Los Angeles
Chargers
12-5
33
FINAL
46
Buffalo
Bills
10-7
AI Recap
AI RECAPIn a thrilling Wildcard Round matchup, the Buffalo Bills triumphed over the Los Angeles Chargers with a final score of 46-33, securing their spot in the next round of the playoffs. The game was a high-stakes battle, with both teams looking to advance further in the 2026 season.
Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert had a standout performance, throwing for an impressive 398 yards and five touchdowns. Despite the loss, Herbert's aerial assault featured standout receiver Oronde Gadsden, who racked up 280 receiving yards, showcasing his ability to stretch the field and find the end zone. However, it was the Bills' James Cook III who stole the show on the ground, amassing 181 rushing yards and proving to be a critical component of Buffalo's offensive success.
Defensively, the Bills made key plays that shifted the momentum of the game, highlighted by Greg Rousseau's impactful 1.5 sacks and Christian Benford's crucial interception. The turning point came late in the second half when Benford picked off Herbert, setting up a touchdown that extended Buffalo's lead and put the game out of reach. The Bills' defense capitalized on critical moments, ensuring their victory in a high-octane playoff clash.
Passing
| Player | Pos | ATT | CMP | YDS | TD | INT | RTG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Justin Herbert | QB | 25 | 12 | 398 | 5 | 3 | 94.1 |
| Josh Allen | QB | 25 | 17 | 242 | 4 | 0 | 138.6 |
Rushing
| Player | Pos | ATT | YDS | YPC | TD | LNG | FUM |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| James Cook III | HB | 22 | 181 | 8.2 | 2 | 51 | 0 |
| Omarion Hampton | HB | 7 | 12 | 1.7 | 0 | 8 | 0 |
| Alec Ingold | FB | 1 | -4 | -4.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Receiving
| Player | Pos | REC | YDS | YPR | TD | LNG | DROP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oronde Gadsden | TE | 7 | 280 | 40.0 | 3 | 82 | 0 |
| Khalil Shakir | WR | 3 | 71 | 23.7 | 2 | 36 | 0 |
| Omarion Hampton | HB | 2 | 62 | 31.0 | 1 | 31 | 1 |
| Dalton Kincaid | TE | 4 | 56 | 14.0 | 1 | 23 | 0 |
| DJ Moore | WR | 4 | 35 | 8.8 | 0 | 12 | 0 |
| James Cook III | HB | 2 | 30 | 15.0 | 0 | 22 | 0 |
| Mecole Hardman | WR | 2 | 28 | 14.0 | 0 | 19 | 0 |
| Ladd McConkey | WR | 1 | 28 | 28.0 | 1 | 28 | 0 |
| Keon Coleman | WR | 1 | 22 | 22.0 | 1 | 22 | 0 |
| Quentin Johnston | WR | 1 | 16 | 16.0 | 0 | 16 | 0 |
| Tre' Harris | WR | 1 | 12 | 12.0 | 0 | 12 | 0 |
| Joshua Palmer | WR | 1 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Defense
| Player | Pos | TKL | SACK | INT | FF | PD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Greg Rousseau | LEDG | 2 | 1.5 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Maxwell Hairston | CB | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Christian Benford | CB | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 |
| Daiyan Henley | WILL | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Khalil Mack | REDG | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| C.J. Gardner-Johnson | SS | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Dorian Williams | WILL | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Derwin James Jr | SS | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Cole Bishop | FS | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Donte Jackson | CB | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Nick Barrett | DT | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Tarheeb Still | CB | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Geno Stone | SS | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Landon Jackson | DT | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Genesis Smith | SS | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Tony Jefferson | SS | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Teair Tart | DT | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Kaleb Elarms-Orr | WILL | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Bradley Chubb | REDG | 0 | 0.5 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Justin Eboigbe | DT | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Terrel Bernard | MIKE | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
Kicking
| Player | Pos | FGM | FGA | XPM | LNG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tyler Bass | K | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 |
| Cameron Dicker | K | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 |

