While the transition for the Los Angeles Rams has been filled with pleasantries and clutch road wins, the team hasn’t produced at home. On Sunday, their 30-17 loss to the Buffalo Bills amounted to their second lackluster outing at home.
Considering their first home game was a 9-3 victory over the Seattle Seahawks, the team has underperformed at home thus far. Todd Gurley’s one-yard touchdown was the first touchdown scored at the Coliseum in quite some time, but the team’s defense ultimately led to their undoing.
Bills running back LeSean McCoy had a tremendous game, rushing for 150 yards on 18 carries. The former Philadelphia Eagle also hauled in two catches for eight yards, as an emergency option out the backfield.
Although he failed to score a touchdown, McCoy had defensive tackle Aaron Donald and the entire defense on their heels.
After the game, Donald commented on McCoy’s performance and how it led to mayhem, via Alden Gonzalez of ESPN.com:
“We let him break us,” Rams defensive tackle Aaron Donald said. “We let him run all over us.”
McCoy went on record in saying he could have had 200 yards during that game, a sign of confidence against the Rams defense.
In total, the Bills collected 124 passing yards and 193 rushing yards. While the defense collected two sacks on the game, they failed to capitalize on other opportunities.
Donald was critical of his defense after the game, stating they didn’t play to their expectations:
“I just think we didn’t play our best as a defense,” Donald said. “I feel like we were missing tackles. Up front, I don’t feel like we dominated like we usually do.”
A circumstance Donald has had to overcome is the constant awareness surrounding him. The pro-bowl defensive player is consistently receiving double teams this season, in order to halt his sacks and run-stopping abilities.
The 25-year-old didn’t make any excuses though, stating that he needs to work through the adjustment to produce steadily.
Defensive coordinator Gregg Williams instills pressure from his lineman on the quarterback, but when failing it opens up plenty of avenues. While the Rams were missing some lineman, the next players up didn’t produce to an expected capacity.
The Rams hit the road for a Week 6 matchup against the Detroit Lions. With a 3-2 record, the Rams dropped out of first place in the NFC West, as the 3-1 Seahawks underwent a bye week.
