NFL Power Rankings Week 16
Mackenzie Salmon chats risers and fallers in this weeks NFL power rankings.
The Week 16 Saturday nightcap features two teams heading in diametrically different directions.
The Buffalo Bills (8-6) have won three of four since firing offensive coordinator Ken Dorsey and are coming off a shellacking of the Dallas Cowboys in Week 15. The Bills are making a late-season push for an AFC wild-card playoff spot.
The Los Angeles Chargers (5-9), meanwhile, are vying for a top-10 pick in the 2024 NFL draft. After last week’s embarrassment against the Las Vegas Raiders, the Chargers fired head coach Brandon Staley and GM Tom Telesco. Giff Smith was elevated to interim coach to help steer this sinking ship through its final three games.
USA TODAY Sports will provide the latest updates, scores, highlights, wild plays, analysis and more throughout the Bills-Chargers game. Follow along.
The Chargers’ offense stalled in the red zone, and they were forced to settle for a 40-yard field goal by Cameron Dicker.
Los Angeles has 10 points off two Buffalo turnovers.
Dicker’s made both his field goal attempts.
The Bills just served up their second turnover.
Josh Allen’s deep pass intended for wide receiver Stefon Diggs was intercepted by Chargers safety Alohi Gilman at Los Angeles’ 42-yard line. Allen had Diggs open, but the pass — which Allen threw on the run — was short of the receiver.
The interception was Allen’s 15th of the season, tied for the most this season
The Chargers jumped out to a 10-0 advantage, but the Bills stormed back by scoring 14 unanswered points to end the first half.
On the Bills’ final possession of the half, Josh Allen hit wide receiver Gabe Davis for a 20-yard catch. Four plays later, Allen scampered into the end zone for a 2-yard touchdown. Allen’s touchdown capped off an eight-play, 63-yard touchdown drive for Buffalo to end the first half.
The Bills gained 186 total yards and Los Angeles gained 150 yards in the first half.
The Bills punted on their first two drives and Deonte Harty lost a fumble during a punt return. Despite the slow start and turnover, the Bills were able to rally back by scoring touchdowns on their final two possessions.
Allen has 124 passing yards, one touchdown pass and a rushing touchdown.
Chargers QB Easton Stick passed for 101 yards and has a rushing touchdown.
The Bills were still scoreless in the first half until Josh Allen found Gabe Davis for an explosive, 57-yard touchdown connection. The score cut the Chargers’ lead to 10-7 with 9:02 left in the second quarter.
Allen started the game 5-for-9 passing for 95 yards to pace the Buffalo offense. Thus far, the Bills have not solved the Los Angeles rush defense.
For Davis, 2023 marks his fourth consecutive season with at least six touchdowns.
The Chargers are off to a surprising start.
They capitalized off the short field after Buffalo’s fumble, going 27 yards in four plays. L.A. scored on a 1-yard run by quarterback Easton Stick.
The Chargers have scored on two of their first three possessions.
The Chargers are knocking on the door as the first quarter comes to a close thanks to a Bills gaffe on special teams.
AJ Finley forced Deonte Harty to fumble and Amen Ogbongbemiga came up with the recovery at the Bills’ 27. Easton Stick hit Gerald Everett for 15 yards to bring the ball to the Bills’ 12 as the first quarter ended.
Easton Stick and the Chargers had a solid opening drive.
Stick led the Chargers on a 14-play, 90-yard drive that ended in a short 20-yard field goal by kicker Cameron Dicker.
Stick completed five passes during Los Angeles’ opening series. Rookie wide receiver Quentin Johnston had one catch for 21 yards.
Bills star wide receiver Stefon Diggs was shaken up on Buffalo’s first offensive snap. Diggs was injured after he was tripped up by Chargers safety Derwin James following a short completion. Diggs was able to jog off the field. He only missed one play. The Bills were forced to punt the football a few plays later.
What time is the Bills vs. Chargers game?
Kickoff for the Bills-Chargers game is 8 p.m. ET on Saturday, Dec. 23 at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California.
The Bills-Chargers game will be streamed live on Peacock.
This is the first NFL regular-season game to air exclusively on Peacock. Peacock — which streams all “Sunday Night Football” games broadcast on NBC — also will stream a wild-card playoff game on Saturday, Jan. 13, 2024.
The Bills are favorites to defeat the Chargers, according to BetMGM NFL odds.
- Spread: Bills (-12)
- Moneyline: Bills (-700); Chargers (+550)
- Over/under: 44
USA TODAY Sports’ staff picks for this game:
- Lorenzo Reyes: Bills 29, Chargers 14 — It will be interesting to see how the Chargers bounce back from Brandon Staley’s firing. Often, teams can get a little bump in the week following a coaching change. But Buffalo is red hot and looks like the most dangerous team in the AFC right now and Los Angeles is still starting Easton Stick. Logic says back the stronger squad, even with the big line.
