Yahoo Sports Staff
NFL Saturday: Bills rally past Chargers, gain ground in AFC playoff race after Bengals lose to Steelers
The Buffalo Bills were in trouble late on Saturday. But they rallied for a 24-22 win to avert disaster against a last-place Chargers team that just fired its head coach and lost starting quarterback Justin Herbert to a season-ending injury.
It was a third straight win for the Bills to improve to 9-6 and gain ground in the AFC playoff race after the Bengals dropped to 8-7 with a loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers earlier in the day. The Chargers threatened to play spoiler when Cameron Dicker's fifth field goal of the day gave Los Angeles a 22-21 lead with 5:26 remaining. But the Bills drove 64 yards for a go-ahead Tyler Bass field with 28 seconds left that turned out to be the game winner.
The Bills face the New England Patriots next week before a season-ending showdown with the AFC-East leading Miami Dolphins.
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- Jason Owens
There was no Chargers miracle in the final seconds. The Bills avert disaster and hold on for a 24-22 win. They improve to 9-6 and gain ground in the playoff race after the Bengals fell to 8-7 with a loss to the Steelers earlier Saturday. Big swing in the AFC playoff picture.
- Jason Owens
Tyler Bass kicks the go-ahead field. Buffalo leads, 24-22 with 28 seconds remaining.
Bills take the lead with 28 seconds left on the Tyler Bass FG#BUFvsLAC on Peacock
Also available on #NFLPlus https://t.co/eeNRIfK0VS pic.twitter.com/uiqUuG4Uvb— NFL (@NFL) December 24, 2023
- Jason Owens
Close call. Officials got it right. He was down. Very likely a good break for the Bills. They can potentially run out the clock for a game-winning field goal attempt rather than give the ball back to the Chargers with more than 2 minutes remaining.
How close he was to getting back up 👀#BUFvsLAC on Peacock
Also available on #NFLPlus https://t.co/eeNRIfK0VS pic.twitter.com/bvwDjvG16i— NFL (@NFL) December 24, 2023
- Jason Owens
Madness in the final minutes. Khalil Shakir appeared to have scored a go ahead touchdown with 2:25 remaining. Josh Allen beat the third-down blitz to find Shakir inside the 15-yard line. Shakir dove to catch the ball then ran to the end zone. But officials ruled upon replay review that he was down by contact before getting up.
Big play by Khalil Shakir!#BUFvsLAC on Peacock
Also available on #NFLPlus https://t.co/eeNRIfK0VS pic.twitter.com/42B4JZJAOr— NFL (@NFL) December 24, 2023
- Jason Owens
Big conversion on third-and-8. Josh Allen hits Stefon Diggs to keep the drive alive. Bills across the Chargers 40 in the final three minutes of regulation needing a field goal to take the lead.
- Jason Owens
Cameron Dicker is clutch. The Chargers lose three yards after the turnover, but Dicker hits his fifth field goal of the game to put Los Angeles ahead, 22-21 with 5:26 remaining. This time from 53 yards.
Dicker the Kicker for the lead! @Chargers#BUFvsLAC on Peacock
Also available on #NFLPlus https://t.co/eeNRIfK0VS pic.twitter.com/XLJNDvYsF4— NFL (@NFL) December 24, 2023
- Jason Owens
Big turnover. James Cook fumbles and the Chargers recover with a chance to take the lead.
Chargers D come up with their THIRD takeaway of the game 🔥
(via @NFL)pic.twitter.com/Hlus0DvmBR— Yahoo Sports (@YahooSports) December 24, 2023
- Jason Owens
Another Cameron Dicker field goal pulls the Chargers to within 21-19 with 7:19 remaining. Bills with a needed stand after the Chargers took over near midfield.
- Jason Owens
The Bills just lost 22 yards on a disastrous 3-and-out and punted back to the Chargers, who remain within a touchdown of taking the lead.
- Yahoo Sports Staff
The Easton Stick-led Chargers continue to keep this one close. A long drive ends with another field goal.
Bills lead 21-16 with 12:36 to play.
- Yahoo Sports Staff
Josh Allen punches in the TD from the 1 to extend Buffalo's lead to 21-13. Late 3rd.
tush push tn?#BUFvsLAC on Peacock
Also available on #NFLPlus https://t.co/eeNRIfK0VS pic.twitter.com/2MDPRbBmn1— NFL (@NFL) December 24, 2023
- Yahoo Sports Staff
Gabe Davis is having himself a day. He snags a 36-yard dime down the sideline to set up another Bills touchdown!
