Matthew Stafford and the Los Angeles Rams had to put up a huge amount of points, yards, and time of possession to give themselves a chance against the Buffalo Bills’ strong fourth-quarter comeback and Josh Allen’s historic six-touchdown game.
The Rams (7-6) barely managed to hold on for a win that could change their season.
Stafford threw for 320 yards and connected with Puka Nacua for a 19-yard touchdown with 1:54 left to play. The Rams beat the Bills 44-42, ending Buffalo’s seven-game winning streak. Allen threw for 342 yards and ran for 82 yards for the Bills (10-3), who hadn’t lost since October 6.
He became the first player in NFL history to throw three touchdown passes and run for three touchdowns in a game, but it wasn’t enough to overcome Buffalo’s 17-point deficit going into the fourth quarter.
“Josh Allen is an alien,” said Rams coach Sean McVay. “We knew he was capable of some of the stuff that he can do and the things that he can create. He’s shown that. That’s why he’s as well-respected and well-regarded in this league as he is. But our guys made just enough plays to be able to come out on top.”
Allen finished his third long touchdown drive of the fourth quarter with a 1-yard touchdown run with 1:00 left. But Ronnie Rivers recovered the onside kick, and the Rams ran out the clock for their first win over the Bills since 2012 and their first home win against Buffalo since 1983.
This game was huge for both teams. The Rams and Bills combined for 902 yards of offense without any turnovers or sacks. Los Angeles controlled the clock for 17 more minutes and ran 18 more plays than Buffalo. The Rams needed all of that to survive.
Nacua, who caught 12 passes for 162 yards and also scored his first career rushing touchdown, said, “It’s fantastic being able to feel like, man, this is what it feels like when the Rams are moving and connecting on all cylinders.”
Hunter Long returned a blocked punt for a 22-yard touchdown for the Rams, who have won six of their last eight games to stay in the NFC West race. Kyren Williams rushed for 87 yards and two touchdowns as LA moved above .500 for the first time this season.
Despite Allen’s record-setting performance, the Bills ran out of time after struggling in the first three quarters. The Rams led 38-21 heading into the fourth quarter before Buffalo began to rally after clinching their division title.
“Hate losing,” Allen said. “If you lose by two or lose by 100, it doesn’t matter, you are still losing. Offensively, we have to find ways to score before and after the half. We didn’t do our part.”
Allen wasn’t focused on his historic six-touchdown game: “I have to make one more play than they do. It was a total team loss in three phases. We didn’t play up to our standards.”
Ty Johnson and Khalil Shakir caught long touchdown passes for the Bills, who became the first NFL team to score six touchdowns without a turnover in a loss. Buffalo’s 42 points were the most scored in a defeat in the team’s history.
“They did a great job controlling the line of scrimmage on both sides of the ball,” said Bills coach Sean McDermott. “Defensively and special teams, neither were good enough to help us win this game.”
A week after Buffalo clinched the AFC East title by beating San Francisco, the Bills started poorly in Los Angeles, allowing 24 points in the first half. Cooper Kupp caught a 17-yard touchdown pass with 18 seconds left in the third quarter.
“Obviously, offensively, what those guys have been doing is very impressive,” Kupp said. “Seeing it firsthand, they’re a really good football team, so we needed everything we had as a team today.”
Allen ran for a touchdown early in the fourth quarter before Buffalo forced the Rams’ first punt. But after Mack Hollins caught a 21-yard touchdown pass for the Bills with 8:49 left to play, Stafford led the Rams on a long drive, including an 11-yard pass to Tutu Atwell on a critical fourth-and-5 play near midfield with less than four minutes left.
After Nacua’s touchdown, Buffalo was penalized for pass interference, giving them a 34-yard penalty. The Bills made it to the Rams’ 1-yard line with 1:06 left but couldn’t score. Omar Speights stopped Allen on the first attempt, forcing Buffalo to burn a timeout that ultimately cost them.
