Los Angeles, Calif. (WGR Sports Radio 550) - It was the highest-scoring game to date in this NFL season, but the Buffalo Bills ended up coming out on the wrong side of the card in Southern California.
Despite losing by just two points on Sunday, the Bills always seemed just one step behind the Los Angeles Rams from the start in a 44-42 defeat at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood.
The Rams went right to off after receiving the opening kickoff, finding the end zone thanks to a three-yard touchdown run from running back Kyren Williams.
On their first offensive drive of the game, the Bills responded, as quarterback Josh Allen was able to connect with Khalil Shakir, Mack Hollins, and Ty Johnson to move into the red zone. After a couple of "tush push" attempts by the Buffalo offense, Allen finally found the end zone to tie the game at 7-7 with 3:22 remaining in the opening quarter.
Matthew Stafford and the Rams offense continued to fire on all cylinders on their second drive, getting right back into scoring position before the Buffalo defense stood its their ground inside their 10-yard line. That held the Rams to a 22-yard field goal kick from Joshua Karty.
After the Bills offense stalled on their next drive, Sam Martin was called on to punt the ball away for Buffalo. However, Rams special teamer Jacob Hummel blocked the punt, allowing for Hunter Long to recover the football and walk into the end-zone for a touchdown.
Four plays later and just a little more than two minutes off the clock, the Bills answered back with Allen tossing a screen pass to running back Ty Johnson. The Bills running back then took the ball 41 yards after the catch for a touchdown to close the deficit to 17-14.
The Rams continued to dominate the Buffalo defense, and moved right back down the field and into the end zone. This time, it was Stafford handing the ball of to Puka Nacua on a jet sweep, where he punched it in from four yards out.
The Bills had one more chance to close the gap before halftime, but failed to get near scoring position, and punted it back to the Rams.
The second half did not get off to a great start for the Bills on both sides of the football.
After a three-and-out from the Buffalo offense, the Rams took advantage to extend its lead to 17 points. Following a long, physical drive, the Rams punched the ball into the end zone again, as Williams capped off the drive with his second touchdown of the game, this time on a seven-yard run.
Allen and the offense made quick work on their next drive to get back in the end zone. After penalties set them back to 1st-and-30 from their own 27-yard line, Allen rushed for 17 yards to make it a bit easier on 2nd-and-14.
On the very next play, Allen was able to fire a strike over the middle to Shakir, who hit a hole in the Rams defense to turn a first-down strike into a 51-yard catch-and-run touchdown for Buffalo.
Buffalo's defense still could not get a stop, as Stafford and the Rams continued to dominate offensively. The drive ended just before the end of the third quarter with Stafford finding wide receiver Cooper Kupp in the end zone to extend the lead to 38-21.
Allen continued to put on a show as the clock ticked into the early portion of the fourth quarter. After a 20-yard rush to pick up a first down, Allen connected again with Shakir for a deep 34-yard pass, setting up a 1st-and-goal from the Rams' one-yard line.
Once again, the Bills turned to the "tush push" to get into the end zone, as Allen scored his second rushing touchdown of the game.
The Bills defense finally came up with a stop of the Rams offense, forcing their first punt of the contest with 13 minutes remaining on the clock.
This set up another long drive for Allen and the Buffalo offense, which Buffalo stretched down the field to bring the score back to within three points. On the 10th play of their 91-yard drive, Allen was able to find wide receiver Mack Hollins in the end zone for a 21-yard touchdown pass to make it a 38-35 game.
Just as it looked like Buffalo had a chance to come back, the defense failed to hold off the Rams from finding the end zone for a sixth time. While facing a 3rd-and-5 at the Bills' 19-yard line at the two-minute warning, Stafford was able to connect with Nacua on a short pass, who then took off for a touchdown.
Despite a missed extra point from Karty, the Rams still held onto a nine-point advantage with 1:54 remaining on the clock.
Despite facing overwhelming odds at a late-game comeback, the Bills offense didn't roll over just yet. After Allen was able to connect with Amari Cooper, while also getting some help from a couple of pass interference penalties, the Bills quarterback, once again, punched the ball up the middle for his third rushing touchdown of the game with one minutes remaining on the clock.
