Quarterback Josh Allen put on a rushing masterclass to power the Buffalo Bills to a thrilling 37-34 overtime victory against Los Angeles after the Rams had a game-winning field goal blocked Monday.
The clash featuring the two most recent NFL Most Valuable Players — opposing quarterbacks Matthew Stafford and Allen — had been billed as a potential Super Bowl preview, and after a sluggish first half it did not disappoint.
On a night in which he rushed for 121 yards and a touchdown, Allen almost single-handedly forced the ball into field goal range late in overtime, allowing Bills kicker Tyler Bass to seal victory.
Bass’s 45-yard field goal silenced the home crowd at SoFi stadium, who had been ready to cut loose moments earlier as their own kicker Harrison Mevis lined up a 48-yard effort, but saw it dip low after Greg Rousseau got fingertips to the ball.
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Allen also passed for 210 yards and another touchdown across the night, after a first half in which he looked out of sorts.
“Don’t think we threw it very well, especially in the first half. But our team kept fighting,” said Allen.
“I mean, to the last second, found a way to win. It’s the first OT (win) that I’ve got. So this feels good, being on this side.”
Victory moved Buffalo to 4-1, while the Rams now sit third in the NFC West on 2-3.
The Bills got on the board in the game’s first drive with a Bass field goal after a 70-yard kickoff return, and added a second to go 6-0 up.
Stafford found Davante Adams for a touchdown in the second quarter, to give Los Angeles a slender lead.
Buffalo hit back, as Ty Johnson received a short pass and ran for a 40-yard gain before James Cook III stormed into the endzone for 13-7.
With less than a minute remaining Allen had a chance to extend the first half lead, but threw a needless interception.
The Rams could not capitalize, ending a half in which both highly-rated quarterbacks were stymied by opposing defenses and had fewer than 100 passing yards.
After the break there was no shortage of touchdowns.
Rams running back Blake Corum made the first breakthrough, bursting in for a one-yard touchdown.
The Bills hit back with an Allen seven-yard pass to Keon Coleman, but missed the extra point, making it 19-14.
Stafford found Puka Nacua for a short passing touchdown, and the Rams missed their two-point conversion attempt.
Allen executed one of his trademark quarterback sneaks and this time the two points were good, providing the Bills with a 27-20 lead.
That meant the lead had changed hands six times in six touchdown drives.
The free-for-all did not let up. Stafford sent a five-yard touchdown pass to Adams and Mevis converted the extra point to tie up the game.
There was still time for a touchdown more apiece, as Cook rushed up the middle from five yards, before Kyren Williams tied the score.
Cook appeared to have lost the game with a fumble in the first possession of overtime, before Mevis’s blocked field goal gave Buffalo a final chance which they did not squander.
amz/pst