Home
Bills vs. Chargers live score, updates, highlights from NFL Week 16 Saturday night game
The estimated reading time is 8 minutes

Bills vs. Chargers live score, updates, highlights from NFL Week 16 Saturday night game

Bills vs. Chargers live score, updates, highlights from NFL Week 16 Saturday night game

The Bills had to fight hard just to be alive at this point in the season, but wins over the Chiefs and Cowboys have kept Buffalo’s playoff hopes afloat. Could another AFC East title also be in play? The Bills might need a win to hang with the Dolphins in the race for the division crown.

Fortunately for Sean McDermott’s squad, a win is what they are favored to get on Saturday night. The Chargers are down to backup quarterback Easton Stick, won’t have star receiver Keenan Allen available, and just fired coach Brandon Staley eight days ago. 

Staley’s ouster might spark some life for the Chargers, but with the way the Bills have been playing, Los Angeles is facing an uphill challenge in prime time. 

MORE: 8 potential replacements for fired Chargers coach Brandon Staley

After a lifeless performance against the Raiders in Week 15, the priority for the Chargers’ defense will be stopping James Cook. Offensive coordinator Joe Brady has made a point of building the Bills’ offense around Cook, and the second-year running back has come through with five consecutive games of at least 100 scrimmage yards.

Cook was used so often in Buffalo’s win over the Cowboys that Josh Allen threw just seven completions, but Allen made it clear he doesn’t care what his numbers are as long as the team is winning. Right now, winning seems to be coming easily for the Bills.

The Sporting News is tracking live scoring updates and highlights from Saturday night’s Week 16 game between the Bills and Chargers. Follow along with all of the key moments below.

Bills vs. Chargers score

  1 2 3 4 F
Bills 0 14 7 – –
Chargers 3 7 3 – –

Bills vs. Chargers live updates, highlights from Saturday night game

(All times Eastern)

10:13 p.m. — A big-time throw by Stick to get the ball past Taylor Rapp’s hands and into Joshua Palmer’s arm. The Chargers are roughly into field goal range.

10:12 p.m. — The Chargers get another first down on a pass by Stick to Jalen Guyton, moving up to midfield. Stick is 17-of-24 for 148 yards.

End of third quarter: Bills 21, Chargers 13

10:09 p.m. — The Chargers will start the fourth quarter with 2nd & 7 from their own 39-yard line. They trail by a touchdown and a two-point conversion, but there’s more than enough time to settle for a field goal if needed.

Bills 21, Chargers 13

10:02 p.m. TOUCHDOWN — When all else fails, tush push. Allen pushes into the end zone to extend the Bills’ lead to 21-13 after a terrific bounce-back drive.

10:01 p.m. — Fournette gets stuffed on second down, so it’ll be 3rd & Goal as the Chargers try to make a defensive stand here.

10:00 p.m. — Gabe Davis’ big night continues! He hauls in a 36-yard pass from Allen to set up 1st & Goal for the Bills. Davis is up to 130 yards.

9:59 p.m. — Now Khalil Shakir picks up a first down and keeps this drive moving right along.

9:56 p.m. — Diggs picks up positive yardage for the first time tonight, hauling in a short pass from Allen to convert on 3rd & 3. 

Bills 14, Chargers 13

9:52 p.m. FIELD GOAL — The Chargers turn the Allen interception into three points as Dicker drills a 40-yard field goal. It’s a one-point game.

9:51 p.m. — Another Chargers drive is blown up by a sack as Poona Ford comes in and takes Stick down. Cameron Dicker will try a field goal.

9:48 p.m. — An illegal formation erases what would’ve been a 1st & goal set up a nice Quentin Johnston run out of the backfield.

9:47 p.m. — There goes Easton Stick! The quarterback takes off running and picks up 21 yards after a heads-up decision not to hand the ball off to Isaiah Spiller.

9:44 p.m. INTERCEPTION — Allen throws downfield to Stefon Diggs and is picked off! Alohi Gilman snags an underthrown ball by Allen to give the Chargers a much-needed momentum swing. That’s Allen’s 15th interception of the season.

Advertisement

9:39 p.m. — A promising drive ends in disappointment after Stick gets leveled by Rasul Douglas. That will force a Chargers punt.

9:37 p.m. — Two quick first downs for the Chargers, including an explosive one by Ekeler. Gerald Everett, meanwhile, walked off gingerly after a hit by Taron Johnson. 

End of first half: Bills 14, Chargers 10

9:21 p.m. — The Chargers don’t take any chances and will send this game to halftime. They’ll start with the ball, looking to reestablish some momentum after giving up 14 consecutive points.

Bills 14, Chargers 10

9:18 p.m. TOUCHDOWN — The Bills run it in, but it’s not one of their running backs. Josh Allen takes it himself on a designed run to put Buffalo in front for the first time tonight. 38 seconds left in the half.

9:17 p.m. — Back-to-back carries for Leonard Fournette, who has the Bills knocking on the door of the end zone.

9:16 p.m. — There’s a 1,000-yard rushing season for Cook as the Bills continue to lean on their running game. 

9:12 p.m. — How about this night for Gabe Davis? He works past defenders to gain 20 yards, bringing him to 94 on the night. Buffalo can at least tie the game on this drive, barring a turnover.

9:11 p.m. — The Bills are quickly over midfield with the help of a first down run by Cook. He’s three rushing yards away from 1,000.

9:07 p.m. — It will be a punt for the Chargers, though the Bills won’t have such favorable field position this time around.

9:05 p.m. — A holding call on Gerald Everett turns what would’ve been a 4th & 1 into a 3rd & 22 for the Chargers.

