The Los Angeles Rams returned home from their Week 13 victory against the New Orleans Saints to host the Buffalo Bills in a highly-anticipated matchup during Week 14.
The Bills entered the game as the favorites and for good reason as they won their previous seven games and were in position to claim the No. 1 seed in the AFC. However, Los Angeles played arguably their best game of the 2024 season and outlasted Buffalo in a 44-42 affair that included numerous explosive plays and highlights.
The Rams improved to 7-6 and now find themselves in a position to take the NFC West crown assuming they can win out the rest of the way.
Los Angeles kicked off the afternoon with a 12-play drive that featured Puka Nacua and Kyren Williams exclusively. Williams walked in for a three-yard touchdown to make it 7-0 before the Bills fired right back thanks to Josh Allen.
The Rams were forced to settle for a field goal on their next drive, but special teams would surprisingly come up with the game’s next touchdown as they blocked a punt and returned it for a score to make it 17-7. The two teams then traded touchdown drives, with Nacua scoring on a run play to make it 24-14 at halftime.
L.A.’s defense was able to force a three-and-out to begin the second half, and followed it up with another touchdown drive capped off by Williams’ second run into the end zone. From there, the Bills and Rams traded scores though it was the former that eventually forced a punt after their second touchdown of the third quarter.
Gaining momentum, Allen and company threatened to take the lead in the fourth quarter, but Matthew Stafford was able to convert on a fourth-and-five play to Tutu Atwell to extend their final scoring drive. Stafford would ice the game out with a touchdown pass to Nacua make it 44-35.
Now THIS is how you cap off a 178-yard, 2-touchdown day.
(via @RamsNFL) pic.twitter.com/YvxEU79dWE
— Rams Newswire (@RamsNewswire) December 9, 2024
The Stafford to Kupp connection never gets old.
(via @RamsNFL) pic.twitter.com/WZu3hfQAI6
— Rams Newswire (@RamsNewswire) December 8, 2024
Make that 14 total touchdowns on the season for Kyren Williams!
(via @NFL) pic.twitter.com/5SbKXyGG0M
— Rams Newswire (@RamsNewswire) December 8, 2024
Puka Nacua with one of the best catches you'll ever see.
(via @NFL) pic.twitter.com/isrkPXi7Z1
— Rams Newswire (@RamsNewswire) December 8, 2024
#RamsHouse with a big special teams touchdown!
(via @NFL) pic.twitter.com/tWSknEl0G5
— Rams Newswire (@RamsNewswire) December 8, 2024
Your weekly Kyren Williams touchdown tweet!
(via @RamsNFL) pic.twitter.com/MBQT2f1ICv
— Rams Newswire (@RamsNewswire) December 8, 2024
A few careless penalties from the Rams defense allowed Allen to sneak in another touchdown that made it 44-42. However, Los Angeles was able to successfully receive Buffalo’s on-side kick and they squeezed by with the win.
It was an offensive masterpiece from both teams, with Nacua leading the way with 12 catches for 162 yards and two total touchdowns while Williams recorded 97 yards from scrimmage and two more scores.
This is the offense the Rams have been waiting for all season, so it will be interesting to see if they can build off it moving forward heading into the home stretch of the season.
The Rams’ defense definitely struggled to contain Allen, who finished with six total touchdowns in the loss. They got timely stops though and did enough to secure the victory over the leading MVP candidate and one of the best teams in the league.
What’s next for the Rams
The Rams head back on the road on a short week for a Week 15 Thursday Night Football matchup against the San Francisco 49ers, who are dealing with several injuries.
