ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. (WKBW) — When the NFL schedule was first released, plenty of Buffalo Bills fans circled the Week 3 matchup against the Los Angeles Rams as the first real test of the season. While it was no walk in the park, the Bills handled their business in the first two weeks and now have their toughest test yet. Can they improve to 3-0 to start the season for the second straight year? Or will they be handed their first loss of the season. Here’s what our sports team thinks:
Matt Bove:
I’ve gone back and forth all week. On Monday, I would’ve told you the Rams would win this game after watching the Bills defense get exposed by the Dolphins. But that was an uncharacteristic performance for one of the best units in the league and I’m expecting a bounce back.
While it’s a different team, last year the Bills only allowed more than 28 points once. The Dolphins game was an important reminder of just how valuable linebackers Matt Milano and Tremaine Edmunds are to this team. Without them, the defense looked inconsistent and couldn’t stop much of anything in the middle of the field.
Offensively, Josh Allen and company will have their hands full with a Rams defense featuring two of the most dominant players in football. Aaron Donald can destroy a game plan and Jalen Ramsey is still one of the best in the game. But this isn’t the same old Bills. Even without Zack Moss and Dawson Knox, the Bills have plenty of options.
If Ramsey covers Diggs, which seems likely, Cole Beasley could have a nice day picking apart the middle of the field. Don’t count out Diggs though, his matchup with Ramsey will be one to watch and I’d bet the Bills wideout gets the better of him at least a few times. It’ll be a close one, but I’ll pick the team that doesn’t have to travel across the country.
Bills 27, Rams 26
Season record: 2-0
Jenna Callari:
This one is a tough one because it's the first matchup that will really test the Bills. We've seen this team do some really good things through the first two weeks. But that being said, they've done some not so great things and that can't happen against a team like the LA Rams.
The Bills defense CANNOT have an outing like they did in Miami. Reports are they will get Matt Milano and Tremaine Edmunds back this week which will help but they just seemed to struggle as a whole and when you're going up against Jared Goff and a top five offense, you've gotta be on top of your game. The Bills offense has shown more sparks through these first two weeks than they did all of last season. They'll have their hands full though in a Rams defense that bolsters a few playmakers that can make Josh Allen and the wide receiver's days miserable.
I had to flip a coin for this one because quite frankly, I think the team that wins will be the one that makes the least amount of mistakes. I chose heads for Bills and tails for Rams. I flipped the penny and it turned up tails. So with that being said....
Rams 27, Bills 23
Season record: 2-0
Adam Unger:
It's no secret: this is the best team that the Bills have faced all year. In 2019, they always found a way to play up to their competition, even if they couldn't come away with a win. But even with a performance like that, the Rams are built to slow down what's worked for the Bills.
Josh Allen said that Aaron Donald is one of the best to ever do it. Against a rotating door on the interior offensive line, he'll certainly have a chance to prove it. If the perennial all-pro blows up the Bills' backfield, it'll be a long day in Orchard Park. Not to mention Jalen Ramsey matching up with either Stefon Diggs or John Brown.
Tight ends have gashed the Bills defense so far this year, as well. Tyler Higbee is the best they've faced in that department. Gerald Everett also poses a problem in two-tight end sets. Linebackers Tremaine Edmunds and Matt Milano are questionable, but having both back is imperative to Buffalo's success.
The key for the Bills' offense is to take advantage of the middle of the field and get the ball out of Allen's hand as quickly as possible. Defensively, they need to get to Jared Goff early and often and throw off his rhythm. Even then, I'm still not sure it'd be enough.
Rams 23, Bills 20
Season record: 2-0
