Gabe Davis, Ed Oliver keep Buffalo Bills’ playoff hopes alive vs. Chargers (Encouraged/worried) and he drops three words message

Gabe Davis, Ed Oliver keep Buffalo Bills’ playoff hopes alive vs. Chargers (Encouraged/worried) and he drops three words message

Twas the night before the night before Christmas, when all through the Chargers’ house not a single Bills player was stirring for the first quarter of a must-win game.

Entering a short week and having to fly cross-country, the Buffalo Bills were sleepwalking throughout the entire first quarter. After finding themselves trailing 3-0 after the first quarter, the Chargers would add a touchdown to go up 10-0. That score, an Easton Stick touchdown run, seemed to jar Buffalo awake.

Buffalo would respond with 14 straight points and outscore the Chargers 7-3 in the third quarter. To the Chargers’ credit, they fought back with three fourth quarter field goals to retake the lead.

Much like the story of their season, the Bills found a way to response with their backs against the wall. Buffalo took the majority of the five plus minutes off the clock on their final drive before kicking a field goal with 28 seconds remaining. That would be enough to win the game.

Buffalo didn’t have their best stuff on Saturday night, but did enough to escape with a win. Following their ninth win of the season, here are reasons to be encouraged and worried about the Bills.

ENCOURAGED
Gabe Davis: In the Bills’ previous two games, Gabe Davis was kept off the stat sheet. He was blocking extremely well, but had no catches in matchups against the Kansas City Chiefs and Dallas Cowboys.

Against the Chargers, Davis’ number was called a few times and he responded with 130 yards and one touchdown on four receptions. His 57-yard score gave the offense the spark that they were lacking early in the game and he added an excellent sideline grab deep in Chargers territory later in the game.

Davis stepped up for the offense on a night where many players did not bring their A-game.

Controlling their destiny: After the Cincinnati Bengals were beaten by the Pittsburgh Steelers earlier in the day, Buffalo found themselves controlling their destiny.

Win out and the team is guaranteed a playoff spot as a Wild Card team. The AFC East is still a possibility as well if the Dolphins lose to either the Cowboys or Ravens and then drop their Week 18 game to Buffalo.

Buffalo doesn’t need any outside help as it stands. They simply need to take care of business with their remaining games.

Ed Oliver: Ed Oliver said his goal was to outplay the extension he signed leading up to the season. Mission accomplished. Oliver was a game-wrecker for Buffalo. He was the team’s best pass-rusher in the game finishing with two sacks. His pressure also helped Poona Ford record a sack of his own.