Chargers 22, Bills 10
Philip Rivers and Eddie Royal hooked up for a pair of touchdowns as visiting San Diego handed Buffalo its first loss.
Rivers went 18-of-25 for 256 yards and two scores as the Chargers (2-1) earned their first road victory. Malcom Floyd caught two passes for 98 yards and Royal had four receptions for 42 yards and the two TDs as San Diego avoided a letdown after beating reigning Super Bowl champion Seattle last week.
Fred Jackson totaled 112 yards from scrimmage and had a receiving score for the Bills (2-1), who had their last chance to get back into it fail when EJ Manuel was called for a safety with 3:28 to play. Manuel went 23-of-39 for 238 yards and a TD, but rookie wide receiver Sammy Watkins was held to two catches for 19 yards for Buffalo.
Rivers found Royal on the left side of the end zone for a 3-yard TD 5:15 into the game to get the Chargers on the board, and Nick Novak’s second field goal of the first half sent San Diego into the break up 13-3. Rivers and the offense ate up 7:29 on the opening drive of the third quarter, with Royal breaking a tackle at the goal line to bust through for a 5-yard TD.
The Bills marched right back down the field and Manuel hit Jackson with an 11-yard TD pass to cut it to 20-10 with 1:16 left in the third. The Chargers were forced to punt on five straight possessions after Royal’s second score, but Buffalo failed to take advantage.
GAME NOTEBOOK: Chargers RB Danny Woodhead had to be carted off the field in the first half due to an ankle injury. … Rivers matched his own franchise record with his 23rd straight game with at least one TD pass. … Buffalo was penalized 11 times for 110 yards and was stopped twice on fourth down.