Allen was sacked four times in 24-16 win over the Chargers, but Buffalo is 3-0
By CHUCK POLLOCK, Senior Sports Columnist
I have this mental picture of Sean McDermott watching the Bills’ 24-16 win over the L.A. Chargers, Sunday afternoon at Highmark Stadium and seeing quarterback Josh Allen endure four sacks as he cracks a knowing smile.
McDermott sees Buffalo turn the ball over five times and commit 10 penalties and thinks, ‘My team never turned the ball over five times and won the game … and I still got fired.”
Indeed, his successor, Joe Brady, actually told the team, “This is perfect (the two teams were tied 10-10), now we can see how we react.”
Allen didn’t throw a touchdown pass, but ran for two, the third straight game he’s done that, an NFL record for a QB.
Meanwhile, running back James Cook ran for 154 yards on 24 carries and added a TD.
Allen threw two ill-considered interceptions and Cook added a lost fumble on the first play of the game while tight end Dalton Kincaid had another at the end of a lengthy reception and edge rusher Khlil Mack, the former UB star, had a strip sack that the Chargers recovered.
Then there were those 10 penalties, eight of them major including two roughing the passer calls, four offensive holding, two defensive holding and four dead ball fouls, two of which were declined.
“You’re not going to win many games turning the ball over five times,” Brady said. “I could have tipped over a table. But sometimes yelling isn’t needed. I have to be the pulse of this team.
“This game showed the character of this team. I told them (at halftime) ‘Let’s see ‘what this team is made of’ but I hated (the way we were playing).” It wasn’t perfect but I told them, “Let’s keep going.”
He added, I don’t remember the score of the first two games … but I know we won them 1-0. It’s not easy to win in this league but I’m not going to apologize for (winning).”
NOTES FROM the Bills 24-16 win over the L.A. Chargers, Sunday afternoon at Highmark Stadium:
— Buffalo’s first turnover came on the opening offensive play when Cook fumbled when hit by defensive end Justin Eboigbede with inside linebacker Henley recovering.
–The next giveaway came when Allen was intercepted by rookie cornerback Genesis Smith. Later Smith snagged his second of the game.
— Turnover No. 3 came in the third quarter when Kincaid, at the end of a 25-yard reception, had the ball knocked loose by cornerback Tarheeb Still with safety Tony Jefferson recovering. Finally, Mack got his strip-sack with Henley covering it.
— Buffalo’s first sack of Chargers QB Justin Herbert was recorded by Greg Rousseau, his NFL-leading fifth of the season, and later his got another, his sixth of the campaign and his third straight game with two sacks.
— L.A.’s initial sack of Allen was recorded by outside linebacker Tui Tuipulotu, the second was credited to rookie Akheem Mesidor and, a snap later, former UB star Khalil Mack got a strip sack with Henley recording his second recovery. Later, Tuipulotu got his second recovery when Allen gave himself up under the rush.
— Buffalo linebacker Dorian Williams had a game-high nine tackles, tied with Henley.
— The Bills wore their ugly Lions-esque gray and blue uniforms.
— Inactive for the Bills were safety Jalon Kilgore, outside linebacker Mike Danna, guard/tackle Jude Bowery, wide receiver Skyler Bell, guard Ar’maj Reed-Adams (elbow) and defensive lineman T.J. Sanders (illness/appendectomy).
Wide receivers D.J. Moore and Keon Coleman, who missed practices during the week, both were active.
–Chargers inactives were starting guard Kayode Awosika (fibula), tight end Charlie Kolar (starter, forearm), safety Elijah Molden (starter, hamstring), defensive lineman Dalvin Tomlinson (starter, hamstring), wide receiver Brennen Thompson (quad), and offensive lineman Alex Harkey.
Offensive lineman Trey Pipkins III (knee) was put on injured reserve.
(Chuck Pollock, a Wellsville Sun and Olean Star senior sports columnist, can be reached at cpollock@wnynet.net.)