Gabe Davis on another deep ball!#BUFvsLAC on Peacock
Also available on #NFLPlus https://t.co/eeNRIfK0VS pic.twitter.com/38o6tLLON1— NFL (@NFL) December 24, 2023
- Yahoo Sports Staff
Chargers get inside the Bills' 20 off the turnover but settle for a 40-yard field goal from Cameron Dicker.
Bills' lead is cut to 14-13.
- Yahoo Sports Staff
Josh Allen has thrown an NFL-high 15 interceptions this year, matching Washington's Sam Howell.
- Yahoo Sports Staff
Josh Allen takes a deep shot and is INTERCEPTED by LA's Alohi Gilman near midfield!
Alohi Gilman picks off Allen on the deep ball!#BUFvsLAC on Peacock
Also available on #NFLPlus https://t.co/eeNRIfK0VS pic.twitter.com/USUxKeGErM— NFL (@NFL) December 24, 2023
- Yahoo Sports Staff
Chargers didn't get far on their first drive of the half. Bills take over at their own 10 after the punt.
- Yahoo Sports Staff
The 2nd half has begun in Los Angeles. Chargers start with the ball.
- Yahoo Sports Staff
Remember, the Bills remain in control of their own playoff destiny. But they have to win tonight to keep that control.
Buffalo's simplest path to the postseason. pic.twitter.com/bY8OSeWmrY
— Sunday Night Football on NBC (@SNFonNBC) December 24, 2023
- Yahoo Sports Staff
Josh Allen just became the second QB in NFL history with 50+ rush TDs in their career (Cam Newton) 🔥 pic.twitter.com/WBpQZaHMFt
— NFL (@NFL) December 24, 2023
- Jason Owens
The Chargers let the final 38 seconds run off the clock, and the Bills go into halftime with a 14-10 lead. A nice turnaround for Buffalo after an ominous start.
- Jason Owens
Josh Allen caps a run-heavy 63-yard drive with a two-yard touchdown run around the right end. After digging a 10-0 hole, the Bill lead 14-10 with 38 seconds before halftime.
Josh Allen takes it himself for the lead!#BUFvsLAC on Peacock
Also available on #NFLPlus https://t.co/eeNRIfK0VS pic.twitter.com/dXvxA4lNrq— NFL (@NFL) December 24, 2023
- Jason Owens
Leonard Fournette — elevated from the practice squad for Saturday's game — is pounding the ball in the red zone for Buffalo.
- Jason Owens
The Bills force a punt and have a chance to tie or take the lead before halftime. 10-7, Chargers with 4:29 remaining. Buffalo will start with the ball at its own 37.
- Jason Owens
That's a game changer. Gabe Davis breaks free down the right sideline, and Josh Allen scrambles to keep the play alive before throwing a deep ball for 57-yard touchdown. One play, and the Bills have cut their deficit to 10-7.
ONE PLAY. 57 YARDS. Allen to Davis!#BUFvsLAC on Peacock
Also available on #NFLPlus https://t.co/eeNRIfK0VS pic.twitter.com/gP8kyL6vHE— NFL (@NFL) December 24, 2023
- Jason Owens
Big stop for the Bills. Chargers go 3 and out after starting inside their own 10. Good field position for the Bills, who start their fourth possession at their own 43. Can they capitalize?
- Jason Owens
The Bills punt again after gaining 15 yards on five plays. Three possessions, three punts and a 10-0 deficit for Buffalo early in the second quarter.
- Jason Owens
The Chargers capitalize on the turnover. Easton Stick runs it in for a 1-yard touchdown to cap a 27-yard drive. 10-0 Chargers in the second quarter, and alarms are sounding in Buffalo.
Sticking it to the doubters.#BUFvsLAC on Peacock
Also available on #NFLPlus https://t.co/eeNRIfK0VS pic.twitter.com/RGIi35X4f6— NFL (@NFL) December 24, 2023
- Jason Owens
Welp. There will be no Bills score after the sack. Bills returner Deonte Harty was stripped on the punt return, and the Chargers recovered deep in Buffalo territory. Big early trouble here for the Bills. Chargers lead 3-0 at the end of the first quarter with a chance to add on more.
