the pylon with the football. After the score, Allen got up and spun the ball in front of Los Angeles cornerback Michael Davis. That drew a 15-yard flag for unsportsmanlike conduct, with the penalty assessed on the kickoff.
“Obviously, throughout the game and coming after I had to sit out for a play, whatever, just a lot of emotion in the play," Allen said. "I play with my heart on my sleeve and let the emotions get the best me. I can't do that and put our team in jeopardy and lose 15 yards on the kickoff, so I’ve got to be better than that.”
Report Card: Run-game improvements – offensive and defensive – show up in Bills' win
Grading the Buffalo Bills in their 27-17 victory over the Los Angeles Chargers on Sunday at Bills Stadium …
RUNNING GAME: A
Coach Sean McDermott said his staff would do a “deep dive” during the bye week on why the rushing attack has so often been stuck in the mud. Looks like they found something. The Bills rushed for 172 yards as a team on 30 attempts, a healthy 5.7 yards per carry. Devin Singletary led the way with 82 yards on 11 carries (7.5 yards per rush), including a season-long run of 24 yards. It was slow going early for Zack Moss, but his determination was rewarded late when he picked up 31 yards, helping boost his output for the day to 59 yards on nine attempts. Credit the newly configured offensive line for providing some big holes for Singletary and Moss to run through. Quarterback Josh Allen chipped in 32 yards on nine carries, including a 3-yard touchdown in the third quarter. After disappointing results most of the season, the rushing attack found the type of performance it has been searching for.
PASSING GAME: C
Ready for a stat that’ll blow your mind? Allen was only sacked twice. Seriously. That barely seems possible after Chargers star Joey Bosa took up residence in the Bills’ backfield. For as good as the offensive line was in opening holes in the running game, it was equally as bad in pass protection. Allen was hit a whopping eight times. Matt Barkley was dropped for a sack on his only play in relief of a temporarily injured Allen. The best play in the passing game came from Cole Beasley, who threw a touchdown to rookie Gabriel Davis on a trick play. Allen finished 18 of 24 for 157 yards and a touchdown, but also threw a pretty ugly interception. He wore a brace on his right knee in the second half. Singletary had three catches and now has at least one reception in 20 consecutive games. That’s the longest streak for a Bills running back since Fred Jackson had at least one in 26 straight games over the 2013 and 2014 seasons.
It looked early like the improvements made by the rushing offense were not going to be shared on the other side of the ball. Chargers running back Austin Ekeler ripped off a 15-yard run in the first quarter, but the Bills’ rushing defense largely improved after that. The Chargers finished with 74 yards on 24 carries, an average of just 3.1 yards per attempt. Linebackers A.J. Klein (14 tackles) and Tremaine Edmunds (10) combined to make 24 tackles. Excluding three sacks, the Bills had five tackles for loss, two from big defensive tackle Vernon Butler Jr. One big miscue occurred in the third quarter when Chargers running back Josh Kelley ran through a big hole for a 31-yard gain to get inside the Buffalo 10-yard line.
Here is Mark Gaughan's quarter by quarter look at the Buffalo Bills' 27-17 win against the Los Angeles Chargers at Bills Stadium on Sunday.
Let’s start with the obvious – McDermott better start practice in the coming week with some work against the Hail Mary. It’s inconceivable the defense has allowed that play to be completed in consecutive games. The stats tell a different story than the game film likely will for the Bills. Chargers rookie quarterback Justin Herbert finished 31 of 51 for 316 yards, with one touchdown and one interception. Herbert, though, struggled with his accuracy at times, missing completions that could have kept the chains moving and/or resulted in big plays. The Bills did make eight passes defensed, but the coverage was too soft at times. Herbert was sacked three times, with Klein collecting 1.5 sacks. Cornerback Tre’Davious White was targeted much more than usual, giving up a fair amount of completions. White, though, responded when it mattered, reading Herbert perfectly to step in front of Los Angeles tight end Hunter Henry for a crucial interception. White had two passes defensed, as did nickel cornerback Taron Johnson. The secondary held Chargers No. 1 receiver Keenan Allen to four catches for 40 yards, although he did catch a touchdown.
The Josh Allen Experience was back in a big way Sunday, writes Jay Skurski.
Rookie kicker Tyler Bass has come through big recently. His 43-yard field goal in the fourth quarter basically clinched the victory. Return man Andre Roberts was solid again, averaging 27.8 yards on four kick returns and 8.7 yards on three punt returns. The team’s kick coverage unit was great, allowing an average of just 14.8 yards on four kick returns. The only small blemish for the special teams was punter Corey Bojorquez putting two of his three attempts in the end zone for touchbacks. Tyler Matakevich was also penalized on the game’s opening play for an illegal formation.
