The 24-hour game rule is in effect and the Chargers are no longer talking about the loss to the Kansas City Chiefs. In the words of Patriots head coach Bill Belichick “We are on to…” Buffalo.
The Chargers will travel to face the Buffalo Bills on Sunday in a 10 a.m. matchup. On Wednesday the Bills coaches disappointed a lot of people that aren’t Bills fans by announcing they were starting rookie quarterback Josh Allen instead of Nathan Peterman.
“I thought he had command of the offense, command of the huddle,” Bills head coach Sean McDermott said on making the switch, via ESPN’s Eric Williams. “He knew where to go with the football. He moved in the pocket and then outside of the pocket when he needed to. He’s a young player that’s going to continue to grow and get better.”
Last week the team had limited video on Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes because this is his first season as the starting quarterback. The team is facing the same problem with Allen because he is a rookie quarterback.
“We look at everything,” explained head coach Anthony Lynn. “Every snap he had in preseason, what he did in the game last week, how they used him when he came into the bowl game. We look at all that. We'll have a nice strategy for what we see and try to be prepared for what we're probably going to see that they haven't shown.”
Last season, McDermott benched then quarterback Tyrod Taylor for Peterman. He truly did the best he could, but the Chargers defense was all over him, which caused him to throw five interceptions in the first half. Last weekend, the team started Peterman against the Baltimore Ravens and more of the same happened. He threw two interceptions, was sacked three times, and posted a 0.00 quarterback rating, which led to his benching.
Allen has been the subject of controversy during the offseason, whether it was old tweets of him using the n-word resurfacing, which he later said were song lyrics, or having players call him out like Jacksonville Jaguars cornerback Jalen Ramsey who described him as “trash.”
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Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers spent some time with Allen during the draft process at a workout hosted by former NFL quarterback Jordan Palmer.
“He has a big, strong arm and really has a passion for the game. I could tell just in the short time I was around him. So I'm sure he's excited,” Rivers said.
Allen will be in front of one of the craziest crowds in the NFL. Bills fans jump off RVs on to tables pre-game to show their excitement, so the rookie has his work cut out for him.
The Chargers know they can’t underestimate Allen or the Bills because after getting punched in the mouth 47-3 to the Ravens, the team knows the Bills will be looking to take it out on someone. They just hope they can weather the storm and be prepared because going down 0-2 is a hole this team doesn’t want to be in… again.
NUTS AND BOLTS
•Chargers defensive end Joey Bosa went to specialist Dr. Robert Anderson on Wednesday to get a second opinion on a bone bruise diagnosis. According to ESPN's Adam Schefter, Bosa will be out for Sunday’s game against the Bills and could possibly miss more time.
•The team’s right tackle Joe Barksdale sustained a knee injury on Sunday and is considered week to week, but during the media’s view of practice Barksdale was seen on crutches. Sam Tevi, a 2017 sixth round draft pick, is slated to start.
•Other players that did not practice: receiver Travis Benjamin (foot) and cornerback Craig Mager (hamstring). Receiver Tyrell Williams had a full practice despite dealing with a groin injury.
