The Buffalo Bills are just coming off their Week 11 recess and are looking to erase the bitter taste they were forced into the break with after falling to the Arizona Cardinals in Week 10 thanks to a touch of Hail Mary by DeAndre Hopkins. Not only are they looking to get back to the winning column, but they are looking to further maintain their lead in the AFC East and position themselves to win the division for the first time since 1995. They will look to accomplish all of that when they go. host rookie phenomenon Justin Herbert and the Los Angeles Chargers at Bills Stadium.
Despite the 3-7 record, the Chargers have been competitive under Herbert this season. The rookie has five games this season with three or more touchdowns, which is the most of a freshman in the Super Bowl era. He’s also on the cusp of breaking a number of rookie records, including passing yards, passing touchdowns, and completions if he maintains this formidable start to his NFL career.
Before we dive deeper into this game, here’s a look at how you can capture all of the action that takes place on CBS.
How to watch
Dated: Sunday, November 29 | Time: 1 p.m. ET
Location: Bills Stadium (Orchard Park, New York)
TV: CBS | Current: CBS All Access
To follow: CBS Sports app
Overview
In addition to the quarterback battle, this game features two of the best receivers in the game, Stefon Diggs and Keenan Allen. Allen currently leads the NFL in receptions (81) while Diggs is just behind him in second place with 73 catches over the year. While each of these receptors continues to accumulate receptions, they do so in different ways. Diggs does most of his damage on the first down where he currently leads the league with 34 catches. Allen, on the other hand, is cleaning third with his 25 league seed at this critical moment. While each of these passes will play a role throughout the game, each defensive unit will focus on Diggs first and Allen third.
While we touched on Herbert a bit in the intro, let’s take a look at Josh Allen. The Bills QB seem to have a problem staying warm as the game progresses. In the first half of his games this season, Allen threw 13 touchdowns and just two interceptions, while moving the chains consistently with 75 first assists. Coming out of halftime, however, Allen gets a bit cold as he has an 8-5 TD-INT ratio and only 62 first assists. Part of that could be due to protection concerns, as Allen was sacked 14 times in the second half of games, down from just six in the first half.
Defenses for the Bills and Chargers have been poor at times this season. As Los Angeles comes into this game allowing an average of 344 total yards of attack per game (which is just outside the top ten for under-yards allowed in the league), this unit has struggled to keep the teams out. to score. The 27.3 points allowed per game entering Week 12 is the ninth-highest in the NFL. As for the Bills, they were statistically a better defensive unit than LA, but not by much. They allowed 26.5 points and 373.7 total yards per game.
Prediction
Given that each offense has the ability to score points and both defenses have shown an ability to deal touchdowns like Halloween candy, it’s no wonder to see the NFL odds on William Hill Sportsbook stating a high scoring game with the total currently set at 53. The Bills are the home favorites in this game, ceding five points to the Chargers. Buffalo is too talented not to take the win here, but I think it will be close enough to take the points with the Chargers. This seems to be the general thinking process of most, as all but one of the CBS Sports pundits have chosen to take chargers and points in this game.
Goal: Buffalo 24, LA 20 chargers