In a key NFL game with huge playoff implications, the Buffalo Bills won a hard-fought 24-22 game against the Los Angeles Chargers on Saturday night. It was a big win, but how big?

In this post, I’ll look at three key takeaways from Saturday’s game.

Takeaway One: Josh Allen’s Milestones and Playoff Focus

Josh Allen is more than just a passer, although he is that. In the win on Saturday, he showed his versatility by rushing for two touchdowns and throwing for another. As a result of this game, he became the first player in NFL history to put up four straight seasons of 40 combined touchdowns. Additionally, Allen reached a significant milestone as the second quarterback to achieve 50 career rushing scores.

Despite facing a tougher Chargers team than their record would indicate, Allen expressed the team’s playoff mindset. He noted, “This is our playoffs. It didn’t matter how we get them done, just get them done.”

The Bills, who now have a record of 9-6, have won four of their last five games. Suddenly, after looking like a team headed for the golf course and not the postseason, they have bolstered their playoff chances.

Takeaway Two: The Resilient Bills Overcame Their Own Errors

In part, the game wasn’t easy because the Bills caused their own adversity. Turning the ball over three times can have that effect. Those errors worked to help keep the short-handed Chargers in the game. 

Despite their self-inflicted problems, Buffalo rallied from a 10-0 deficit early in the second quarter. Coach Sean McDermott praised his team’s response, stating, “We did a good job in the red zone and had some big plays on third down to help us out.”

The fact is that Saturday’s win marked Buffalo’s fourth comeback from a double-digit deficit since McDermott took over in 2017. The Bills are (and have been) a resilient team. 

Takeaway Three: The Bills Faced Down Late-Game Drama and Won

In the win, the Bills faced down late-game drama to win on Tyler Bass’s game-winning field goal. The game was close and hung in the balance until the final seconds. Kicker Tyler Bass’ 29-yard field goal with 28 seconds left in the game brought home the win for Buffalo. 

Before that kick, Allen led a critical 13-play, 64-yard drive to put his team in a situation where they could win. Even better, the Bills managed the clock effectively. That left the Chargers with no timeouts and ensured the win for the Bills.

Can the Bills Make the Playoffs?

The Bills’ playoff chances got a boost when the Pittsburgh Steelers beat the Cincinnati Bengals earlier yesterday. However, the Bills still might be on the outside looking in. The other contending teams are the Indianapolis Colts and the Houston Texans.

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