COACHING: A-
McDermott is now 4-0 coming off the bye. It’s clear he put the week off to good use, with the emphasis on fixing the rushing attack paying off. Offensive coordinator Brian Daboll picked the perfect time to call the Beasley pass. That was a pretty, pretty play call. Daboll did call a couple of second-and-long runs – it would be nice to see those ripped out of the playbook. The Bills were penalized nine times, including four personal fouls – although at least one of those (unsportsmanlike conduct against Moss) was very questionable. One small quibble: McDermott maybe could have been a little more aggressive at the end of the second quarter and used a defensive timeout to try to steal one more possession after the Chargers faced third-and-9 on their 45-yard line with just about a minute to go.
Cole Beasley’s trick-play throw to Gabriel Davis went for a 20-yard touchdown in the Buffalo Bills’ 27-17 victory over the Los Angeles Chargers.
Qina Liu
Analysis: Cole Beasley recaptures prep heroics on Bills' trick-play TD
Cole Beasley completed his first pass in a football game in 13 years Sunday.
Beasley’s trick-play throw to Gabriel Davis went for a 20-yard touchdown in the Buffalo Bills’ 27-17 victory over the Los Angeles Chargers.
Beasley was a star option quarterback for Little Elm High School in the Dallas, Texas, area. As a senior in 2007, he rushed for 1,184 yards and 12 touchdowns and passed for 1,570 yards and 12 touchdowns in leading the Lobos to the playoffs.
But Beasley never threw a pass in college for Southern Methodist University. And he was 0 for 2 on pass attempts during his seven-season tenure with the Dallas Cowboys.
Here’s a review of some of the big plays in the Bills’ win, starting with Beasley’s big throw:
Bills wide receiver Cole Beasley connected with receiver Gabriel Davis for a 20-yard touchdown as the Bills took a 14-6 lead.
Fake bubble screen: After taking a lateral throw to the right from Josh Allen on what looked like a wide receiver screen pass, Beasley threw a perfect spiral to a wide-open Davis.
Beasley didn’t give his throw the best review:
“My feet weren’t set right,” he said. “It was really ugly, but it got there. I’ll take it.”
Davis was kinder.
“It was great,” the rookie receiver said. “I knew it was going to work. We run a lot of those bubble screens.
“So as soon as I seen 25, shoot, I knew the ball was coming to me,” Davis said, referring to slot cornerback Chris Harris, who charged toward Beasley. “Cole was able to put a dart. He said he threw it kind of hard to get it in there, but it was a softball. It was an easy catch, and I was glad we could make that connection.”
Stefon Diggs ran a post pattern from the right slot. Davis sold the play screen by faking as though he was going to block Tevaughn Campbell, the outside cornerback. Campbell bit, thinking he’d need to tackle Beasley, and Davis blew by him.
“They sell it more than I do,” Beasley said. “They sell it with the blocks. They give like a three count and then they go. I was trying to get them to come up and thinking it was a bubble screen. I just had to have eyes on the safety, make sure he’s not coming over back there.”
It was the second game in a row that Bills offensive coordinator Brian Daboll dialed up a trick-play TD. Receiver Isaiah McKenzie completed a 12-yard throwback option TD pass to Josh Allen in Arizona.
“It’s great because a lot of people put plays in like that and really won’t run them because they’re scared they won’t get the right look,” Davis said. “Dabes is a great play caller and when he puts in plays like that, he’s ready to run them.”
Defensive play of the game: Tre’Davious White intercepted a Justin Herbert pass for tight end Hunter Henry at the Buffalo 35 with 5:17 left. The Bills were clinging to a 24-17 lead. The turnover led to a field goal that gave the Bills a cushion.
It was an empty formation on a third-and-6 situation. Keenan Allen ran a hook route from the right slot and was covered underneath by Tremaine Edmunds and from behind by Micah Hyde.
Henry ran an over route from the left slot. White, in zone coverage on the back side, outside of Allen, undercut the throw for the pickoff.
“They were trying to attack our weak hook and basically running overs, really all day,” said safety Jordan Poyer. “We had seen the same formation, the seam route, a couple times. Tre saw a key. He was able to make a play on the ball and make a huge play for our team. Tre played outstanding today.”
It helped that Herbert made a hitch and stared down Henry.
Key run stop: Trailing, 24-14, the Chargers faced a third-and-1 play from the Buffalo 7.
Herbert ran a toss from the shotgun to running back Joshua Kelley wide left. But defensive end Mario Addison got penetration to force a quick pitch. Linebacker A.J. Klein shrugged off a block attempt from left tackle Sam Tevi and tackled Kelley near the sideline for a 3-yard loss. The Chargers were forced to settle for a field goal.
