The Los Angeles Rams had already made a surprise comeback last week in Philadelphia, and on Monday night, they nearly did it again.
With the clock winding down and trailing 34-27, Matthew Stafford led the Rams on a thrilling touchdown drive that tied the game against the Buffalo Bills at 34-34, pushing the contest into overtime at SoFi Stadium.
After a fumble by James Cook III was recovered by Aaron Donald deep in Rams’ territory, Los Angeles had a chance to seal the victory with a field goal attempt.
However, once again, their special teams faltered when Harrison Mevis’ 48-yard attempt was blocked by Greg Rousseau, allowing Josh Allen and the Bills to claim the win.
The matchup was intense, featuring eight lead changes and two ties during regulation, but the Rams fell short in overtime, suffering yet another heartbreaking loss despite Stafford’s late-game heroics.
There were more penalties and issues with special teams, leading to another frustrating evening for the Rams.
First Down: Flag Day Comes Early for the Rams
While the Rams have yellow in their uniforms, they seem to be seeing a lot of yellow flags as well. After a dismal performance against Philadelphia where they had 10 penalties for 100 yards, the Rams followed up with 11 penalties for 84 yards against the Bills.
That’s a total of 21 penalties for 184 yards in just two games—enough to make any local developer green with envy.
The frustrating part is that the Rams’ offense did find some rhythm against Buffalo’s defense, particularly through the air.
Yet, holding penalties, mental lapses, and a lack of discipline ruined several promising drives. NFL officials are tossing more flags than ever this season, but Monday night was particularly extreme. Combined, both teams had 24 penalties for 196 yards.
For two established teams aiming for the Super Bowl, this level of disorganization is simply unacceptable.
Second Down: Special Teams? More Like Special Nightmares
It might be time to check if the Rams’ special teams grasp that the game kicks off at the start. Buffalo’s Ray Davis returned Ethan Evans’ opening kickoff for 70 yards, putting the Bills in scoring range immediately. Although the Rams’ defense held Buffalo to a field goal, they had already lost momentum.
Then, on their first possession, Harrison Mevis missed a 50-yard field goal attempt, marking his second miss in as many weeks—but that was just an early signal of the struggles to come.
As the Rams aimed for a walk-off win in overtime, Mevis’ 47-yard attempt was blocked by Greg Rousseau, allowing the Bills to snatch victory with a field goal of their own.
New special teams coordinator Bubba Ventrone was brought in to fix these issues, but five games into the season, recurring mistakes still plague the team.
Poor coverage, missed opportunities, and disadvantages in field position have become unfortunately consistent themes in the Rams’ challenging season.
Sean McVay surely needs more than just explanations; he’s in dire need of effective solutions.
Third Down: Third Time’s a Charm, Until Allen Takes Off Running
It’s strange how the Rams’ defense works; despite giving up 37 points, their success rate on third downs remained strong. Following an impressive shutout of the Eagles’ third-down attempts last week, they limited Buffalo to just 2-for-7 on third downs during this game.
That’s an astonishing 2-for-19 in two games against formidable offenses.
Yet, that dominance on third down didn’t tell the complete story. Allen was relentless, tearing through the Rams’ defense for 121 rushing yards, as the Bills tallied a total of 234 on the ground.
That’s just not sustainable.
With Donald back and Watson returning to the secondary, the Rams still couldn’t contain Buffalo’s quarterback. Winning on third down is commendable, but it loses significance when opponents are advancing before they even reach that point.
Fourth Down: Stafford Still Has That Hollywood Magic
Someone might want to remind Matthew Stafford that sequels typically aren’t this captivating.
After leading remarkable fourth-quarter drives against Philadelphia last week, the reigning MVP orchestrated yet another comeback against Buffalo. In a what seemed like a lost cause, trailing 34-27 with time running out, Stafford guided the Rams down the field, ultimately tying the game.
In this outing, Stafford protected the ball, throwing no interceptions while delivering at least three touchdown passes. More importantly, he matched every scoring drive by the Bills with one of his own.
I guess, regardless of what happens next, it’s clear: Stafford possesses that championship mentality, making the Rams always a threat as long as he’s under center.
Up Next
The Rams don’t have much time to regroup after Monday night’s overtime. They’ll stay at SoFi Stadium this week, facing the Arizona Cardinals next Sunday at 1:05 p.m. PT.
Interestingly, this matchup will feature a return for former Rams offensive coordinator Mike LaFleur, who will be up against Sean McVay and his old team.
