The Playbook
Hollywood has a knack for comeback stories, and so do the Los Angeles Rams.
After struggling offensively in Philadelphia for three quarters, the Rams pulled off a dramatic fourth-quarter comeback that even Rocky would admire.
Now, they get to test whether that surge against the Eagles was just a one-off when they face off against former NFL MVP Josh Allen and the Buffalo Bills on Monday Night Football.
Buffalo, coming in with a 3-1 record, is looking to bounce back from their first loss of the season—a narrow 29-26 defeat at the hands of the New England Patriots. The Rams sit at 2-2 after their impressive comeback that rescued their season from an early downturn.
With Aaron Donald and Jaylen Watson expected back in practice this week, the Rams might see some reinforcement. Coach Sean McVay is optimistic about their availability for Monday’s game.
Donald sat out against the Eagles due to back soreness, while Watson has been recovering from a dislocated shoulder since the second quarter of the Denver game in Week 3.
If they return, it would be a significant lift for a defense that just recorded its best performance of the season without them, sacking Jalen Hurts four times and limiting Philadelphia to just 93 passing yards, preventing the Eagles from converting any of 12 third-down attempts. Byron Young stood out with 2½ sacks, while defensive coordinator Chris Shula did an excellent job of keeping Hurts on his toes.
However, Allen is a different challenge altogether compared to Hurts, and the Bills boast an offense that’s miles ahead of Philadelphia’s.
The Bills are leading the league in scoring, averaging nearly 32 points per game, thanks to Allen, James Cook, and a lineup of capable receivers who can turn an ordinary drive into a quick score. Allen has thrown for at least 245 yards in three of four games, with Cook averaging 5.1 yards per carry.
“They have a quarterback that’s playing as well as anybody in this league,” McVay acknowledged.
But, it’s worth noting that Allen has thrown picks in consecutive games, including a costly interception late against New England. The Rams will need to capitalize on these mistakes instead of letting Allen break free from pressure and create something remarkable.
Matthew Stafford, on the other hand, isn’t without his own turnover issues.
While he has thrown for over 300 yards in three straight games, he has also been intercepted in every game thus far, including two picks in his last two outings. This kind of mistake can be dangerous against a Buffalo offense that’s not shy about taking advantage of extra possessions.
The bright side for Stafford is that he recently got his favorite target back.
Puka Nacua returned against Philadelphia and made an immediate impact, amassing 125 receiving yards and scoring a rushing touchdown. Kyren Williams contributed 80 rushing yards, two touchdowns, and 10 receptions, giving McVay the kind of balanced attack that had been sorely missed in Denver.
Buffalo’s defense, however, hasn’t been stellar so far. They’ve allowed at least 29 points in three of four games, along with over 250 passing yards per game, which might just play into the hands of Stafford and Davante Adams.
Yet, the Rams are grappling with a long-standing issue: special teams.
Los Angeles has struggled with starting field position and coverage, and penalties are constantly derailing promising drives. Against the Eagles, they racked up eight penalties for 100 yards, and kicker Harrison Mevis missed another field goal.
Such mistakes can be frustrating against average opponents but could be deadly against a player like Allen.
Two seasons ago, the Rams edged out a wild 44-42 victory against Buffalo at SoFi Stadium, despite Allen’s six-touchdown performance.
If the game unfolds as anticipated, we could witness yet another explosive offensive showdown on Monday.
The key question will be whether the Rams can maintain their late-game intensity for an entire match, rather than waiting for the stakes to rise before performing like the Super Bowl contenders they were expected to be.
Because if their play mirrors the first three quarters from the Eagles game against Buffalo, they might find themselves out of time for another dramatic finish.
Marquee Matchup
Josh Allen vs. The Rams defense
This is the meeting of perhaps the league’s most dangerous improvisational quarterback and a Rams defense that just posted its best showing of the season against a playoff-team from last year.
Josh Allen can defeat defenses in many ways: with his arm, on the ground, or by turning a broken play into a big gain. Rams’ defensive coordinator Chris Shula’s task will be to ensure Allen doesn’t exploit all of those avenues.
The Rams come into the game allowing the second-fewest passing yards per match in the league, but the challenge presented by Buffalo is noticeably different from that of Philadelphia.
Shula has to find a way to apply pressure from his defensive front while maintaining gap discipline, especially against an offensive line that allowed just one sack on 33 of Allen’s pass attempts in the last game against New England.
The potential return of Donald provides another disruptive force, while the emergence of Byron Young adds speed at the edge.
The strategy is straightforward: apply pressure, collapse the pocket, and force Allen to play like a traditional quarterback instead of a dexterous escape artist.
Duarte’s Decision
Rams 28, Bills 27
The Rams have danced with danger all season, but Buffalo’s weak secondary presents Stafford with an opening to finally exploit opponents. With Nacua healthy, Williams performing well, and Donald possibly back, Los Angeles has enough weaponry to go toe-to-toe with Allen.
Expect a heavyweight battle reminiscent of their classic encounter in 2024, with Stafford orchestrating a late scoring drive and the Rams defense making one last stop to clinch the victory.
Key Stat
0-for-12
The Rams successfully held Philadelphia without a conversion on 12 third-down attempts. Replicating that level of defensive prowess against Josh Allen could be crucial for the outcome on Monday night.
