Chargers drop to 0-3 after failing in red zone against Buffalo Bills

The Los Angeles Chargers fell to 0-3 after losing 24-16 to the Buffalo Bills, despite taking an early 10-0 lead and forcing five turnovers. Rookie safety Genesis Smith intercepted Josh Allen twice, but the Chargers’ offense stalled, including in the red zone, and penalties and a missed kick helped Buffalo rally. The Bills sealed the win late after James Cook—who rushed for 154 yards—scored the go-ahead touchdown; the defeat leaves the Chargers’ season in jeopardy. Houston also dropped to 0-3 in Week 3, losing a close game to Indianapolis, as both teams’ playoff hopes face an early test. The Chargers had entered the Bills game after a 17-14 loss to the Raiders, in which a late Omarion Hampton fumble helped decide the game.
The Chargers converted just one of four red-zone trips. On a chaotic third-quarter drive, four accepted penalties—including consecutive false starts at the Bills’ 1-yard line—forced them to settle for a field goal.
Kicker Cameron Dicker missed a 45-yard field goal in the first half, a rare miss that shifted momentum; Josh Allen then led two scoring drives in the final 6:02 before halftime to tie the game at 10.
Houston briefly took a 17-16 lead over Indianapolis before conceding the game-winning field goal. The loss left the Texans two games behind the Jacksonville Jaguars in the AFC South.
The loss marked the Chargers’ first 0-3 start since 2017. Coach Jim Harbaugh had also never started an NFL season 0-2 before this season.
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