With the late score, Allen became the first player in NFL history to ever record three passing touchdowns and three rushing touchdowns in the same game.
After an unsuccessful onside kick attempt by the Bills, Rams were able to burn the clock out enough to seal the win on a fourth down punt that held up in the air long enough for the clock to hit 0:00.
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SCORING RECAP
First Quarter:
- 7-0 LOS ANGELES: Rams touchdown (8:29) - Kyren Williams rushes up the middle for a 3-yard touchdown run. (Joshua Karty's extra point attempt is good)
Drive info: 12 plays, 70 yards, 6:34
- 7-7 TIE: Bills touchdown (3:22) - Josh Allen rushes up the middle for a 1-yard touchdown run. (Tyler Bass' extra point attempt is good)
Drive info: 11 plays, 70 yards, 5:04
Second Quarter:
- 10-7 LOS ANGELES: Rams field goal (13:40) - Joshua Karty's 22-yard field goal attempt is good.
Drive info: 10 plays, 65 yards, 4:45
- 17-7 LOS ANGELES: Rams touchdown (12:29) - Jacob Hummel blocks Sam Martin's punt, Hunter Brown recovers the ball and returns it for a 22-yard defensive touchdown. (Joshua Karty's extra point attempt is good)
- 17-14 LOS ANGELES: Bills touchdown (10:32) - Josh Allen connects with Ty Johnson for a 41-yard catch-and-run touchdown. (Tyler Bass' extra point attempt is good)
Drive info: 4 plays, 70 yards, 2:06
- 24-14 LOS ANGELES: Rams touchdown (2:36) - Puka Nacua rushes to the left for a 4-yard touchdown run. (Joshua Karty's extra point attempt is good)
Drive info: 12 plays, 76 yards, 7:47
Third Quarter:
- 31-14 LOS ANGELES: Rams touchdown (8:31) - Kyren Williams rushes out to the right for a 7-yard touchdown. (Joshua Karty's extra point attempt is good)
Drive info: 11 plays, 76 yards, 5:29
- 31-21 LOS ANGELES: Bills touchdown (4:04) - Josh Allen connected with Khalil Shakir for a 51-yard touchdown. (Tyler Bass' extra point attempt is good)
Drive info: 6 plays, 80 yards, 4:32
- 38-21 LOS ANGELES: Rams touchdown (0:22) - Matthew Stafford connects with Cooper Kupp for a 17-yard touchdown. (Joshua Karty's extra point attempt is good)
Drive info: 7 plays, 70 yards, 3:36
Fourth Quarter:
- 38-28 LOS ANGELES: Bills touchdown (14:29) - Josh Allen rushes up the middle for a 1-yard touchdown. (Tyler Bass' extra point attempt is good)
Drive info: 5 plays, 70 yards, 0:51
- 38-35 LOS ANGELES: Bills touchdown (8:49) - Josh Allen connected with Mack Hollins for a 21-yard touchdown. (Tyler Bass' extra point attempt is good)
Drive info: 10 plays, 91 yards, 4:03
- 44-35 LOS ANGELES: Rams touchdown (1:02) - Matt Stafford finds Puka Nacua for a 19-yard touchdown. (Joshua Karty's extra point attempt is no good)
Drive info: 11 plays, 71 yards, 6:55
- 44-42 LOS ANGELES: Bills touchdown (1:02) - Josh Allen rushes up the middle for a 1-yard touchdown. (Tyler Bass' extra point attempt is good)
Drive info: 8 plays, 70 yards, 0:54
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SKYWORKS EQUIPMENT RENTAL STATS OF THE GAME:
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What's next:
The Bills head back on the road in Week 15, as they head to Detroit to take on the NFC-best Lions on Sunday at Ford Field. Kickoff is slated for 4:25 p.m. EST on the official voice of the Bills - WGR Sports Radio 550 - with Chris Brown, Eric Wood and Sal Capaccio on the call.