Rams’ special teams woes strike again in overtime

So supposedly loaded have been the Super Bowl-favorite Rams, they earned 4 prime-time appearances in their first 5 video games.

And from a purely leisure standpoint, the Rams weren’t residing up to their billing.

Monday night time’s matchup against the Buffalo Bills supplied the latest showcase.

The Rams delivered some thrills — but not a victory.

Tyler Bass kicked a 45-yard area purpose with 1:55 left in overtime, sending the Rams to a 37-34 loss before 73,882 at SoFi Stadium.

Special teams miscues and penalties once again hampered the Rams in a recreation that featured three landing passes by Matthew Stafford and a career-best 17 catches by Puka Nacua.

Just as they did two years in the past, when the Rams outlasted the Bills for a 44-42 victory, the teams put on a show.

But the Rams’ document dropped to 2-3, the fourth time in the last 5 seasons the Rams are 2-3 or worse after 5 video games.

In 2022, when the Bills blew out the Rams in the opener at SoFi Stadium, the Rams have been 2-3 en route to a 5-12 end, the worst Super Bowl hangover in NFL historical past.

In 2023, the Rams have been 2-3 before rallying to end 10-7. The Detroit Lions eradicated the Rams in the NFC wild-card spherical. The next season, the Rams began 1-4, completed 10-7 again and misplaced to the Philadelphia Eagles in the divisional spherical.

Monday’s recreation was a matchup between the 2 earlier NFL most useful gamers, Bills quarterback Josh Allen in 2024 and Stafford in 2025. It was the first recreation between consecutive MVPs who play in separate conferences since 2015 when Peyton Manning went against Aaron Rodgers.

Stafford accomplished 40 of 54 passes for 383 yards, including two landing passes to Davante Adams and another to Nacua, who had 138 receiving yards.

Allen, who accounted for six touchdowns in a 44-42 loss to the Rams two years in the past, accomplished 12 of 19 passes for 210 yards and a landing, and he rushed for 121 yards and a landing as the Bills improved to 4-1.

This was supposed to be a special season for the Rams.

But it has turned into a special teams nightmare.

Harrison Mevis failed to convert two field-goal makes an attempt, including a successful kick in overtime that was blocked by Buffalo linebacker Greg Rousseau. The Rams also gave up a 70-yard return on the opening kickoff.

The Rams continued their penalty-filled foibles: They have been flagged 11 instances for 84 yards, many of the pre-snap selection that drives coach Sean McVay loopy.

Special teams miscues and penalties hampered the Rams in the first half, and they trailed 13-7 at halftime.

The Rams took the lead early in the second half when Stafford engineered a 60-yard drive that ended with Blake Corum’s one-yard landing run.

But late in the third quarter, the Bills took the lead on Allen’s landing go to receiver Keon Coleman. The Bills missed the extra-point attempt, leaving them with a 19-14 lead.

The Rams immediately answered, Stafford connecting with tight end Tyler Higbee for 28 yards before Corum caught a go and turned it into a 34-yard gain. That set up Stafford’s two-yard landing go to Nacua early in the fourth quarter, but Stafford was sacked on a two-point conversion attempt, leaving the Rams with a 20-19 lead.

Rams linebacker Nate Landman punches the ball out of Bills working back James Cook III’s arms during the third quarter Monday.

(Eric Thayer / Los Angeles Times)

Allen then directed an 80-yard drive that he capped with a one-yard sneak, and his two-point conversion go to tight end Dalton Kincaid gave the Bills a 27-20 lead with 11:28 left.

But the Rams tied the rating on the next possession off a five-yard landing reception by Adams.

Allen, however, acquired the ball with just over seven minutes left, and had 15- and 21-yard scrambles during a drive that ended with James Cook III scoring on a five-yard run for a 34-27 lead with 1:39 left.

On the following possession, Stafford accomplished a 14-yard go to Adams and, one play later, discovered Nacua for 16 yards and then Adams for 15. A one-handed catch for 9 yards by Kyren Williams moved the ball to the one-yard line, and Williams scored on the next play with 5 seconds left in regulation. Mevis’ extra-point tied the rating.

Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford passes during the first half against the Bills on Monday.

(Eric Thayer / Los Angeles Times)

The Bills acquired the ball first in overtime, and appeared on their approach to a area purpose or landing when Khalil Shakir gained 57 yards on a catch-and-run to the Rams’ 22. Rams security Kamren Kinchens prevented Shakir from scoring when he just barely managed to journey up the Buffalo receiver.

But on the next play, linebacker Nate Landman punched the ball from Cook’s grasp and Aaron Donald recovered the fumble with 7:54 left.

Stafford drove the Rams to the Bills’ 30, but the Bills blocked Mevis’ attempt, setting the stage for the Bills’ successful drive.