“We were playing a single-high man,” Klein said of the coverage. “The back was in the pistol, and we knew that one of their go-to plays in gotta-have-it situations is the speed option out of the back side.
“I was actually walking from the B gap pretty good,” Klein said, referring to the gap between the guard and tackle, “and I was lucky enough that a tackle couldn’t pin me. Mario, who was playing our right defensive end, did a great job slowing down the quarterback and made him pitch it, which gave me time to run it down. It was a great job by Mario. If Mario wouldn’t have done what he did, I don’t know if I make that play.”
Allen goes deep early: Allen’s vastly improved deep accuracy was on display early when he threw deep for Diggs on the opening drive. Chargers deep safety Rayshawn Jenkins was protecting deep to Diggs side – as Los Angeles did most of the game. But Diggs ran by him, and Jenkins made an obvious foul by pushing the receiver. It was a 47-yard pass interference penalty, and it would have been a touchdown because Allen’s throw was perfect.
Allen goes deep late: The Bills’ QB made another on-target throw deep down the left sideline with 9:55 left in the game. It went for 44 yards to the Chargers’ 22.
Again, Allen put enough air under the ball to allow Davis to outleap Campbell for the ball.
“They jumped offsides, so we got a free play,” Davis said. “I saw Josh rolling to my side and I knew he was going to throw the ball. I just knew I had to make the play when he put the ball in the air. As soon as I saw it, I knew I had good leverage. I knew it was me or nobody, and I was able to make the play. ... I caught it, tried to turn and score but he got my foot.”
Allen fumbled the snap on the next play, and the Chargers recovered.
But the long pass flipped the field, and the Bills’ defense forced a three-and-out series on the Chargers’ next drive.
Cole Beasley’s trick-play throw to Gabriel Davis went for a 20-yard touchdown in the Buffalo Bills’ 27-17 victory over the Los Angeles Chargers.
Qina Liu
Column: Defense might be trending up after rescuing offense following turnover spree
The Bills allowed another Hail Mary, giving up a long, late bomb for the second consecutive game.
This time, Chargers rookie quarterback Justin Herbert took a shotgun snap on fourth-and-27 and heaved a 55-yard completion to Tyron Johnson, who was surrounded by five Bills as he came down with the ball and moved forward to the 2-yard line with a minute to play.
“I felt like I had the ball in my hands,” safety Jordan Poyer said later, echoing his comments from the nightmarish end to the Cardinals game two weeks ago, when DeAndre Hopkins snatched the game-winning touchdown in the final seconds. “We’ve got to find a way to get it out.”
But this time, the Bills’ defense had already done enough to ensure the maddening miscue wouldn’t cost them a win, delivering a series of critical stops to secure a 27-17 victory against the Chargers on Sunday at Bills Stadium. Buffalo allowed just three points in the fourth quarter, despite its offense committing three turnovers in a span of seven plays.
The triumph allowed the Bills (8-3) to maintain a one-game lead over the Dolphins (7-4) in the AFC East with five games remaining in the regular season, and harkened to a year ago, when Buffalo often leaned on its defense as the offense flailed.
After disappointing results most of the season, the rushing attack found the type of performance it has been searching for, writes Jay Skurski.
“It’s obviously a sign of a good team when one side of the ball’s not doing their job, the other side can pick it up,” quarterback Josh Allen said. “It’s a three-phase game, and I think we won two of those phases today. I wouldn’t say we lost on the offensive side, but there’s plenty of opportunities that we had that we didn’t take advantage of.”
The Chargers (3-8) failed to take advantage of numerous opportunities, as well, racking up a game-high 367 yards of total offense, but failing to make the Bills pay for sloppy ball security and converting just 3 of 16 third downs.
That’s a testament to what the Bills’ defense was able to accomplish, and a sign this group might be returning to its elite ways.
Herbert had thrown 20 touchdowns in his last seven games, including multiple scores each week, but was limited to just one touchdown pass Sunday.
The Chargers, meanwhile, had scored at least 21 points in their last seven consecutive games, eclipsing 30 points in four of them. Their 17 points Sunday were the fewest the Bills allowed this season to any team other than the winless Jets.
“The defense was making plays in the second half and that’s what we needed,” safety Micah Hyde said. “As you can tell, it was closer than what it needed to be toward the end of the game. Once again, the ball’s in the air, we’ve got to find a way to knock it down.
“But we were able to escape with a win.”
The third quarter ended with Hyde stuffing running back Austin Ekeler for no gain on third-and-1 from the Buffalo 25.
The fourth quarter began with the Chargers, led by former Bills coach Anthony Lynn, opting to go for it on fourth down, rather than kicking the field goal to make it a one-score game. Taron Johnson and Jerry Hughes dropped Josh Kelley for a loss on fourth-and-1, preserving Buffalo's 24-14 lead.
