Justin Herbert throws 4 TDs as Los Angeles Chargers beat Buffalo Bills 45-17 in Week 3

Orchard Park, NY - Justin Herbert delivered four touchdown passes, and the Los Angeles Chargers intercepted Josh Allen five times in a 45-17 victory over the Buffalo Bills in Week 3.

Herbert completed 22 of 26 passes for 312 yards, four touchdowns and one interception, finishing with a 140.2 passer rating. His longest completion covered 59 yards, and Los Angeles paired that passing production with a varied group of touchdown scorers.

Brenen Thompson caught only two passes but turned them into 76 yards and two touchdowns. Omarion Hampton added a touchdown reception among his two catches for 78 yards, while Quentin Johnston finished with four receptions for 40 yards and a score.

Hampton was just as important on the ground. He carried 19 times for 78 yards and two touchdowns, giving him 78 rushing yards and 78 receiving yards while accounting for three scores. His longest run went for 26 yards, and his 59-yard reception matched Herbert's longest completion of the game.

"Being able to contribute in both parts of the offense means a lot," Hampton said. "I want to be someone the team can use in different ways, and I was able to give us production with the ball in my hands."

The final margin stood in sharp contrast to the overall offensive yardage. Buffalo finished with 392 offensive yards, one more than Los Angeles, and recorded 20 first downs compared with the Chargers' 18. The Bills also had 103 rushing yards against Los Angeles' 87.

The teams were much farther apart in turnover production and third-down efficiency. The Chargers' defense recorded five interceptions and three sacks, while Buffalo finished with one interception and two sacks. Los Angeles converted 5 of 8 third downs; Buffalo went 2 of 8 and was unsuccessful on its only fourth-down attempt.

"We were efficient, and a lot of different guys gave us something," Herbert said. "That's what you want from the offense. There are always things to clean up, especially with the turnover, but we gave ourselves a lot of good results."

Allen completed 26 of 40 passes for 305 yards and two touchdowns, but his five interceptions left him with a 65.1 passer rating. His longest completion went for 47 yards. James Cook III and Dawson Knox caught Buffalo's touchdown passes, with Cook totaling three receptions for 30 yards and Knox making one catch for nine yards.

DJ Moore supplied the Bills' biggest receiving total, catching six passes for 131 yards. His 47-yard reception was Buffalo's longest completion. That production, along with Buffalo's narrow advantage in offensive yards, was not reflected in a scoreboard that favored Los Angeles by 28 points.

"You can't look at the passing yards and feel good when the ball goes the other way five times," Allen said. "That's on me. We scored 17 points, and I have to be much better with the football."

The Chargers received notable defensive work from Genesis Smith, who recorded 1.5 sacks and one pass deflection. Denzel Perryman was responsible for one of the five interceptions, returning it six yards and also registering a pass deflection.

Buffalo reached the red zone four times, scoring two touchdowns and one field goal. Los Angeles recorded seven red-zone trips with two touchdowns and no field goals, another unusual contrast within a game in which the Chargers' overall scoring total reached 45.

For Herbert, the performance combined accuracy with downfield production. Only four of his 26 attempts were incomplete, and his four touchdown passes were spread among Thompson, Hampton and Johnston. The Chargers also had six total touchdowns from that receiving trio and Hampton's two rushing scores.

Los Angeles emerged from Orchard Park with a 45-17 Week 3 victory despite the teams finishing nearly even in offensive yards. Herbert's 312 passing yards and four touchdowns headlined the winning offense, while five interceptions stood as the defining number for Buffalo's difficult afternoon.

Up Next

The Los Angeles Chargers will take the win on the road for a Week 4 matchup with the Seattle Seahawks, while the Buffalo Bills return home looking to rebound against the New England Patriots.