Los Angeles Rams hold on to edge past Buffalo Bills 44-42

The Los Angeles Rams (7-6) held off a fierce comeback attempt by Josh Allen and the Buffalo Bills (10-3), securing a 44-42 victory on Sunday at SoFi Stadium. Los Angeles had a commanding 38-21 lead late in the third quarter, but Buffalo mounted a strong rally, scoring 14 unanswered points to close the gap to just three.

With the game nearing its end, Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford connected with wide receiver Puka Nacua for an 18-yard touchdown pass, pushing the Rams’ lead to 44-35 with just 1:54 remaining. However, Buffalo was not done yet. The Bills quickly moved downfield, reaching midfield before facing a crucial 4th-and-15 situation. In a tense moment, the Bills kept their hopes alive by drawing a defensive pass interference penalty on the Rams, which advanced the ball to the 16-yard line.

Buffalo capitalized on the penalty, with Josh Allen powering through for a 1-yard touchdown run, making it 44-42 with one minute left. The Bills then attempted an onside kick in a last-ditch effort to regain possession, but it was unsuccessful. Rams running back Ronnie Rivers pounced on the ball, securing possession for Los Angeles.

With only two timeouts left for Buffalo, the Rams were able to manage the clock effectively. They drained nearly all of the remaining time, leaving just seven seconds. Though the Rams were forced to punt, punter Ethan Evans’ kick covered the remaining time, allowing Los Angeles to hang on for the win.

Stafford had an impressive performance, completing 23 of 30 passes for 320 yards and two touchdowns, one to Nacua and another to Cooper Kupp. Nacua was a standout, finishing with 12 receptions for 162 yards, plus five carries for 16 yards and a touchdown. Kupp also contributed with five catches for 92 yards. Running back Kyren Williams added 87 yards and two touchdowns on 29 carries, playing a key role in the Rams’ victory.