But the defense had hardly caught its breath when it was sent back on the field again and again and again, as the Bills’ offense did its best to give the game away.
“It was kinda crazy,” left tackle Dion Dawkins said. “It was like turnover, we’re on the sideline, a couple of plays later, turnover and we’re back. And it’s like, ‘All right, guys, c’mon. Let’s fix it.’ Turnover, sideline. And then we were back. It’s just ball. It’s the NFL. And we just have to continue to stay positive through it, because it could be really easy to just tank and just go into bad energy when bad things happen.”
The defense continued to rise to the challenge.
“We take pride in being able to handle sudden-change situations,” Poyer said.
Two plays after taking over on downs, Devin Singletary fumbled. It was recovered by safety Nasir Adderley at the Buffalo 47.
Buffalo had a chance to get off the field when Herbert's pass fell incomplete on third-and-8, but Ed Oliver was flagged for roughing the passer, giving the Chargers a first down at the Bills' 16-yard line. Then Oliver's neutral zone infraction gave the Chargers first-and-5 at the 11.
L.A. faced third-and-1 at the Buffalo 7 when Kelly was pushed out of bounds for a three-yard loss by A.J. Klein. This forced the Chargers to settle for a 27-yard field goal, trimming the Bills' lead to 24-17 with 10:20 to play.
Here is Mark Gaughan's quarter by quarter look at the Buffalo Bills' 27-17 win against the Los Angeles Chargers at Bills Stadium on Sunday.
“There are things that we talk about as a linebacker group, our objectives every week going in, and obviously we want to make plays,” said Klein, who led the team with 14 tackles, three tackles for loss and 1 1/2 sacks. “But the overall objective and goal is to have fun and when you have fun, those plays come. I think we’re starting to see the results of that.”
The Bills again fumbled two plays into their next drive, when Allen couldn't field the snap from Mitch Morse.
Joey Bosa recovered at the Chargers 22.
“Speaking defensively, all we can do is go out there and try to get some takeaways,” Hyde said. “That’s it. No matter what the offense is doing. Whatever they’re doing on that side of the ball, we’ve got to go out there and we’ve got to make stops. We’ve got to put them in good position and not give up points.”
L.A. faced third-and-5 at its own 27 when Oliver burst through the line and strip-sacked Herbert, who recovered. But the Chargers had to punt.
This time, the Bills' offense turned the ball over on its fourth play, with Allen's deep pass intended for Stefon Diggs intercepted by cornerback Michael Davis at the Chargers 44.
Three plays later, Tre’Davious White jumped in front of tight end Hunter Henry for his second interception of the season at the Buffalo 35 with about 5 1/2 minutes to play.
“We left a lot out there. We know that,” Allen said. “We’ve got to do better and I’ve got to be better at taking care of the football. It’s simply what it comes down to. But our defense had our back today.”
The Bills’ offense finally kicked into gear and tacked on three more points for a bit of breathing room, driving 40 yards in six plays to set up Tyler Bass for a 43-yard field goal, which gave Buffalo a 27-17 lead with 3 1/2 minutes remaining.
The two-score cushion made the Chargers’ late Hail Mary irrelevant.
But after Johnson came down at the 2-yard line with a minute to play, the Chargers failed to get into the end zone, despite running three plays.
“That’s the defense I expect,” Bills coach Sean McDermott said. “I expect that every week. And I think it just goes back to – and you’ve got to start every week – fundamentals, technique, spending time in the film room together. All those things (are) a big part of earning the right to win, and they did that.”
But he acknowledged that the turnovers could have been far more costly.
“It doesn’t sit well with me, and the great part about it is it doesn’t sit well with our team, the players and the coaches,” McDermott said. “It’s one thing for me to get upset about it, but at the end of the day it’s about clear expectations and our players have a great understanding for what we want and honestly what wins in this league. And you can’t do that to yourself.
“You can’t do that and expect to win games. You’re living dangerously.”
Buffalo Bills cornerback Tre'Davious White (27) looks over Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert (10) in the fourth quarter at Bills Stadium in Orchard Park, Sunday, Nov. 29, 2020.
Harry Scull Jr. / Buffalo News
Watch now: Bills WR Cole Beasley throws TD pass to wide receiver Gabe Davis
Column: Bills' pattern of close-out struggles continues
The haunting memory of what happened two weeks ago in Arizona apparently wasn't enough to scare the Buffalo Bills into doing a better job of closing out games.
They almost let another one get away from them Sunday.
"We've definitely got to clean that up," running back Devin Singletary told reporters on a video call after the 27-17 victory against the Los Angeles Chargers at Bills Stadium. "We can't have that, especially on the back end of the season, trying to go where we're trying to go."
