ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. — Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen handed the ball to running back James Cook on the first play of Sunday’s game against the Chargers. Cook ran up the middle and straight into Chargers defensive lineman Justin Eboigbe, who forced a fumble. Linebacker Daiyan Henley recovered the ball at the Bills’ 47-yard line.
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It was the first of three fumbles the Chargers would force to go with two interceptions of Allen by rookie safety Genesis in what proved to be as well as their defense has played this season, and against an elite opponent, too. The Bills had scored an NFL-leading 77 points going into Sunday.
Why forcing five turnovers wasn’t good enough to trigger a victory was something of a mystery, as far as the Chargers’ defensive unit was concerned. None of the Chargers’ defenders would speak about how or why their offensive counterparts didn’t do their part in a 24-16 loss, mind you.
Pointing fingers is not in the Chargers’ DNA.
Winning has got to be a group effort, though.
It was not the case as the Chargers dropped to 0-3 to start the season.
“We need everybody, in all three phases, to contribute to a win,” Henley said after making a team-leading nine tackles to go with two fumble recoveries. “So, it doesn’t matter how good we perform (on defense). We could have done more, you know what I’m saying? That’s what it comes down to.”
The Chargers’ defense did plenty, though.
Allen completed 16 of 26 passes for a season-low 204 yards. In addition to intercepting him twice, the Chargers also sacked him four times. He threw for 334 yards and two TDs in a 36-31 victory over the Houston Texans in Week 1 and for 248 yards and three TDs in a 41-31 win over the Detroit Lions in Week 2.
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“I think up to this date, that was our best performance,” Henley said. “Just simply off turnovers, right? That’s why I say we can, obviously, do more just be sure we can put a pin in a game like that, making sure there is no error. When you play a good team with good players over there (the Bills), they’re going to take any opportunity they can find. And, so, well, they found some, and that’s what it was.”
HISTORY LESSON
The Chargers haven’t started a season 0-3 since 2017, when they opened their first season as the Los Angeles Chargers with a 0-4 mark en route to a 9-7 record and a second-place finish in the AFC West. They won their next three and seven of their next nine.
“That was one year before I got here,” said Chargers safety Derwin James Jr., who was their first-round draft pick out of Florida State in 2018. “They won nine straight (actually, seven of nine), and then they picked me 17th (overall). I remember that.”
INJURY UPDATE
Cornerback Donte Jackson was forced from the game in the second quarter after he was diagnosed with a concussion. He must enter the NFL’s concussion protocol before he’s allowed to practice or play. It wasn’t immediately clear when or how he was injured.