The Los Angeles Rams have clawed back above .500 and helped keep their playoff hopes alive after upsetting the Buffalo Bills at SoFi Stadium, 44-42.
This matchup was a clash of two high-powered offenses, and there was no shortage of points. Out of the shoot, these teams cruised up and down the field, scoring on their opening possessions and largely matched one another throughout the contest. The Rams entered halftime with a double-digit lead, but the Bills continued to hang around and make a surge in the fourth quarter to cut the deficit to just three points.
However, once the game tightened up, that's when Matthew Stafford and the Rams offense came up clutch. Faced with a third-and-5 situation coming out of the two-minute warning, Stafford connected on a short pass to wideout Puka Nacua, who then galloped 19 yards down the field for a late touchdown to put L.A. back up by two scores. With their backs against the wall, Josh Allen did get his offense down the field and, thanks to some penalties called against the Rams, got the ball at the 1-yard line. There, the Bills quarterback punched it in for his third rushing score of the game while cutting the lead down to just two points with a minute remaining.
Despite that valiant effort, the ensuing onside kick did not bounce their way, and the Rams were able to churn down the clock en route to the win.
Nacua's fourth-quarter touchdown was the crowning moment in what was a dominating display by the receiver, who finished his afternoon with 12 catches for 162 yards with that score. He also had 16 yards rushing and another touchdown on the ground. Meanwhile, it was another sensational statistical game for Allen, who had six total touchdowns in the losing effort. Down key pass catchers like Keon Coleman and Dalton Kincaid, the Bills quarterback, finished with 342 yards and three touchdowns through the air while adding 82 yards and three more scores on the ground. On the other side, Stafford completed 23 of his 30 passes for 320 yards and two touchdowns.
For more on how this game unfolded, check out our main takeaways below
In the previous three weeks before entering Sunday's matchup, the Rams were dead last in the NFL on third down (32.58%). However, you wouldn't know that by watching them today. Los Angeles was stellar on the critical down, converting 11 of their 15 third-down situations in the win. That not only kept drives alive for the offense but kept Josh Allen on the sideline and helped build up their lead early and force Buffalo to play from behind. It was about as perfect of a start as the Rams could ask for, reaching season highs in points (24), first downs (17), and rushing yards (94) in the first half. That continued as the game went along as they finished with a dominant edge in time of possession, nearly doubling up the Bills, 38:30 to 21:30.
Of course, the Rams got massive contributions from their stars, as Puka Nacua, Cooper Kupp, and Kyren Williams all accounted for at least one touchdown. That said, the Rams also got some added scoring help on special teams, with Hunter Long scooping up a blocked punt for a touchdown in the first half. At each turn, the Rams were able to set the tone and then match Josh Allen's scoring output.
The Bills fell behind early and could never truly play at their own pace. As we noted above, the Rams could effectively do whatever they wanted on third down, and the Buffalo secondary had little answer for the Los Angeles pass catchers. Specifically, the duo of Puka Nacua and Cooper Kupp finished with 17 catches on 22 targets for 254 yards receiving and two touchdowns through the air. That was most apparent in the red area, where the Bills defense allowed the Rams to score a touchdown on five of their six trips inside the 20-yard line.
It was those struggles defensively that squandered what was a historic showing from Josh Allen.
The key swing in the winning effort for Los Angeles came during their second-to-last possession of the game. First, Sean McVay made the gutsy decision to keep his offense on the field with his team up 38-35 with just under four minutes to play in regulation. Had they not converted, they would've given the Bills the ball back with ample time to tie the game with a field goal and take the lead with a touchdown. Instead, Matthew Stafford connected with Tutu Atwell for an 11-yard gain to move the sticks, keep the drive alive, and keep the clock ticking in their favor.
Stafford to Tutu for a BIG 4th down conversion
— NFL (@NFL) December 9, 2024
📺: #BUFvsLAR on FOX
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After taking it down past the two-minute warning, the Rams were again faced with a gotta-have-it situation, faced with a third-and-5 at the Buffalo 19-yard line. Stafford again came up clutch, hitting Puka Nacua on a short pass on the right side of the field, and the wideout raced for a 19-yard touchdown to add to their lead.
What a block by Coop. What a run by Puka.