For all of the reasons the Bills should feel good, if not great, about being 8-3 and in first place in the AFC East, there's at least one that should have them more than a little worried.
Sunday marked the seventh time this season they have allowed second-half leads to shrink or disappear. Only once, against the Cardinals, did it result in a loss. That came when DeAndre Hopkins pulled down a 43-yard desperation heave from Kyler Murray with two seconds left after the Bills had taken a four-point lead 32 seconds earlier.
The final seconds Sunday were eerily similar, with rookie quarterback Justin Herbert completing a 55-yard bomb on fourth-and-27 to Tyron Johnson that the receiver caught at the Buffalo 2 while surrounded by defenders.
Buffalo allowed just three points in the fourth quarter, despite its offense committing three turnovers in a span of seven plays.
The Chargers (3-8) failed to score as time ran out, but that doesn't change a troubling pattern as the Bills enter the final five games of the regular season.
"If I'm laying on the ground one of these days, you'll know why," coach Sean McDermott told reporters. "It would be nice (not to squander leads), it would be nice."
McDermott then removed his cap to reveal his bald head.
"Look at this," he said with a smile. "I came to Buffalo with a full head of hair."
How does the team learn how to put games away sooner?
"Well, I think number one, you can't turn the ball over," safety Micah Hyde told reporters. "Defensively, you can't give up big plays. They had fourth-and-long, you’ve got to be able to knock the ball down. They got a flag, went back and do it again. You've just got to be able to knock the ball down down.
"It's as simple as that."
So far, though, the Bills have made it look exceptionally difficult.
After disappointing results most of the season, the rushing attack found the type of performance it has been searching for, writes Jay Skurski.
For a variety of reasons – turnovers, penalties and defensive breakdowns primary among them – they consistently lose control of games through the final two quarters. All three played a role Sunday in the Bills allowing an 18-point lead – 24-6 – early in the third quarter to suddenly become seven points – 24-17 – early in the fourth.
The Bills had three turnovers – fumbles by Devin Singletary and Josh Allen, and an Allen interception – on three consecutive possessions in the fourth. They also had nine accepted penalties for minus-85 yards. That included two 15-yard unsportsmanlike conduct penalties. One was on Allen for intentionally spinning the ball to taunt a Chargers defender after the QB's TD run, and the other was on running back Zack Moss, though that seemed like a mistake by the officials.
The Bills have celebrated enough victories to currently own the fourth seed in the playoffs. The Tennessee Titans, who lead the AFC South at 8-3, have the head-to-head tiebreaker.
Hyde was right when he said, "The good teams are able to finish with wins. You know, we did that today. So you can say we didn't finish, but obviously we did, we got the W."
Among the Bills' eight wins, Sunday's 10-point differential equaled their largest margin of victory of the season. They also beat the New York Jets by 10 in the season opener and the Seattle Seahawks by 10.
The Josh Allen Experience was back in a big way Sunday, writes Jay Skurski.
However, the trend could prove costly as the Bills look to widen their one-game lead over the Miami Dolphins in the division and improve their postseason position.
Of the Bills' remaining opponents, the 10-0 Pittsburgh Steelers present the most daunting challenge. Still, even against lesser teams, the Bills consistently find ways to make things tougher on themselves than necessary.
Consider:
Sept. 20 vs. the Dolphins. The Bills lead 24-20 with 5:55 left in the fourth quarter and increase their advantage to 31-20. The Dolphins close to within 31-28 with 49 seconds left, but the Bills hang on for the win.
Sept. 27 vs. the L.A. Rams. The Bills lead 28-3 with eight minutes left in the third quarter. The Rams come roaring back to move in front 32-28 with four minutes remaining in the game. The Bills pull out a 35-32 victory on a Tyler Kroft touchdown catch with 15 seconds remaining.
Oct. 4 vs. the Las Vegas Raiders. The Bills lead 17-6 with four minutes left in the second quarter. The Raiders cut the margin to 17-16 midway through the third before the Bills open a 30-16 advantage with two early fourth-quarter touchdowns on the way to a 30-23 win in which the Raiders scored on a touchdown pass with 1:29 remaining.
Nov. 1 vs. the New England Patriots. The Bills lead 14-6 early in the third quarter and 21-14 with 13:12 remaining in the fourth quarter. The Patriots tie the score at 21-21 before the Bills escape with a 24-21 victory sealed when defensive tackle Justin Zimmer forces Cam Newton to fumble.
Nov. 8 vs. the Seattle Seahawks. The Bills lead 27-10 with 11:55 left in the third. Seattle cuts the margin to 27-20 before the third quarter ends, but the Bills win 44-34.
