3 winners and 3 losers from Rams’ OT defeat on MNF: Los Angeles squanders a golden opportunity to get above .500
The Los Angeles Rams have one of the most talented rosters in the NFL, yet they now sit at 2-3 after an overtime loss at home to the Buffalo Bills. Here is who stepped up and what went wrong.
The Los Angeles Rams have now played five games, and despite having arguably the best roster in the NFL, they are 2-3 after a home overtime loss to the Buffalo Bills on Monday night. The Rams had chances to win it late, and that is what makes this one so disappointing.
The offense did its part. The defense and special teams did not. Here are the winners and losers from a game Los Angeles should have closed out.
Rams vs. Bills key stats
- Puka Nacua: 17 catches, 138-plus yards, one touchdown.
- Matthew Stafford: 40-of-54, 383 yards, three touchdown passes.
- Bills rushing: more than 230 yards on the ground.
- Rams sacks: one
Rams winners: Puka Nacua, Matthew Stafford, and Nate Landman
WR Puka Nacua
When Puka Nacua is healthy, he’s arguably a top-three receiver in the NFL. You could argue he’s even higher than that. Nacua finished with 17 catches (not 17 targets, 17 catches) for over 138 yards and a touchdown. Buffalo threw everything it had at him, and it didn’t matter. He was completely unguardable, and he showed up every time his number was called.
QB Matthew Stafford
Speaking of the guy throwing him the ball, Matthew Stafford completed 40 of his 54 passes for 383 yards and three touchdown passes. Stafford was dialed in and in rhythm all night. He made plays in and out of structure, targeted Nacua at will, and looked every bit like the reigning MVP that he is.
LB Nate Landman
There wasn’t much good to say about the Rams’ defense, but Nate Landman did his part. He forced two big fumbles. The Bills recovered the first one on James Cook, but the second, a punch-out in overtime, handed the ball back to Los Angeles with a chance to win it. For all the ups and downs Landman had, I believe he essentially should have won the Rams the game. The Rams just didn’t capitalize.
Rams losers: The run defense, the pass rush, and the field goal unit
The run defense
James Cook ran for over 100 yards. So did Josh Allen. Together, Buffalo racked up more than 230 yards on the ground, and the Rams’ front seven looked like Swiss cheese. That is not good enough. If opponents can pound the rock like that, divisional games against San Francisco or Seattle, once Jadarian Price is healthy, become a recipe for disaster.
The pass rush
This defensive line is supposed to be one of the best in the NFL. I understand Myles Garrett, arguably the team’s best pass rusher, wasn’t available. Even so, one sack against Josh Allen is unacceptable. Allen likes to hold onto the ball and push it downfield, which gives a pass rush plenty of chances to get home. Los Angeles needs more juice from Aaron Donald, Braden Fiske, Kobie Turner, and everyone else up and down that line.
Harrison Mevis and the field goal unit
You can debate Sean McVay’s decision to play for a game-winning field goal in overtime instead of pushing for a touchdown. That discussion is fair. The truth is, these are paid professionals who are expected to execute at the highest level. Getting the kick blocked, then watching the Bills take over and drill their own game-winner, is an embarrassing operation that cannot happen.
It stings even more given the special teams blunders the Rams had last season. They brought in a new coordinator in Bubba Ventrone to fix that, but this was not a good night for Mevis, the field goal team, or a Los Angeles team that now sits at 2-3 with far too much talent to be there.
