2024 Week 14: Bills 42, Rams 44
This is the Rams team I had expected this preseason… not defensively, but on the offensive side of the ball I expected fireworks, and that’s what we got. This game felt like it was ripped straight from Madden, all offense, no defense. This wasn’t a fluke win, this was a real win and Buffalo never had a lead. The Rams were leading by 17 at the end of the third quarter and took their foot off the gas for a second, and that in conjunction with Josh Allen being Josh Allen allowed Buffalo to get back in it.
This was a bad loss for Buffalo (10-3) in terms of obtaining the 1 seed in the AFC. It’s almost fully out of reach now pending a KC collapse. Buffalo will likely end the season at 13-4 and in possession of the two-seed. Buffalo is facing Detroit this week and if they beat them they may end the year 14-3
As big of a loss as this was for Buffalo, this was equally as big of a win for the Rams (7-6). With this win, they stay one game back in the NFC West behind Seattle and have an even bigger game against San Fran on TNF.
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QB Report:
- This was another MVP-defining game from Josh Allen (22/37 for 342 yards, 3 TDs; 10 rushes for 82 yards, 3 TDs), who is one good game against Detroit away from locking up the award. Allen was robbed last year and Lamar Jackson has some voter fatigue going against him as he won it over Allen in 2023. The only obstacle would be Saquon Barkley breaking the rushing record, which is in play.
- As good as Josh Allen was, I’m more impressed by Matt Stafford (23/30 for 320 yards, 2 TDs). Yes what Josh Allen did was amazing and I’m not by any means discrediting what he did, but he did it against a terrible defense in a shootout… Stafford did it against a good defense in a shootout and actually won the game.
- Stafford has been one of the hottest QBs in the league and the two main causes are Puka Nacua and finally, they’re piecing together a fully healthy O-line. In the last 4 games, Stafford has thrown for at least 2 touchdowns and has scored 10 all together.
RB Report:
- Blake Corum (8-34-0) continues to get more and more meaningful work. This is still Kyren Williams’s (29-87-2; 2 catches for 10 yards) backfield, but Corum is the back of the future for LAR.
WR Report:
- Puka Nacua (12-162-1/14; 5 rushes for 16 yards, 1 TD) is making an argument for the most valuable WR in Fantasy Football. I don’t think he’s quite on the WR Mount Rushmore yet, but an argument must be made for him.
- This was Amari Cooper’s (6-95-0/14) best game in Buffalo so far, it felt/looked like a real #1 connection for the first time. Khalil Shakir (5-106-1/8) is still the comfortable throw for Allen but Amari seems to be making headway into becoming that guy.
- Dalton Kincaid is returning from his injury this week but, and I can’t believe I’m saying this, who cares? Since Joe Brady became the iOC and eventual full OC this offense has not done anything with the TE position.
D/ST Report:
- I’m starting to get the same feeling I did last season about the Bills defense… that they are overrated. There’s a reason I didn’t pursue their D/ST in any of my fantasy leagues, and this is one of those games that confirms my thoughts before the season… the Buffalo defense can’t hang with good offenses.
IMAGE SOURCE: (AP PHOTO/GREGORY BULL)