Nov. 15 vs. the Cardinals. The Bills lead 23-9 with 9:52 left in the third. The Cards take a 26-23 lead in the final seconds of the third quarter. The Bills eventually lose.
"I think we're learning and growing through some of these," McDermott said. "We've got to do a better job of taking care of the football. And then the penalties hurt us. ... We definitely can clean some things up in the fourth quarter there.
"Again, it comes back to the ball. The ball keeps people in games and we have to do a good enough job with the ball. I do think there were a lot of good things. It's hard to win in this league, man. It's good to be 8-3."
Singletary was part of a "good thing" that happened Sunday. He had 82 of the Bills' 172 rushing yards, their second-highest total of the season. The commitment to the run provided some much-needed balance to an offense that otherwise lacked the explosive passing attack featured in most of the Bills' wins.
Singletary's focus, though, was on what he believes will be the primary talking point before next Monday night's game against the San Francisco 49ers and all of the games thereafter.
"I'm pretty sure that's going to be (among) some things that we work on going forward to clean up," he said. "We can't have that on the back end. We've got to be able to make it a little easier to close these games out."
Cole Beasley’s trick-play throw to Gabriel Davis went for a 20-yard touchdown in the Buffalo Bills’ 27-17 victory over the Los Angeles Chargers.
Qina Liu
Singletary: Running game 'can do even better' after breaking out vs. Chargers
The Buffalo Bills put a bit more emphasis on their rushing attack last week, running the players through an extra drill during practice.
It wasn’t even at full speed.
But Devin Singletary said it helped immensely.
“It was kind of like half-speed,” Singletary said. “But seeing the guys get to their landmark, that helps us with our landmark, and just kind of helps the offensive line and the running backs get a feel for each other, and it showed today.”
The Bills amassed 172 rushing yards on 30 carries, the team's second-most yards on the ground this season, in a 27-17 victory against the Los Angeles Chargers on Sunday at Bills Stadium.
Singletary led the way with 82 yards on 11 carries, an average of 7.5 yards per rush, but he also lost a fumble during a fourth-quarter stretch when the Bills turned the ball over three times in seven plays.
Buffalo allowed just three points in the fourth quarter, despite its offense committing three turnovers in a span of seven plays.
Rookie Zack Moss added 59 yards on nine carries, Josh Allen had 32 yards on nine carries and Isaiah McKenzie lost one yard on his lone touch.
“Zack and ‘Motor’ carried the ball extremely well,” Allen said, referring to Singletary by his nickname. “They both ran hard. When my number’s called, you've got to make some plays, too. But our guys did a good job of blocking up front.”
Dion Dawkins said the offensive line had a blast.
“As an O-lineman,” Dawkins said, “run game is always more fun than pass blocking. You know, we've just got to stay consistent and control what we can.”
Cole Beasley said the balance between the running game and passing game – Allen completed 18 of 24 passes for 157 yards, a touchdown and an interception, and Beasley threw a 20-yard touchdown pass to Gabriel Davis on a trick play – was born from necessity.
“We had to do something to slow them down,” Beasley said. “The pass rush was getting to us early. That affected how we called the game a little bit. We had to get them downhill and mix it up on them a little bit more so they couldn’t just pin their ears back and fly at the quarterback. That definitely helped us today and the line did a good job in that regard.”
The Bills produced just 107 rushing yards in the last two games combined, including 34 in a victory against Seattle and 73 in a loss to Arizona.
The haunting memory of what happened two weeks ago in Arizona apparently wasn't enough to scare the Buffalo Bills into doing a better job of closing out games, writes Vic Carucci.
They had a season-high 190 rushing yards in a 24-21 victory against the Patriots on Nov. 1.
Singletary set a season high that day, racking up 86 yards on 14 carries.
He entered the Chargers game with just 401 yards and a touchdown on 99 carries, disappointing production for the 2019 third-round draft pick out of Florida Atlantic.
Singletary had 775 rushing yards and two touchdowns on 151 carries last season.
“We knew what we could do in the run game,” Singletary said. “We feel like we can do even better. But we’re going to keep taking it day by day. But I feel like (this performance) helps (my confidence) a lot.”
The running game played a critical role in the Bills’ victory against the Chargers, contributing heavily on the fourth-quarter drive that began on their own 35-yard line with 5:17 to play and ended with a two-score lead.
After disappointing results most of the season, the rushing attack found the type of performance it has been searching for, writes Jay Skurski.
Moss ran for 31 yards on first down, all the way to the Chargers' 34, but he was flagged 15 yards for unsportsmanlike conduct, backing up the Bills near midfield.
Singletary then rushed for 24 yards for a first down at the 25.
On third-and-9, Allen ran 12 yards around left end to the Chargers' 12, but an offensive holding call wiped out the play.