- Tyler Dragon: Bills 31, Chargers 13 — The Bills are one of the hottest teams in the NFL right now. Meanwhile, the Chargers, who fired coach Brandon Staley and GM Tom Telesco, are already thinking about next season. One team is pushing for a playoff berth and the other is playing for pride while also thinking about vacation plans. We know how this one will go.
- Safid Deen: Bills 27, Chargers 13 — The Chargers waived the white flag last Thursday against the Raiders in embarrassing fashion, and the end of the year can’t come fast enough. Meanwhile, the Bills see the road to the postseason within their grasp and should win easily in Los Angeles.
- Victoria Hernandez: Bills 27, Chargers 19 — Buffalo has a lot of momentum after an upset win. Josh Allen admitted he had a far-from-stellar outing, but it was perfectly fine that James Cook carried the Bills. Los Angeles doesn’t have enough tools to keep up. This is a massive spread for a road game where the Bills have to travel across the country, so take the moneyline.
- Jordan Mendoza: Bills 33, Chargers 13 — It might be a good thing this game will only be available on Peacock, as it might not be one worth tuning into. The Chargers hit a new low last week, and it won’t get any easier going against an offense that has found its rhythm. Buffalo doesn’t make this a contest and wins its third straight.
After the Chargers fired head coach Brandon Staley and general manager Tom Telesco following the team’s 63-21 loss to the Las Vegas Raiders, outside linebackers coach Giff Smith was elevated to interim head coach.
The 55-year-old Smith is a 32-year coaching veteran, with 12 of those years in the NFL. Smith served as the Chargers’ outside linebackers coach for the 2022 and 2023 seasons. Before that, he was the Chargers’ defensive line coach for six seasons (2016-2021). Prior to joining the Chargers (back when the team called San Diego its home), Smith’s other NFL stops were with the Tennessee Titans (2014-15 as defensive line coach) and Buffalo Bills (2010-12 as defensive line coach).
You’re never too old to get your groove on.
In October, Los Angeles Chargers safety Derwin James hosted “Derwin’s Disco” at Wallis Annenberg GenSpace, a community center for older adults in Los Angeles. His goal was to bring joy to an often forgotten population.
James rocked an afro and wore a colorful jacket and white bell bottoms for the affair, which was attended by about 100 GenSpace members. He took selfies, led the “Y.M.C.A” and danced with several of the guests individually. — Victoria Hernandez
The top NFL betting apps list the Los Angeles Chargers as one of the best bets for NFL Week 16 in their marquee matchup with the Buffalo Bills. The Chargers are getting 12.5 points at home, according to the BetMGM NFL odds. Looking to wager? Check out the best mobile sports betting apps offering NFL betting promos in 2023.
According to the top NFL betting apps, neither team boasts a player with the best NFL MVP betting odds. Neither team is listed with the best Super Bowl betting odds in 2023.
Not interested in this game? Our guide to NFL betting odds, picks and spreads has you covered with Thursday Night Football odds, Sunday Night Football odds and/or Monday Night Football odds.
If you’re new to sports betting, don’t worry. We have tips for beginners on how to place a bet online. And USA TODAY readers can claim exclusive promos and bonus codes with these online sportsbooks and sports betting sites. — Richard Morin
Despite all the adversity, on and off the field, the Bills are a real threat to make it to the postseason. The division title is even still a possibility with the Miami Dolphins facing a daunting two-game slate (vs. Dallas Cowboys and at the Baltimore Ravens) before hosting the Bills in the regular-season finale. — Nate Davis
The Chargers’ disappointing season has a decent consolation prize … a possible high pick in the 2024 NFL draft (and with it a prominent place in the seemingly endless run of mock drafts).
Here is the top 10 2024 draft order heading into Week 16:
- Chicago Bears (from Carolina Panthers)
- New England Patriots
- Arizona Cardinals
- Washington Commanders
- New York Giants
- Chicago Bears
- Los Angeles Chargers
- Tennessee Titans
- New York Jets
- Atlanta Falcons
The last time the Chargers picked in the top 10 was 2020, when the team selected quarterback Justin Herbert with the No. 6 overall pick. — Jim Reineking
The NFL’s top 15 players in average annual salary are all quarterbacks, according to OverTheCap.com. As Joe Burrow proved in his new deal with the Cincinnati Bengals, teams place a huge priority on having a top-flight QB under center. Burrow’s five-year, $275 million contract extension made him the league’s highest paid player at a staggering average annual value of $55 million. San Francisco 49ers defensive end Nick Bosa is the highest-paid non-quarterback in the league after signing a five-year, $170 million extension.
Here’s the complete list of the league’s highest-paid players.
We have a complete list at every position:
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