Chargers get the strip and recover on the punt return 😤
(via @NFL)
pic.twitter.com/ruz81EjS9Z— Yahoo Sports NFL (@YahooSportsNFL) December 24, 2023
- Jason Owens
Cam Lewis comes up with a sack of Easton Stick on third down to get the ball back for Buffalo. The Bills are under pressure to come up with a score.
- Jason Owens
The Bills appeared to have an interception of Easton Stick. But a holding penalty on cornerback Christian Benford on the other side of the field negated it. Big break for the Chargers, who lead 3-0 late in the first quarter.
- Jason Owens
Another short Bills drive ends with a punt. They stall after gaining 25 yards on their second drive, and the Chargers have the ball again leading, 3-0. A concerning start in a high-stakes game for Buffalo.
- Jason Owens
The Chargers stall out in the red zone. Cameron Dicker's 20-yard field goal gives the Chargers a 3-0 lead midway through the first quarter.
- Jason Owens
Easton Stick is moving the Chargers on their opening drive. Los Angeles is in the red zone.
- Jason Owens
The Chargers start their first drive with Easton Stick at quarterback and interim head coach Giff Smith on the sideline. Not exactly how they drew things up for Week 16.
- Jason Owens
Bills are punting after their opening drive stalls at their own 41.
- Jason Owens
Stefon Diggs was shaken up on Buffalo's first play. But he's back on the field after missing a down.
- Jason Owens
The Chargers won the toss and have deferred. The Bills have the ball to open the game after a touchback.
- Jason Owens
Chargers inactives:
our inactives for #BUFvsLAC
QB Max Duggan
WR Keenan Allen
S JT Woods
DB Deane Leonard
TE Donald Parham Jr.— Los Angeles Chargers (@chargers) December 23, 2023
- Jason Owens
Bills inactives for the late game:
Tonight’s inactives. #BUFvsLAC pic.twitter.com/mpLZ1zKxtX
— Buffalo Bills (@BuffaloBills) December 23, 2023
- Jason Owens
And that's the game. The Steelers roll to a 34-11 win to keep their playoff hopes alive while dealing a blow to Cincinnati's. Both teams stand at 8-7 on the outside looking in at a muddled AFC playoff race. The Bills face the Chargers next with a chance to improve to 9-6
- Jason Owens
A Chris Boswell field goal extends the Steelers lead to 34-11 midway through the fourth quarter.
- Jason Owens
Jake Browning throws another interception. His third of the day. Alex Highsmith picked him off on a second-down pass over the middle into a lot of traffic.
Another @steelers INT!
Highsmith gets the third of the night for Pittsburgh.
📺: #CINvsPIT on NBC
📱: Stream on #NFLPlus https://t.co/yewPow3ekF pic.twitter.com/YEhq3gyMsN— NFL (@NFL) December 24, 2023
- Yahoo Sports Staff
Scratch that. After a challenge, a short 3rd down pass was ruled incomplete to make it 4th and 15 so the Bengals kick a short field goal.
It's a 31-11 Steelers lead.
- Yahoo Sports Staff
End of 3rd quarter. Bengals are going to face a 4th an 13 from the Steelers 15 to start the 4th.
They have no choice but to go for it at this point.
- Yahoo Sports Staff
And the Bills:
Tonight’s inactives. #BUFvsLAC pic.twitter.com/mpLZ1zKxtX
— Buffalo Bills (@BuffaloBills) December 23, 2023
- Yahoo Sports Staff
Looking ahead to tonight's game, here are the inactives for the LA Chargers.
our inactives for #BUFvsLAC
QB Max Duggan
WR Keenan Allen
S JT Woods
DB Deane Leonard
TE Donald Parham Jr.— Los Angeles Chargers (@chargers) December 23, 2023
- Yahoo Sports Staff
Cincinnati throws incomplete on 4th and 5. Steelers take over with 6:38 in the 3rd quarter.
Steelers still lead 31-8.
- Yahoo Sports Staff
That's 4 catches for 195 (!) yards and two touchdowns today for Pickens.
Not a bad day at the office.
Steelers 31, Bengals 8
- Yahoo Sports Staff
ANOTHER big play for George Pickens! Another Steelers TD!
The 66-yard catch down the sideline is Pickens' second score of the day.
GEORGE PICKENS TOUCHDOWN AGAIN.
He can not be stopped tonight.
📺: #CINvsPIT on NBC
📱: Stream on #NFLPlus https://t.co/yewPow3ekF pic.twitter.com/JbRic5KPmP— NFL (@NFL) December 23, 2023