Moments later, Tyler Bass hit a 43-yard field goal to give the Bills a 27-17 lead with 3 1/2 minutes to play.
“I think we ran the ball well,” Singletary said. “Thank God we took a step forward as far as in the run game. I think it was pretty balanced.”
Cole Beasley’s trick-play throw to Gabriel Davis went for a 20-yard touchdown in the Buffalo Bills’ 27-17 victory over the Los Angeles Chargers.
Qina Liu
Like the Bills victory, CBS broadcast was a little messy at times but entertaining
Early in the second quarter of the Buffalo Bills’ 27-17 victory over the Los Angeles Chargers, play-by-play announcer Greg Gumbel read a promo for the CBS Sunday night movie “Coming to America.”
“There are so many great one-liners in that movie,” said analyst Rich Gannon.
“That’s how you can tell a great movie if you can pick out several one-liners,” replied Gumbel.
I waited in vain for Gumbel or Gannon to give just one of the great one-liners or comedy bits. They might have at least mentioned Prince Akeem’s (Eddie Murphy’s character) football-related question to Cleo McDowell (John Amos).
Here’s the comedy exchange between them, courtesy of a Google search. (It isn't exactly a one-liner).
Prince Akeem: “Sir, did you happen to catch the professional football contest on television last night?”
McDowell “No, I didn't.”
Prince Akeem: “Oh sir, the Giants of New York took on the Packers of Green Bay. And in the end, the Giants triumphed by kicking an oblong ball made of pigskin through a big ‘H.’ It was a most ripping victory.”
McDowell concluded the dialogue by telling Prince Akeem: “If you want to keep working here, stay off the drugs.”
I wondered what Prince Akeem would have thought of the Bills’ turnover-filled win. It wasn't the most ripping victory.
I imagine the Bills' head-shaking fourth quarter Bills and foolish penalties might have caused their fans to search for aspirin – or something stronger.
If you happened to catch the professional football contest on television Sunday between the Bills of Buffalo and the Chargers of Los Angeles it was a comedy of errors by the players, the officials, CBS’ graphic team and, yes, even the announcers at times.
Like the game, the broadcast was messy but entertaining.
That is largely because Gumbel and Gannon seem to enjoy each other’s company in their first season together.
Gumbel’s enthusiasm was top notch on big plays, especially on the trick play in which receiver Cole Beasley threw a touchdown pass to receiver Gabriel Davis after taking a lateral from quarterback Josh Allen.
Cole Beasley’s trick-play throw to Gabriel Davis went for a 20-yard touchdown in the Buffalo Bills’ 27-17 victory over the Los Angeles Chargers.
Qina Liu
Play-by-play announcers get some leeway this year because they aren’t working under ideal circumstances due to changes required because of Covid-19.
But Gumbel made some uncharacteristic mistakes. He gave a much stronger performance a month ago quickly identifying players after catches and tackles when he and Gannon worked the Bills' 18-10 victory over the New York Jets.
On Sunday, he misidentified Bills lineman Harrison Phillips as a Charger before quickly correcting himself to name a Charger wearing the same number. That happens.
He also gave the Chargers an important first down when he confused where the sticks started and ended. It actually was going to be third down and about 10. At other times, he seemed to be guessing wrong when calling first downs and was slow to realize what was obvious to viewers when the Chargers were stopped by a yard on a key fourth down.
Once again, I suspect the unusual circumstances may have had something to do with it.
Gannon, a former MVP quarterback in the NFL, sees just about everything and seemed more energized than he was for the Bills’ win over the Jets. He was especially sharp at explaining coverages in the secondary. He also praised and criticized Allen, the officials and Chargers coach Anthony Lynn when they deserved it.
Sideline reporter Jay Feely didn’t have much to do and really wasn’t needed.
The CBS graphics team had a confusing day, giving the teams’ first downs when they didn’t earn them and even giving the Bills a 13-0 lead after the Chargers scored a touchdown that cut the Bills lead to 7-6.
In the spirit of the holidays, I will say the CBS telecast was so Billsy. But at least it was never dull.
Now on to some highs and lows:
Debatable Strategy: Gumbel didn’t have enough time out of a commercial to ask Gannon for an opinion when the Chargers went for it on fourth down at the start of the fourth quarter, trailing 24-14. After the Bills stopped the play, Gannon said turning down a 43-yard field goal showed what Lynn thought of his kicker Michael Badgley. If Lynn had decided to try the field goal and Badgley made it, the Chargers might have been in position to tie at game’s end.
A Game of Inches: With the Bills leading 24-14, Gumbel said it appeared the Chargers “just had enough” for a first down when they were inches short inside the red zone. When the 3rd and inches play lost three yards, the Chargers kicked a field goal to cut the lead to 24-17. For a while, it looked like the Chargers were going to go for it again on fourth down instead of kicking the field goal. “I would kick the field goal now,” said Gannon. Feely agreed. The Chargers eventually did but Gannon noted they wasted a valuable timeout.
