‘When the 2023 NFL season began, both the Bills and Chargers profiled as potential Super Bowl candidates. But neither club has followed a smooth path to this point. Buffalo dropped its opener to the Jets on the night Aaron Rodgers went down, then later fired offensive coordinator Ken Dorsey amid a 6-6 start. Los Angeles, meanwhile, has been even worse, fielding a porous defense and cutting ties with both head coach Brandon Staley and general manager Tom Telesco following a fall to 5-9.’
BillsBeat - December 23, 2023
Examining Bills' path to NFL playoffs: Wild card and division title odds, remaining 2023 schedule and more
‘Since that embarrassing loss to Denver, the Bills have gone 3-1 to improve to 8-6, and not only are right back in the thick of the AFC wild card race, but the AFC East race as well. After Buffalo’s dominant 31-10 victory over Dak Prescott and the Dallas Cowboys, many now view this team as one of the best in the AFC. They could be hitting their groove at the right time, but do they control their own destiny?’
Bills playoff picture: Buffalo's updated chances to make 2023 NFL playoffs before Week 16 vs. Chargers
‘Many now believe that the Bills are on track toward being a Super Bowl contender again, as their offense has looked better since Ken Dorsey’s firing. The only question is whether they will make it into the playoffs.’
Chargers are proof to Bills fans, it could be worse
‘Despite not being the most mobile, Herbert does everything he can to lift the Chargers out of obscurity. He makes multiple throws every week that can make anyone’s jaw hit the floor. Yet, the Chargers have done everything to screw it up around him. Brandon Staley developed into probably the worst coach in the NFL.’
Opinion: Capaccio: Bills at Chargers: Sal's keys, notes and stats
‘The Chargers have fired their head coach and replaced him with an interim head coach. They’re coming off an embarrassing defeat on national television. They would love to bounce-back and show the country that wasn’t indicative of who they are. The best way for the Bills to not let that happen is to jump on them early, let them know it will be a tough night, and give them no hope to all the upset.’
How the Bills can still win the AFC East and host playoff game
‘Looking simply at record, the Bills appear to have fairly winnable games in Weeks 16 and 17 while the Dolphins face two difficult opponents. Then, the teams square off in the season finale.’
Bills Carucci Take 2: Urgent Bills can’t play down to lowly Chargers’ level
‘The Chargers are a disaster. With a 5-9 record, their season has effectively ended. They’ve lost starting quarterback Justin Herbert to a season-ending broken index finger. They’ve fired their head coach and general manager. They’re merely playing out the string while hitting the reset button for next year and beyond. All of which should serve as a giant caution sign for the 8-6 Bills, who have a history of playing down to the level of inferior competition.’
A lasting legacy: Charging Buffalo Bills logo celebrates golden anniversary
‘The logo is iconic, representing not just a team but a fan base: Bills Mafia. It debuted back on July 27, 1974, at the Hall of Fame game in Canton, Ohio.’
Thad’s Three Things: Bills at Chargers
‘Regardless, the coaching change is a clean slate for a Los Angeles team that’s put together another frustrating, disappointing season with probably one of the top ten quarterbacks in the NFL. It’s an excuse to be optimistic on a franchise best known for making good on pessimism.’
How to watch the Bills vs Chargers Saturday
‘NBC’s Peacock has the streaming rights to the game. Peacock’s Premium plan goes for $5.99 a month. The Premium Plus plan is $11.99 a month. Both get you the game. Premium Plus adds your local NBC affiliate, download and offline capabilities and no ads for most non-live programming. We did reach out to NBC Universal and they confirmed there are no free offers for Saturday’s game.’
How to watch Saturday's Bills-Chargers game
‘The game will be available over the air on NBC affiliates in the Buffalo and Los Angeles markets only.’
How to watch Saturday’s Bills game locally
‘Saturday’s game is a “Peacock Holiday Exclusive,” streaming exclusively on NBC’s streaming app. You will need the paid version of the app., with plans starting at $5.99 a month, plus tax. If you have a college student in the home, you can sign up for a student plan starting at $1.99 a month plus tax, but you would need to commit to a full year.’
Top 7 storylines to follow for Bills at Chargers | Week 16
‘According to Fox Sports, interim head coaches are 16-12 in their first game since 2010.’
5 things to watch for in Bills at Chargers | Week 16
‘What has also been noticeable the past couple of weeks is the offense’s ability to get on the board early. In each of their last two games, Buffalo has scored on two of their first three possessions. ESPN NFL analyst, Dan Orlovsky, in his weekly appearance on ‘One Bills Live’ believes jumping on Los Angeles early could discourage a Chargers team that’s had a rough week already.’
Game Predictions | Bills at Chargers | Week 16
‘Bills are 8-0 in 2023 when allowing 20 points or less.’