Tyler Bass kicked a 29-yard field goal with 28 seconds left and the Buffalo Bills avoided an upset by beating the Los Angeles Chargers 24-22 on Saturday night at Inglewood, Calif.
Josh Allen rushed for two touchdowns and passed for one as Buffalo (9-6) bolstered its AFC playoff hopes with its third straight victory. Gabe Davis had four receptions for 130 yards and one touchdown for the Bills.
Cameron Dicker kicked a career-best five field goals as the Chargers (5-10) lost for the sixth time in seven games. Easton Stick completed 23 of 33 passes for 215 yards while making his second straight start in place of Justin Herbert, who underwent season-ending finger surgery earlier this month.
The contest was the first for the Chargers since coach Brandon Staley was fired one day after an embarrassing 63-21 loss to the Las Vegas Raiders on Dec. 14. Veteran assistant Giff Smith is serving as interim coach.
Los Angeles star receiver Keenan Allen (heel) also missed his second consecutive contest.
Allen completed 15 of 21 passes for 237 yards and one interception. James Cook rushed for 70 yards and Ed Oliver had two sacks for Buffalo.
Allen guided the Bills 64 yards on 13 plays over 4:58 to set up Bass’ winning boot.
The setback sewed up the Chargers’ fourth campaign of 10 or more losses in the past nine seasons.
Dicker was busy with three field goals in a span of 7:10 in the fourth quarter to put Los Angeles ahead. He kicked a 47-yard field goal with 12:36 left and a 45-yarder with 7:19 remaining to bring the Chargers within two, and then he smacked a 53-yarder to provide Los Angeles with a 22-21 lead with 5:26 left.
A lost fumble by Cook set up Dicker’s final field goal.
The Bills started slowly and were behind by 10 before finally getting on the board on Allen’s 57-yard throw to Davis with 9:02 left in the second quarter.
Buffalo moved ahead at 14-10 on Allen’s 2-yard run with 38 seconds left in the first half.
The Chargers cut the margin to one when Dicker booted a 40-yard field goal with 7:22 left in the third quarter.
The Bills increased their lead to 21-13 when Allen scored from the 1 with 1:28 remaining in the third quarter.
Los Angeles sped out to a 10-0 lead over the first 16-plus minutes on Dicker’s 20-yard field goal and Stick’s 1-yard keeper.
–Field Level Media