Weather Report: Sounding like a certain president, Gumbel said at game’s start “that a lot of people” thought it was “a beautiful day” but added “it’s a little chilly for some of us.” He later added it wasn’t your typical November day in Western New York, which prompted Gannon to remark: ”They haven’t had any snow here in Western New York.” “Don’t get carried away,” concluded Gumbel.
Morse Code: Gannon said Bills center Mitch Morse had missed the last two games due to injury. Actually, Morse wasn’t injured when he didn’t play the second game.
Fumbling Remark: Gannon correctly noted that Allen should have fallen on a fumbled exchange from center rather than try to pick it up and make a play. The Chargers eventually recovered the fumble.
Strategic Error: After the Bills' Gabriel Davis unsuccessfully tried to block Chargers end Joey Bosa before one of his sacks, Gannon questioned that strategy. It was unclear if Bosa – who had an incredible game – was Davis’ responsibility or if it was a mistake by the Bills line that left Davis as the only one available to block Bosa.
Defending Allen: When Gumbel noted that Chargers QB Justin Herbert’s Oregon college team beat Allen’s Wyoming team, 49-13, in the only game they played against each other, Gannon put it in perspective. “In fairness, Justin Herbert had about 10 players who went into the NFL.”
Best (or Worst) Statistic: CBS showed a graphic that noted the Bills had given up the most second-half points in the league, which led Gannon to crack: “I don’t know what they do at halftime anymore. They must not have the mothers slicing up the oranges and giving them vitamin C pills.”
A Tuck Rule History Lesson: When Bills coach Sean McDermott successfully challenged the ruling that Allen fumbled after it was determined his arm was going forward as if to pass, Gannon noted that he was the Raiders quarterback and Gumbel was in the booth calling the infamous Tuck game that negated a Tom Brady fumble in New England’s 16-13 playoff victory over Oakland in 2002. “It gained no attention at all,” cracked Gumbel of one of the NFL’s most famous plays.
Hairstyle Report: After he threw his touchdown pass, Beasley was shown on the sideline wrapping his hair in a man bun. “I think I like the hair better when it is down,” replied Gannon.
Define Easy: When Allen hit Dawson Knox for a two-yard touchdown pass to give the Bills a 7-0 lead, Gannon said it was an “easy” pass for Allen. The quarterback made it harder than necessary for Knox to catch.
Let Him Officiate the Next Game: The mark of a good analyst is knowing even the obscure rules. Gannon passed the test. After Bills linebacker A.J. Klein complained about a pass interference call near the line of scrimmage, Gannon quickly noted that Klein was right. The officials overturned the call. It was one of three calls they overturned during the game. Even when he was wrong, Gannon was right. He initially thought that the Bills’ Tre’ Davious White was called for roughing the passer because he went at the legs of Herbert. When the penalty went against the Bills’ Ed Oliver, Gannon corrected himself and explained because Herbert was outside the pocket he could be tackled at the legs.
The Best Spin: Gumbel defended Allen after he was called for a 15-yard unsportsmanlike conduct penalty for spinning the ball after scoring the touchdown that gave the Bills a 24-6 lead. “I know it is against the rule, but in light of the way other celebrations that take place on the football field, that seems minuscule,” said Gumbel. However, referee Gannon noted that it wasn’t the spin that led to the penalty, but the fact Allen directed it at the Chargers’ Michael Davis.
It is Legal in the NBA: After the Bills’ Zach Moss was called for a 15-yard unsportsmanlike penalty for a behind-the-back pass after a long run, referee Gannon was almost as upset as Syracuse coach Jim Boeheim is before getting a technical foul. “I don’t know,” said Gannon. “I don’t see it. How would he know who is behind him? That is not a good call. Really unnecessary. Bad call.”
Etched in Stone: Gannon started the most entertaining discussion between he and Gumbel. After a Charger was called for offensive pass interference, the analyst explained the old Raiders’ philosophy when he played there: “If you’re not cheating, you’re not trying,” said Gannon, That led Gumbel to ask, “Is that etched in stone anywhere?” “I think if you played for the Raiders it was,” responded Gannon laughing.
“A Comedy of Errors”: In the final minute, the Chargers literally and foolishly were running out the clock. Lynn considered kicking a field goal, changed his mind and then the Chargers failed to score. Gannon didn’t call out Lynn by name, but it wasn’t hard to see who his criticism was directed at. “A comedy of errors,” said Gannon. “And you wonder why they lose a lot of close games.” Even Prince Akeem, who hasn’t seen many NFL games, would agree.
