The Rams fell to 2-3 on Monday night, due in part to a couple of missed field goals from kicker Harrison Mevis — including a blocked field goal in overtime that, if good, would have won the game.
After the game, Rams coach Sean McVay pointed a finger directly at the field-goal unit after the 38-35 overtime loss: “It cost us the game tonight,” McVay told reporters.
McVay then said, “I’m gonna evaluate everything.”
Last year, McVay fired special-teams coordinator Chase Blackburn after the Thursday night overtime classic in Seattle. This time around, several folks should be getting a little nervous about whether the pink slip could be coming for them.
The clock is ticking. The next game is on Sunday, against the Cardinals. After that, the Rams visit the Raiders, followed by a home game against the Chargers.
All are winnable, which could boost the Rams to 5-3. Regardless, 2-3 (and 1-3 in prime time) is a far cry from where anyone thought the Rams would be after Week 5.
Rams Clips
On Monday night in L.A., Bills quarterback Josh Allen got his 100th career win. He also got his first in overtime.
Allen had been 0-7 in overtime entering the Week 5 game against the Rams. Thanks to a blocked field goal by defensive end Gregory Rousseau and Allen’s own legs on the ensuing drive, the Bills moved to 4-1 with a 38-35 victory.
Allen, who had 121 rushing yards, becomes the fourth quarterback to win 100 games in his ninth season. The others were Patrick Mahomes (112), Russell Wilson (107), and Tom Brady (101).
The victory also keeps the Bills in first place. A loss would have dropped Buffalo to 3-2 and, technically, into second place by virtue of losing last week to the Patriots.
On Sunday, the Bills face the 3-2 Raiders in Las Vegas. They’re off in Week 7. Next comes a home game against the 4-1 Ravens followed by a Monday night date with the 5-0 Vikings in Minnesota.
The Bills and Rams were a popular preseason pick to meet in the Super Bowl. If Monday night was a preview, Super Bowl LXI will be a good one.
The heavyweights went back-and-forth on Monday night, with eight lead changes and 35 combined fourth-quarter points.
The game, appropriately, was decided in overtime.
Bills kicker Tyler Bass made a 45-yard field goal with 1:55 remaining in overtime for a 37-34 victory. The Bills are 4-1 and the Rams 2-3.
The first half was all defense as the teams combined for 270 total yards, one play over 20 yards, 20 points, one punt, one turnover and one missed field goal. The second half was all Josh Allen and Matthew Stafford as the quarterbacks took over.
The teams ended up combining for 71 points and 890 yards.
Both teams had chances to win it late in regulation and again in overtime.
James Cook’s 5-yard touchdown run with 1:39 remaining in the fourth quarter gave the Bills a brief 34-27 lead, with Buffalo burning 5:35 of the final 7:14. It left plenty of time for Stafford, who led the Rams on an eight-play, 63-yard drive in only 1:34. Rams running back Kyren Williams’ 1-yard touchdown run with 5 seconds left tied it 34-34 and sent it to overtime.
The Rams won the toss in overtime and chose to kickoff.
On their first drive, the Bills faced a second-and-16 after a holding penalty. Khalil Shakir then had a 57-yard catch-and-run to the Los Angeles 22 before Rams safety Kamren Kinchens made the touchdown-saving tackle. On the next play, Cook fumbled for the second time. His teammates saved him on the first one but not on the second.
Rams linebacker Nate Landman punched the ball out and defensive lineman Aaron Donald recovered at the 20. Officials missed Landman removing his helmet in the field of play, which should have been a 15-yard penalty.
The Rams then drove 50 yards in eight plays to the Buffalo 30 before kicker Harrison Mevis missed for a second time. Greg Rousseau blocked Mevis’ 48-yard attempt.
Allen directed the game-winning drive, with the Bills going 35 yards in five plays. Allen had runs of 19 and 13 on the game-winning drive, and he finished his night with 10 carries for 121 yards and a touchdown.
He was 12-of-19 for 210 yards passing with a touchdown and an interception. Cook ran for 111 yards and two touchdowns on 25 carries.
The Rams outgained the Bills 454 to 436, with Puka Nacua setting a career-high and a Monday Night Football record with 17 catches for 138 yards and a touchdown. Nacua had 24 targets.
Stafford was 40-of-54 for 383 yards and three touchdowns.
Blake Corum and Kyren Williams each had a rushing touchdown, and Davante Adams caught two touchdown passes.
Rams wide receiver Davante Adams loves Monday night.
He has touchdowns of 4 and 5 yards tonight against the Bills, with his second score tying the game at 27-27 with 7:14 remaining.
He has four touchdowns this season, and all four were on Monday Night Football.
Puka Nacua also has had a big night with 14 catches on 19 targets for 96 yards and a touchdown.
Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford is 31-of-42 for 274 yards and three touchdowns.
The Rams have outgained the Bills 341 to 264.
Josh Allen has his eighth rushing touchdown in five games, and the Bills have the lead again.
Allen had a 1-yard touchdown run, and the Bills converted the 2-point conversion on Allen’s pass to tight end Dalton Kincaid. The Bills are now 1-for-3 on 2-point conversions this season.
They lead 27-20, the sixth lead change of the night.
Allen is only 8-of-15 for 129 yards with a touchdown and an interception, but he has run for 53 yards on six carries. James Cook has 16 carries for 90 yards and a touchdown.
Allen is now the first quarterback in NFL history to record a rushing touchdown in each of his team’s first five games of a season.
After a defensive battle in the first half, Josh Allen and Matthew Stafford have heated up.
The Rams just regained the lead on Stafford’s 2-yard throw to Puka Nacua with 14:16 remaining in the game. Los Angeles leads 20-19 after Stafford was sacked on the 2-point conversion.
Stafford threw completions of 28 yards to Tyler Higbee and 34 yards to Blake Corum on back-to-back plays to get the drive going.
He is 27-of-37 for 228 yards and two touchdowns.
Bills safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson was injured after making the tackle on Corum on his catch. He appeared to injure his knee.
The Bills have ruled out right tackle Spencer Brown.
The Bills regained the lead with a nine-play, 61-yard drive.
Josh Allen threw his first touchdown pass of the night, hitting Keon Coleman for a 7-yard score and a 19-14 lead. It was set up by a defensive holding penalty on Jaylen Watson after the Rams had Allen stopped on a 9-yard scramble on third-and-goal from the 13.
The Bills also got a 21-yard defensive pass interference penalty on Quentin Lake, who was covering Coleman, on first-and-20.
In addition, James Cook’s fumble was originally awarded to the Rams before officials changed the call. They gave the ball back to the Bills.
The Bills opted to go for 2 points, but Alec Anderson had a false start. They then decided to kick the extra point, but Tyler Bass missed the 38-yard try.
The Bills are 0-for-2 on 2-point conversions this season and 3-for-12 over the past three seasons.
The Rams had not scored on an opening possession of the first half or the second half this season until Monday night.
Blake Corum’s 1-yard touchdown run completed a nine-play, 60-yard drive that returner Alex Bachman set up with a 32-yard kickoff return to the Los Angeles 40.
The Rams lead 14-13.
The Rams went for it on fourth-and-1 from the Buffalo 35 when Tyler Higbee was called for a false start. Higbee made up for it with a 10-yard catch on fourth-and-6.
Higbee also drew a 17-yard pass interference penalty on Cole Bishop in the end zone that set up Corum’s touchdown run.
Matthew Stafford is 21-of-30 for 144 yards with a touchdown.
The Rams have Matthew Stafford. The Bills have Josh Allen.
The first half was all defense as the teams combined for 270 total yards, one play over 20 yards, 20 points, one punt, one turnover and one missed field goal.
The Bills lead 13-7 at halftime.
Buffalo scored on its first three possessions, failing to score a touchdown after a 70-yard opening kickoff return from Ray Davis and after a 10-play, 55-yard drive to the Los Angeles 5. Tyler Bass kicked field goals of 49 and 23 yards. James Cook finally got the Bills in the end zone on a 17-yard run.
Allen threw a deep interception on the Bills’ final possession of the half. He finished the first half 4-of-7 for 60 yards as the Bills gained 128 yards.
Cook rushed for 55 yards on nine carries and caught a pass for 7 yards. Allen rushed for 21 yards on three carries.
The Rams gained 143 yards as Stafford went 16-of-23 for 99 yards and a touchdown. Davante Adams caught Stafford’s 4-yard touchdown throw.
Puka Nacua has five catches for 32 yards and nearly caught up to a 49-yard throw by Stafford to the end zone on the final play of the half.
Aaron Donald’s first sack of the season was negated by an illegal contact penalty on cornerback Trent McDuffie.
The Bills have had the ball three times. They have three scores.
Buffalo scored its first touchdown on James Cook’s 17-yard touchdown run, giving the Bills a 13-7 lead with 5:09 remaining until halftime.
Cook has eight carries for 53 yards.
He has 474 rushing yards and four touchdowns this season. Cook’s 474 rushing yards are the fifth-most in team history through five games.
Josh Allen has thrown only five passes, completing three for 53 yards.
Tyler Bass kicked field goals of 49 and 23 yards on the Bills’ first two drives. Kickoff returner Ray Davis set up the first field goal with a 70-yard return on the opening kickoff.
The Bills list right tackle Spencer Brown (back) as questionable to return. Brown is in the training room. Tylan Grable has replaced him.