— Los Angeles Rams (@RamsNFL) December 9, 2024
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That score made it a two-possession lead for the Rams, which was enough to fend off Buffalo even after they went down and scored late.
PUKA NACUA!
— NFL (@NFL) December 8, 2024
📺: #BUFvsLAR on FOX
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Given that there were a total of 86 points scored in this game, there were plenty of choices for the top play from this game. That said, Puka Nacua's toe-tapping reception midway through the second quarter was the most impressive catch arguably of the season. On a second-and-10 play from midfield, Stafford uncorked a sideline pass to Nacua. When watching it live, it looked like the ball was going to be too far away for Nacua to make a play on it, but somehow not only secured the catch but tapped both feet in bounds.
This angle highlights how impressive the grab was.
PUKA NACUA! ABSOLUTELY UNREAL!
— Los Angeles Rams (@RamsNFL) December 8, 2024
📺: @NFLonFOX | #RamsHouse pic.twitter.com/QQQNDqo0FC
Overall, Nacua finished with 12 catches, 178 total yards from scrimmage, and two touchdowns.
From here, the Rams will begin a two-game road trip beginning in Santa Clara, where they'll visit the San Francisco 49ers on Thursday to begin Week 15. As for the Bills, they'll be in Detroit taking on the Lions next Sunday.
The Los Angeles Rams were able to outlast the Buffalo Bills in a shootout at SoFi Stadium. A late touchdown by Puka Nacua just after the two-minute warning proved to be enough to keep Buffalo at arm's length. However, it was a monster day for Josh Allen, who finished with six total touchdowns in the losing effort. As for Nacua, he had 12 catches for 162 yards and a touchdown.
That's six total touchdowns for Josh Allen today! Now, it'll all center around an onside kick for Buffalo.
Oh goodness. ANOTHER penalty on the Rams. This time it comes in the end zone, so the ball is placed at the 1-yard line.
That's a brutal penalty to take there for the Rams. You can't give Josh Allen extra chances to pull off a comeback.
Dagger. Matthew Stafford connects with Puka Nacua for a 19-yard touchdown. Again, another fantastic block by Cooper Kupp.
As the broadcast notes, the Rams got away with a false start that wasn't called during the fourth down conversion. Would've made it a fourth-and-10 situation.
Massive call by Sean McVay to keep the offense on the field on fourth-and-5. Stafford went through his reads and found Atwell for a game to move the sticks. Great throw over the middle.
The Bills and Rams have each been called for five penalties, but it feels like Buffalo's have been more demoralizing today.
Per CBS Sports Research, Josh Allen joins Michael Vick (2010) as the only players in NFL history with 300+ passing yards, 3+ passing touchdowns, 50+ rush yards, and 2+ rushing touchdowns in a game.
And just like that, it's a three-point game. Josh Allen now has five total touchdowns and the latest was a perfectly thrown ball to Mack Hollins for 21 yards.
Josh Allen now has 71 yards rushing and two touchdowns on seven carries.
The trainers appear to be working on Puka Nacua's calf on the sideline.
Massive stop for the Bills defense. They force the Rams into a three-and-out and give the Buffalo offense the ball back down by 10.
This is Josh Allen's fifth career game with 2+ passing touchdowns and 2+ rushing touchdowns (most in NFL history).
Another ridiculous catch by Shakir. Put the Bills on the goal line and Josh Allen punches it in for his second rushing touchdown today. What a sequence by Buffalo. They are still hanging around ...
The 38 points are the most the Rams have scored this season and the most the Bills have allowed.
Bills corner Rasul Douglas is being looked at after giving up the touchdown to Kupp.
Hello, Cooper Kupp! The Rams receiver muscles his way up and somehow comes down with the catch in traffic. It's 37-21 lead for the Rams over the Bills.
Not sure how Nacua is that open on third down. The Rams wideout now has 10 catches for 124 yards, while also recording a rushing touchdown.
That's a way to get back into the game! Josh Allen to Khalil Shakir for a 51-yard touchdown! Allen saw it immediately and fired the ball over the middle to Shakir, who beat his defenders across the middle. Massive mistake not accounting for him by the Rams secondary.
After converting just one of their four on third down today, Josh Allen converts a massive 26-yard pass to Amari Cooper to move the chains. Buffalo needs to get points here.
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