The Los Angeles Rams had the Buffalo Payments proper the place they needed them. Kicker Harrison Mevis lined up for a possible game-winning subject aim in extra time from 48 yards out. Greg Rousseau blocked the kick. Josh Allen did the remainder to get the Payments the sector aim they wanted to seal the win.
4. The Rams fall to 2-3 on the season. LA is third within the NFC West divisional race behind the Seattle Seahawks and San Francisco 49ers.
It’s too early to pay too shut consideration to the standings. Nonetheless, the Rams would really feel a lot better in the event that they had been as a substitute e with a successful file.
How did they get right here? Let’s check out the person performances from Monday Evening Soccer.
Winners
Nate Landman, LB
Nate Landman broke out early in his first season in LA. The Rams gave him a contract extension round this time final 12 months. His manufacturing fell off a cliff.
Maybe crucial side of his manufacturing is his capability to create splash performs. Landman punched out two fumbles from James Prepare dinner. The primary was initially referred to as as recovered by the Rams earlier than being reversed. The second got here in extra time and arrange LA for a possible game-winning subject aim.
It’s not sustainable to anticipate punch outs on a regular basis. Landman must be a extra constant defender on a down-to-down foundation. Nonetheless, turnovers can swing outcomes as we noticed on Monday night time. Landman additionally has a knack for making necessary performs on the proper time.
The veteran linebacker did sufficient to assist the Rams get a win.
Puka Nacua, WR
The offense ran by means of Puka Nacua in opposition to the Payments. Matthew Stafford tried 54 passes. 24, good for 44% of the full, went in Nacua’s course. He caught 17 passes for 138 yards and a landing. It’s extra of a working again statline than you’d usually anticipate for considered one of soccer’s most harmful receivers.
Davante Adams was productive within the purple zone with two touchdowns as an honorable point out. Adams nonetheless must be extra productive between the 20 yard strains and co-exist with Nacua as twin focal factors within the offense. We noticed Adams carry out at a excessive stage with Nacua out as a result of damage. They each not often hearth on all cylinders on the identical time.
Trent McDuffie & Jaylen Watson, CB
In the event you carve out a 57-yard catch by Khalil Shakir in extra time that may be attributed to Quentin Lake, Buffalo receivers completed with simply three receptions for 30 yards.
The corners had been stingy on this sport. Allen solely accomplished 12 passes and most went to both working backs or tight ends. Whereas the defensive entrance continues to be a going concern with out Myles Garrett, the revamped secondary is doing their half to make life tough for opposing quarterbacks.
Losers
Harrison Mevis, Ok
Mevis missed each of his subject aim makes an attempt together with the aforementioned blocked kick in extra time. Whereas he made all 4 of his further factors, his shortcomings simply made the distinction within the end result.
The Rams shouldn’t have a lot confidence in Mevis outdoors of 45 yards. Nonetheless, for some motive, they opted to play their remaining offensive ultraconservative and accept a 48-yard subject aim. That’s inexplicable.
However it’s a must to assume your kicker is able to knocking within the game-winning kick from inside 50 yards. The actual fact the Rams clearly shouldn’t have a dependable participant on this side is telling. LA must be maintaining a tally of the marketplace for an improve.
The remainder of particular groups
LA opened the sport by permitting a protracted kick return at hand Josh Allen the ball in scoring place. The protection happily held the Payments to a subject aim following a dropped landing move and a sack by Josaiah Stewart. The Payments gathered 219 kick return yards on this sport and averaged 31 yards per run again.
The punting sport was a nonfactor, which simply means the Rams didn’t have a lot of a possibility to screw that up too.
Run protection & include on Josh Allen
It’s not typically {that a} crew just like the Payments finishes with extra dashing than passing yards. James Prepare dinner had 111 yards on 25 rushes (4.4 common) with two scores. Allen added 121 yards on 10 rushes of his personal with a landing. Buffalo completed with 234 yards on the bottom in comparison with Allen’s 210 gross passing.
You possibly can stay with Prepare dinner’s dashing output most days. Allen’s capability to interrupt include was crippling to the Rams’ protection.
Quentin Lake, DB
Credit score to Quentin Lake for battling by means of an damage to swimsuit up for this sport. He was listed as “questionable” on the ultimate damage report for the week.
However it’s clear that Lake was not at full pressure Monday night time. He allowed a protracted reception in extra time with the Payments backed up due to a holding penalty. He additionally simply regarded out of types for many of the sport.
Lake has been one of many NFL’s finest safeties to begin the 12 months. The Rams should hope that he can return to well being and his pre-injury stage of efficiency down the stretch. What he confirmed on tape in opposition to the Payments was not adequate.