The Buffalo Bills (0-1), looking to bounce back from an embarrassing 47-3 thumping to the Baltimore Ravens in the season opener, return home for another key AFC showdown with the Los Angeles Chargers (0-1).
After seeing second-year pro Nathan Peterman and the offense slog their way to zero first-half first downs, head coach Sean McDermott entrusted prized rookie Josh Allen with the keys to the offense, as Allen will make his first NFL start at 1 p.m. Sunday at New Era Field.
Of equal concern to the Bills chances: the defense, which was expected to be the strength of the team, but which allowed Joe Flacco and the Ravens to hang 26 first-half points in the opener.
While there are still 15 more games to be played in the regular season, Sunday’s tilt with the Chargers carries a lot of influence on the race for a playoff berth. Only 28 of the last 231 teams to start 0-2 bounced back to qualify for the postseason.
The last time these two foes met, Peterman tossed five first-half interceptions and the Chargers scored 35 first-half points en route to a 54-24 win in Carson, Calif.
The Chargers lead the all-time series 24-12-2, with the Bills taking two of the three postseason meetings, including a 20-7 win in the 1964 AFL Championship game, and a 23-0 shutout win in the 1965 AFL Championship.
In the most recent matchup in Western New York, the then-San Diego Chargers traveled to Orchard Park and emerged with a 22-10 win on Sept. 21, 2014.
Here’s how to watch the game game from home:
TV Schedule
Date: Sunday, September 16, 2018
Time: 1 p.m. Eastern
Channel: The game will be carried locally on CBS on WIVB 4 in Buffalo, WROC 8 in Rochester, WTVH 5 in Syracuse and Utica, WENY 36-2 in Elmira, WBNG 12 in Binghamton and Elmira. View the broadcast map.
Announcers: Tom McCarthy (play-by-play) and Steve Beuerlein (analyst)
Location: New Era Field | Orchard Park, New York
Radio: WGR 550AM (Buffalo), WCMF 96.5 FM and WROC 950 AM (Rochester), Fan 590 AM (Toronto), WTKW 99.5 FM and WKTV 105.5 FM (Syracuse), and the rest of the Buffalo Bills Radio Network.
Radio Play-by-Play: John Murphy and Mark Kelso in the booth with sideline reporter Sal Capaccio.
Online: NFL Game Pass, NFL.com Game Center
Friday Injury Report: Buffalo Bills: Full participant: Julian Stanford (nose). Limited participant: WR Ray-Ray McCloud III (knee). Did not practice: CB Taron Johnson (shoulder), DE Shaq Lawson (hamstring). Game day status: Questionable: McCloud. Out: Johnson, Lawson. Los Angeles Chargers: Full participant: WR Tyrell Williams (groin). Limited participant: WR Travis Benjamin (foot). Did not practice: T Joe Barksdale (knee), DE Joey Bosa (foot), CB Craig Mager (hamstring). Game day status: Questionable: Benjamin. Out: Barksdale, Bossa, Mager.