Some good news and bad news here for the Los Angeles Chargers. The bad is that it’s a 10 a.m. Pacific time start in Buffalo on Sunday in Week 2. West Coast teams often struggle in those early windows. The good is that the Chargers would much, much rather visit Buffalo this time of year when it’s still nice rather than December when it’s like Antarctica at times.

NFL Point Spread and Betting Analysis

Los Angeles hired Anthony Lynn as its coach in January 2017 following its final season in San Diego. Many around the NFL thought Lynn would be hired as Buffalo’s coach then as he finished the 2016 season as the Bills’ interim head coach following the firing of Rex Ryan and was highly regarded by the players. The Chargers also interviewed, among others, former Carolina Panthers defensive coordinator Sean McDermott, who ended up getting the top job in Buffalo.

The Chargers lead the all-time series with the Bills 24-12-2, including playoffs, and have won 17 of the past 22 and three in a row. They played Week 11 last year in L.A., a 52-24 rout. McDermott gave rookie QB Nathan Peterman (more on him shortly) his first career start, and Peterman was historically bad in going 6-for-14 with five interceptions in the first half before being mercifully pulled. Keenan Allen torched the Bills with 12 catches for 159 yards and two scores.

Los Angeles Chargers

The Bolts were expected to be one of the NFL’s top defensive teams this year, but they were gashed for 38 points in a 10-point home loss to Kansas City on Sunday. The Chiefs do have as much offensive talent as anyone, and L.A. was without Pro Bowl defensive end Joey Bosa due to a foot injury. He’s expected to miss at least a month. There was nothing wrong with the Chargers’ offence in that game as they had 541 yards. Philip Rivers threw for 424 yards and three scores.

Running back Melvin Gordon had 166 yards from scrimmage, and Allen caught eight balls for 108 yards and a touchdown. At full health, this is a legitimate Super Bowl contender. Even with Sunday’s loss, the Chargers have won six of their past seven as a favourite.

Buffalo Bills

Looking for the early favourite to “earn” the top overall pick in the 2019 NFL Draft? That would be the Bills as they were flat-out embarrassing in Sunday’s 47-3 loss in Baltimore. Peterman was given the starting nod over first-round rookie Josh Allen, but Peterman was a ghastly 5-for-18 for 24 yards with two interceptions before being pulled for Allen, who wasn’t much better. Peterman has now made three career starts and been replaced in all of them (once due to injury).

You really can’t solely blame the quarterbacks as Buffalo has the worst group of skill position talent in the league and maybe its worst offensive line. It’s almost hard to believe this was a playoff team in 2017; it definitely won’t be in 2018. As of this writing, McDermott hasn’t named his starter vs. L.A. It likely will be Allen.

Chargers vs. Bills Prediction