Buffalo, N.Y. (WGR Sports Radio 550) - For the second-straight season, the Los Angeles Rams got off to a slow start and put themselves in a position where they were chasing a playoff spot.
Last season, the Rams were 3-6 before going on a tear, winning seven of their last eight games to earn a Wild Card berth.
This season, Sean McVay's team opened the year 1-4. They've since won five of their last seven games, but are just 10th in the NFC, a game-and-a-half out of the final Wild Card spot in the NFC.
Much of that slow start can be attributed to injuries, the majority of which were on the offensive side of the ball, but the 6-6 Rams are much healthier going into Sunday's matchup with the red-hot Buffalo Bills at SoFi Stadium.
Los Angeles was down three starters on the offensive line, and then lost their top-two receivers in Puka Nacua and Cooper Kupp. Those two are now back, and the line is healthier, which has led to an increase in offensive production.
While going 5-2 over their last seven games, quarterback Matthew Stafford has thrown 14 touchdown passes and just three interceptions. Since Nacua and Kupp returned, Stafford has the second-most touchdown passes in the NFL, and the most passing yards.
Despite missing five games, Nacua still has 42 catches for 546 yards and a pair of touchdowns. Kupp, who sat out four games, has 58 catches for 565 yards and five scores.
Fellow receiver DeMarcus Robinson leads the Rams in touchdown catches with seven.
In case you were wondering, only one team has recorded a 100-yard game by a receiver against the Bills all season. The New York Jets had both Garrett Wilson and Allen Lazard top 100 yards in a loss to the Bills in Week 6.
The Rams have a very strong ground game, powered by Kyren Williams. He has a team-leading 926 yards rushing and 10 touchdowns. He is tied with Saquon Barkley for the second-most rushing first downs (70).
Williams topped the 100-yard mark for the second time this season in last week's win over the New Orleans Saints, but he has had some ball security issues with four fumbles.
One of the Rams' problems on offense has been slow starts to games, even with a healthier lineup. Los Angeles has scored just 20 points in the first quarter, which is the second-lowest total in the league.
They've also had some issues in the red zone, where they are tied for 19th in touchdown percentage (53%).
Defensively, the Rams have been much stronger against the pass than the run. Los Angeles' pass rush has produced one of the highest pressure rates in the NFL.
Defensive ends Braden Fiske and Kobie Turner have combined for 11 sacks. Outside linebacker Byron Young has six sacks, and fellow outside linebacker and Defensive Rookie of the Year candidate Jared Verse has 4.5 sacks.
Verse has filled the stat sheet this season. In addition to the sacks, he has two passes defended, two forced fumbles, and one fumble recovery. Verse leads the team in both tackles for loss (11) and quarterback hits (17).
The 24-year-old has proven to be a force in his first year, and will provide stiff challenges for the Bills' offensive tackles.
The Rams have recorded 10 interceptions in their 12 games this season. Rookie safety Jaylen McCollough leads the way with four, one of which was a pick-six. Another rookie safety, Kamren Kinchens, has three picks, and one of those was returned for a touchdown.
Los Angeles has been very strong when the opponent gets inside the 20-yard line. They are ranked sixth in red zone defense. This should be an interesting matchup to watch, because the Bills have the third-best red zone offense in the NFL.
As a unit, the defense has gotten better as the season has gone on. Opponents averaged 27 points over the first five games, but that number has dropped to 21 points over the last seven contests. Philadelphia torched the Rams for 37 points, but the other six opponents were held to 23 or less.
The Bills are averaging 29 points a game.
Place kicker Joshua Karty has had some issues in his first year as a pro. He's missed five field goal attempts and two extra points. Karty is 11-of-13 in kicks under 40 yards, and 5-for-8 from 40-plus yards. He is also 24-for-26 with extra point attempts.
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Bonus Notes:
- If the Bills win Sunday, their eight-game winning streak would be the longest in the Sean McDermott era, and the longest for a Bills team since 1990. The franchise record is nine games set in 1964.
- A win would make McDermott just the fifth coach in NFL history to record, at least, 11 wins in five-straight seasons.
- The Bills are 20-2 in regular season games played in December and January since the start of the 2020 season. They have won the last 15 in-a-row.
- If the Bills score 30-or-more points, they would have done so for a franchise record seventh-straight game, and for a single-season franchise record 10th time.
- The Bills defense has recorded a takeaway in 14-straight games. Their 24 takeaways are tied for second-most in the NFL, just one behind the Pittsburgh Steelers.
- Josh Allen is 23-6 in games against NFC teams in his career.