The First Edition | By Sean Rook
The Buffalo Bills found a way to win on Sunday. Their 24–16 comeback over the Los Angeles Chargers kept them unbeaten at 3–0, but it also gave them a clear assignment for the week ahead: protect the football.
Buffalo turned it over five times and did not take its first lead until the fourth quarter. The defense kept the game within reach, then made the play that changed it. After a Josh Allen fumble gave Los Angeles the ball in Buffalo territory, C.J. Gardner-Johnson intercepted Justin Herbert near the goal line and returned it 41 yards. Allen finished the ensuing drive with a one-yard touchdown run to put the Bills ahead 17–13.
From there, Greg Rousseau recorded his second sack of the afternoon, and James Cook closed Buffalo’s scoring with a three-yard touchdown run. The Chargers added a late field goal, but Buffalo held on.
The numbers behind the win
- James Cook: 154 rushing yards on 24 carries and one touchdown
- Josh Allen: 204 passing yards, plus two rushing touchdowns
- Greg Rousseau: Two sacks on Sunday and six through three games
- Buffalo defense: Held the Chargers to 16 points despite five Bills turnovers
Rousseau’s six sacks are the most by a Bills player through the first three games of a season. Allen became the first quarterback in the Super Bowl era to rush for multiple touchdowns in three consecutive games. Those are standout performances. The five giveaways and 10 penalties are the numbers Buffalo will need to address.
What 3–0 tells us
The first three wins have shown different sides of this team. Buffalo can score in bunches, as it did against Detroit. Against the Chargers, it needed its defense and running game to carry it through a difficult afternoon. That ability to respond matters over a long season.
The expectation should rise with the record. The Bills have enough playmakers to overcome mistakes on a given Sunday, but they cannot count on escaping five turnovers every week. Cleaner possessions, fewer penalties and the same defensive urgency would make this team much harder to beat.
Next up: New England
The Bills host the New England Patriots on Sunday, October 4, at 1 p.m. ET. It is Buffalo’s first AFC East game of the season, and the priorities are straightforward: secure the ball, keep Cook involved and give Allen manageable opportunities to move the offense. On defense, watch whether Rousseau can continue his disruptive start and whether Buffalo can build on Sunday’s red-zone stand.
A 3–0 start has Buffalo’s attention. A sharper performance against a division opponent can show just how high this team’s ceiling might be.
For the Buffalo faithful: The Borough Bird No. 17 Varsity Jacket | Buffalo Edition brings that game-day energy beyond the stadium. Built for the walk in, the final whistle and every cool-weather Sunday between, it is a statement piece for the season ahead.