Rams Win Epic

The Los Angeles Rams have clawed back above .500 and helped keep their playoff hopes alive after upsetting the Buffalo Bills at SoFi Stadium, 44-42. 

This matchup was a clash of two high-powered offenses, and there was no shortage of points. Out of the shoot, these teams cruised up and down the field, scoring on their opening possessions and largely matched one another throughout the contest. The Rams entered halftime with a double-digit lead, but the Bills continued to hang around and make a surge in the fourth quarter to cut the deficit to just three points. 

However, once the game tightened up, that’s when Matthew Stafford and the Rams offense came up clutch. Faced with a third-and-5 situation coming out of the two-minute warning, Stafford connected on a short pass to wideout Puka Nacua, who then galloped 19 yards down the field for a late touchdown to put L.A. back up by two scores. With their backs against the wall, Josh Allen did get his offense down the field and, thanks to some penalties called against the Rams, got the ball at the 1-yard line. There, the Bills quarterback punched it in for his third rushing score of the game while cutting the lead down to just two points with a minute remaining. 

Despite that valiant effort, the ensuing onside kick did not bounce their way, and the Rams were able to churn down the clock en route to the win. 

Nacua’s fourth-quarter touchdown was the crowning moment in what was a dominating display by the receiver, who finished his afternoon with 12 catches for 162 yards with that score. He also had 16 yards rushing and another touchdown on the ground. Meanwhile, it was another sensational statistical game for Allen, who had six total touchdowns in the losing effort. Down key pass catchers like Keon Coleman and Dalton Kincaid, the Bills quarterback, finished with 342 yards and three touchdowns through the air while adding 82 yards and three more scores on the ground. On the other side, Stafford completed 23 of his 30 passes for 320 yards and two touchdowns. 

In the previous three weeks before entering Sunday’s matchup, the Rams were dead last in the NFL on third down (32.58%). However, you wouldn’t know that by watching them today. Los Angeles was stellar on the critical down, converting 11 of their 15 third-down situations in the win. That not only kept drives alive for the offense but kept Josh Allen on the sideline and helped build up their lead early and force Buffalo to play from behind. It was about as perfect of a start as the Rams could ask for, reaching season highs in points (24), first downs (17), and rushing yards (94) in the first half. That continued as the game went along as they finished with a dominant edge in time of possession, nearly doubling up the Bills, 38:30 to 21:30. 

Of course, the Rams got massive contributions from their stars, as Puka Nacua, Cooper Kupp, and Kyren Williams all accounted for at least one touchdown. That said, the Rams also got some added scoring help on special teams, with Hunter Long scooping up a blocked punt for a touchdown in the first half. At each turn, the Rams were able to set the tone and then match Josh Allen’s scoring output. Given that there were a total of 86 points scored in this game, there were plenty of choices for the top play from this game. That said, Puka Nacua’s toe-tapping reception midway through the second quarter was the most impressive catch arguably of the season. On a second-and-10 play from midfield, Stafford uncorked a sideline pass to Nacua. When watching it live, it looked like the ball was going to be too far away for Nacua to make a play on it, but somehow not only secured the catch but tapped both feet in bounds.