9:03 p.m. — The Chargers are committing to their running game, and it’s surprisingly working so far as Ekeler picks up a first down. He has 41 yards on seven carries.

Chargers 10, Bills 7

8:57 p.m. TOUCHDOWN — There’s some life! Allen finds Gabe Davis for a 57-yard touchdown on the first play of the drive, instantly trimming the Chargers’ lead to three.

8:55 p.m. — Buffalo forces a quick three-and-out and should get strong field position out of that stop. If there’s a time for Allen and the offense to show some life, it’s right now.

8:50 p.m. — The Bills get set back by a holding penalty and can’t make up the yardage through the air. They’ll punt again, and the pressure is now back on the defense to keep the Chargers right where they are.

8:47 p.m. — There’s the James Cook we remember. He gets back-to-back carries for a total of 15 yards to kickstart the Bills’ drive.

Chargers 10, Bills 0

8:42 p.m. TOUCHDOWN — Stick will take it in himself after three consecutive passes to Everett gets the Chargers down to the goal line! Los Angeles is out to a shocking 10-0 lead. Can the Bills’ offense respond?

End of first quarter: Chargers 3, Bills 0

8:39 p.m. — The Chargers will start the second quarter in the red zone after Gerald Everett picks up 14 yards on a pass from Stick. Stick is 6-of-8 for 86 yards.

8:38 p.m. FUMBLE — Turnovers are hurting the Bills yet again. It’s not Josh Allen this time, though. Deonte Harty can’t hold onto the football on the punt return, and the Chargers recover it to give themselves an instant scoring opportunity.

8:36 p.m. — The Chargers will punt after a drive that lasted quite a while for one that didn’t go anywhere. The Bills should get decent field position.

8:30 p.m. — Christian Benford intercepts Stick, but he’s called for defensive holding to erase the turnover. LB Terrel Bernard is down for the Bills, so we are in an injury timeout as he gets checked out.

8:26 p.m. — James Cook has been held to just a yard on two carries, and the Bills are forced to punt again. The difference between last week and this week has been night-and-day for this Chargers defense.

8:23 p.m. — Gabe Davis gives the Bills some breathing room on this drive with a 17-yard gain.

8:22 p.m. — Leonard Fournette has his first carry as a member of the Bills. He was elevated off the practice squad today.

Chargers 3, Bills 0

8:18 p.m. FIELD GOAL — Giff Smith brings out the field goal unit just a few yards from the end zone. It’s an easy one for Cameron Dicker. No touchdown, but the Chargers lead 3-0.

8:16 p.m. — The Chargers convert on third down again, this time with a pass up the middle to Stone Smartt. They’re into the red zone.

8:15 p.m. — Stick does a nice job of getting the ball to Joshua Palmer for a big first down on 3rd & 7. The Chargers are nearing field goal range.

8:13 p.m. — Quentin Johnston didn’t get involved until late in last week’s blowout loss, but he has a 21-yard grab already to take the Chargers near midfield.

8:12 p.m. — Ekeler has touched the ball on each of the Chargers’ first three offensive snaps and gives Los Angeles a first down to start the drive.

8:10 p.m. — Jaylinn Hawkins breaks up a pass to Gabe Davis on third down, so the Chargers get the Bills off the field quickly. This is a sense of urgency they didn’t seem to have last week.

8:06 p.m. — Khalil Shakir hauls in a pass from Allen for 14 yards and a first down.

8:05 p.m. — Stick will have to wait, as the Bills will start with the ball.

7:55 p.m. — Easton Stick looked respectable in his first NFL start, though much of his work came after the game was out of reach. Whether he can keep the Chargers anywhere close to the Bills tonight will be a major test.

7:40 p.m. — All eyes are on James Cook tonight after he became the focus of the Bills’ offense once Joe Brady took over as offensive coordinator. The second-year RB needs only 32 rushing yards to cross the 1,000 mark.

7:15 p.m. — The Chargers are playing their first game without Brandon Staley on the sideline since the end of the 2020 season. Will it matter? Interim coach Giff Smith is working with limited resources, but just a little more effort from the defense would be a step in the right direction.

6:45 p.m. — As was already announced, the Chargers will be without WR Keenan Allen tonight. Will Grier will be LA’s No. 2 QB, with Max Duggan the emergency No. 3 quarterback.

6:35 p.m. — Bills safety Micah Hyde is inactive for the second consecutive week.

Bills vs. Chargers start time

  • Date: Saturday, Dec. 23
  • Start time: 8 p.m. ET (5 p.m. PT)

Saturday night’s game between the Bills and Chargers will kick off at 8 p.m. ET from SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles. 

MORE: Inside the Bills’ game ball controversy after win over Cowboys

What channel is Bills vs. Chargers on today?

  • Game: Buffalo Bills vs. Los Angeles Chargers
  • Date: Saturday, Dec. 23
  • TV channel (Buffalo): WGRZ (Channel 2)
  • TV channel (Los Angeles): KNBC (Channel 4)
  • Live stream: Peacock | DAZN (in Canada)

Saturday’s battle between the Bills and Chargers will be broadcast exclusively on Peacock, NBC’s streaming service. Mike Tirico (play-by-play) and Cris Collinsworth (color analyst) will be on the call from SoFi Stadium.

Viewers in the Buffalo and Los Angeles markets will be able to watch the game on local channels, but the rest of the country can only find the game on Peacock.

MORE: Why Al Michaels won’t be calling playoff game for NBC this season

Fans in Canada can stream it on DAZN, which carries every NFL game of the season.

Advertisement

Other Posts

  • Related Articles
  • More from Author

No related posts.