Allen Rushes for 121 Yards as Bills Beat Rams in Overtime
Allen Rushes for 121 Yards as Bills Beat Rams in Overtime
Josh Allen ran for a game-high 121 yards and a touchdown while adding 210 passing yards as the Buffalo Bills outlasted the Los Angeles Rams 37-34 in overtime at SoFi Stadium on Monday night. The win marked Allen's first career overtime victory after an 0-7 stretch in such games, including the playoffs. Buffalo improved to 4-1, while Los Angeles fell to 2-3.
The matchup pitted the league's two most recent MVP winners - Allen and Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford - in a game many had billed as a potential Super Bowl preview. Buffalo was missing top receiver DJ Moore (shoulder) and Joshua Palmer (shoulder), forcing Khalil Shakir and Keon Coleman into larger roles. Neither delivered consistently, leaving Allen to carry the offense, particularly in the fourth quarter and overtime, when he broke off a 32-yard scramble over consecutive plays to push Buffalo into field-goal range. Running back James Cook complemented Allen's production with 111 rushing yards and two touchdowns on 25 carries. live futsal betting
The game was defined by sloppy execution on both sides. The teams combined for 24 penalties, and special teams miscues plagued Los Angeles throughout. Rams kicker Harrison Mevis missed a 50-yard field goal earlier in the game and then had a 48-yard overtime attempt blocked, sealing Buffalo's win; he finished 5 of 9 on field goals this season. Buffalo also surrendered a 70-yard kickoff return that led directly to Rams points. On offense, Allen threw an interception for a third consecutive game - intercepted by Jaylen Watson, his first as a Ram - and Bills kicker Tyler Bass missed an extra point, while Buffalo was charged with 13 penalties in the win. Rams receiver Puka Nacua, a BYU product, set a career high with 17 catches for 138 yards and a touchdown on 21 targets, with head coach Sean McVay deploying him on jet sweeps, bubble screens and downfield routes. Still, McVay opted to run Kyren Williams for no gain on third-and-5 from Buffalo's 30 in overtime rather than target Nacua, a decision that preceded Mevis' blocked attempt. Stafford finished 40 of 54 for 383 yards and three touchdowns without an interception, posting a 111.9 passer rating, as the Rams' ground game stalled at 77 total rushing yards - Williams led with 49 yards on 16 carries, while tight end Tyler Higbee added five catches for 83 yards.
Los Angeles returns to SoFi Stadium on a short week to face the NFC West's last-place Arizona Cardinals, a must-win opportunity to stay in divisional contention. Buffalo remains on the West Coast to play the Las Vegas Raiders, who are seeking to snap their own two-game losing streak.
