The Bills need to re-focus and adjust plans if they hope to win their 11th game of the season
The Buffalo Bills trail the Los Angeles Rams 24-14 at halftime, and they’re pretty lucky it’s only a 10-point difference. Things didn’t that well in the first 30 minutes, mostly due to the defense’s inability to contain the run, match physicality against wide receiver Puka Nacua, and get off the field.
The most glaring blemish was a complete breakdown by Buffalo’s punt unit, which allowed the Rams to claim a momentum-stealing return touchdown for the first time in 108 games.
Adversity isn’t new to quarterback Josh Allen, but a now-healthy LA team is putting it all together to fluster most aspects of the Bills today. Buffalo has nine first downs, while the Rams have nine first downs by run alone. The Bills’ red zone defense has proven porous at best this afternoon, and it’s led to a completely lopsided time of possession in favor of the Rams — 19:55 to 10:05 for Buffalo.
Adding insult to emergency, the Bills only managed six plays in Rams territory. In contrast, LA managed to run 21 plays in Buffalo’s half of the field. One need only look at the teams’ running games, with the Bills gaining 15 yards on six carries (two by Allen), and the Rams picking up 94 on 24 carries.
There’s a lot to clean up, and defensive coordinator Bobby Babich needs to make halftime adjustments if the team is going to win in Week 14. The 24 points given up are the most by Buffalo in any first half this season.
The Bills may need a classic Josh Allen performance to pull this one out against a Rams team hungry to put early season struggles behind them. Through two quarters, Allen is 10-of-16 for 151 yards and one touchdown; adding two carries for one yard and another score.
Here’s your open thread for the remainder of Bills at Rams. As always, be kind to one another, and in all things... Go Bills!