Buffalo Bills QB Josh Allen goes against L.A. Rams’ defense
Monday night football
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LOS ANGELES -- From his sideline, Matthew Stafford had a great vantage point on Josh Allen's skills as the Los Angeles Rams held off the Buffalo Bills 44-42 on Dec. 8, 2024, when Allen became the first player in the Super Bowl era to run for three touchdowns and pass for three TDs in a game.
"He's a one-of-a-kind type player at the quarterback position," Stafford said. "I think size, speed, ability to throw the ball, all the things you'd want. So he's a big-time player. It's fun to watch."
Allen is decidedly less enjoyable to try to defend, as the other side of the ball for the Rams (2-2) will have to do in their showdown with the Bills (3-1) tonight.
"He's probably a lot more fun when you don't got to tackle him," Rams defensive end Braden Fiske said. "But, hey, anytime you get to compete against the best, it is fun."
Allen accounted for 342 yards passing and 82 yards rushing without a turnover in his memorable last visit to SoFi Stadium, coming up short after trailing by 17 points twice in the third quarter. Those offensive fireworks happened in nine possessions while possessing the ball for just 21:30.
Buffalo coach Joe Brady, who was Allen's offensive coordinator at the time, could only remember the things that went wrong.
"We dug ourselves a hole in that game, and it allowed it to get to that point," Brady said. "You guys know how I am. I have such a high standard, so I'm always gonna reflect on the bad. But it didn't have to get to that point that it did."
The Rams' defensive players are looking forward to the challenge as a chance to measure where they are at after an up-and-down first month of the season. Los Angeles ranks second in the NFL in total yards (247.5) and yards passing allowed (145.5), having smothered the New York Giants after starting quarterback Jaxson Dart was hurt and putting the clamps on the Philadelphia Eagles, while also struggling to contain the San Francisco 49ers and Denver Broncos.
"As a football fan, man, I respect his game a lot," Rams cornerback Jaylen McCollough said of Allen. "You know, he's a generational talent."
The Rams are the first team since the 1949 Eagles to outgain an opponent by 200 yards in three straight games.
The Bills have scored touchdowns on 11 of 16 red-zone possessions on offense (68.8%) and allowed touchdowns on 11 of 16 red-zone possessions on defense.