The Buffalo Bills re-entered the playoff discussion and beyond by winning its second straight game against a postseason contender in the Dallas Cowboys last week at home.
Buffalo looks to keep pace in the AFC East race as well as the playoffs with a win against the lowly Chargers, who fired its coach Brandon Staley following a 63-21 loss to the Raiders last Thursday. However, with extra rest and a new voice leading the team, can the team bounce back against the surging Bills?
Here's our betting preview for Bills vs. Chargers on Saturday night.
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Bills vs. Chargers odds, spread, and total
Chargers vs. Bills betting trends
- The Bills are 5-6 against the spread (ATS) as a favorite
- The Chargers are 0-5 ATS as underdogs this season
- The Chargers have gone UNDER in 10 of 14 games this season
- The Bills have gone UNDER in 10 of 14 games this season
Bills vs. Chargers Injury Reports
Buffalo Bills
- Daquan Jones - DE - Probable
- Jordan Phillips - DT - Questionable
- Leonard Floyd - DE - Questionable
- Dalton Kincaid - TE - Questionable
- Micah Hyde - SS - Questionable
- A.J. Epenesa - DE - Questionable
Los Angeles Chargers
- Will Clapp - C - IR
- Keenan Allen - WR - Questionable
- Nick Williams - DT - Questionable
- Donald Parham Jr. - TE - Questionable
- Amen Ogbongbemiga - LB - Questionable
- Ottio Ogbonniai - DT - Questionable
- Deane Leonard - CB - Questionable
Bills vs. Chargers how to watch
- Date: Saturday, Dec. 23
- Game Time: 8:00 PM EST
- Venue: SoFi Stadium
- How to Watch (TV): Peacock
- Bills Record: 8-6
- Chargers Record: 5-9
Bills vs. Chargers key players to watch
Buffalo Bills
Josh Allen: Allen only passed for 94 yards against the Cowboys in the blowout win, but No. 17 should be in for a big outing against the Chargers porous secondary that is 27th in EPA/Pass.
James Cook: Cook was the standout offensive player last week, combining for 221 yards and totaling two touchdowns on 27 touches (25 rushes and two catches). Can he follow it up on Saturday night?
Los Angeles Chargers
Easton Stick: The Chargers quit on coach Brandon Staley and were blown out from the jump against the Raiders, but Stick managed to put together some big stats in mostly mop up duty in his first pro start, passing for 257 yards and three touchdowns but had two turnovers of the Chargers' five. In a competitive game state, the bar is low for Stick.
Bills vs. Chargers prediction and pick
I see the case for the Chargers heading into Week 16. The team has extra rest after getting destroyed last Thursday and now has a new coach that can raise the locker room while the Bills are coming off back-to-back high level performances, travling across the country and playing on short rest.
All fair points, but I'm not trusting Stick with a patchwork offense (who knows if Keenan Allen plays given the state of the team), to keep pace with the Bills.
While Buffalo leaned on the ground game against the Cowboys, this can be a big outing from Allen and the passing game. LA is 27th in EPA/Pass and the team has a below league average pass rush grade, per Pro Football Focus.
Meanwhile, Stick is not an NFL caliber quarterback. The numbers may have looked nice in a game that was decided in the first quarter, but this is a Buffalo defense that is fifth in coverage grade per PFF and will likely feast on Stick in obvious passing situations, fifth in EPA/Pass since Week 11.
The Bills have been prone to giving up big plays on the ground, 30th in EPA/Rush since Week 11, but the team has faced elite running teams like the Eagles, Chiefs and Cowboys in that span. The Chargers in this time frame are dead last in EPA/Rush. I don't believe that LA will pose the same threat.
Maybe there is a letdown for the Bills after two big wins, but I still can't put my money on Stick and the Chargers with the Bills rounding into form.
Game odds refresh periodically and are subject to change.
Track Reed's bets here!