Even with Christian Benford back in the fold, the Bills’ secondary is still walking into a tough assignment on Monday night. Buffalo’s defense has already had its share of early-season issues, and now it gets Matthew Stafford, Davante Adams, and Puka Nacua when the Rams come to town in Week 5.
The Bills enter at 3-1 and the Rams at 2-2, but the matchup feels bigger than the records. It’s the 16th meeting between the teams, and Buffalo is trying to answer after suffering its first loss of the season. The defensive backfield will be under the microscope again, with Benford, Maxwell Hairston, and Davison Igbinosun all tasked with slowing a Rams passing attack that can hit from multiple angles.
Adams has 22 receptions for 390 yards and two touchdowns, while Nacua has 14 catches for 199 yards. Nacua is also coming off a nine-catch, 125-yard outing against the Philadelphia Eagles, so this is not the kind of receiver group that gives a secondary much room to breathe.
For Buffalo, the offensive side of the ball brings its own questions. Josh Allen and the Bills need to get back in rhythm and stay out of second- and third-and-long situations, which has become an easy way to put an offense behind the chains. The Bills are also looking for Keon Coleman to keep producing, especially with Joshua Palmer sidelined and DJ Moore questionable.
There’s also a chess match up front. The Rams like to bring heat with blitzes, so Allen will need clean answers when the pressure comes. At the same time, Buffalo wants offensive coordinator Pete Carmichael Jr. to keep James Cook involved on the ground and help balance the offense.
On defense, the pressure is on Greg Rousseau and Bradley Chubb to get after Stafford and make him uncomfortable. Jim Leonard’s group also needs the pass rush and coverage to sync up better than they have so far. Both teams use a lot of heavy personnel, including two-tight-end and three-tight-end looks, which should add another layer to the night.
Buffalo may also have a chance to take advantage on special teams. The Rams are struggling in kick and punt coverage, and that could give the Bills an opening if they’re sharp in the hidden yards.
Elsewhere around the Bills, there’s been discussion about whether Allen is working through a knee injury. Rookie receiver Skyler Bell says he’s excited and ready for his NFL debut. Linebacker Terrel Bernard’s uneven play has also been a talking point, and a cornerback has been linked to Buffalo in a proposed trade.
In Other News...
Bills Just Got A Much Tougher Monday Night Problem
Aaron Donald is set to make his return for the Los Angeles Rams on Monday Night Football against the Bills, giving Buffalo a lot more to think about up front. Donald had been out last week with a back injury, but his presence is back on the table just in time for a matchup that already looked like a serious test for Josh Allen and the Bills offense.
Sean McVay said Donald is good to go after he took part fully in Fridays practice, which changes the feel of this one for the Rams defense. Anytime Donald is on the field, the attention he draws can reshape a game plan, and Buffalo will have to prepare for that kind of disruption on a national stage. [Read more 🡒]
Deone Walker May Be The Bills' Best Hope Against The Rams
The Bills head into their matchup with the Rams trying to steady a defense that has given up an average of 372.3 yards per game over its last four contests, with most of the damage coming through the air. That makes the interior pass rush a key storyline, and it puts a spotlight on rookie defensive tackle Deone Walker, whose disruptive presence has quietly become one of Buffalos best chances to change the tenor of the game.
Walker has been one of the most active interior linemen in football this season, and the Rams offer a difficult test because Matthew Stafford has plenty of help behind the leagues second-best offense in yards per game. Still, ESPNs Seth Walder is buying the idea that Walker can break through and land a sack, a result that would go a long way toward giving Buffalo a fighting chance against one of the NFLs most efficient attacks. [Read more 🡒]
Bills Trade Buzz Centers On A Defensive Problem Fans Can See
Buffalos defensive issues have been hard to miss, and the linebacker group has been a major part of the problem as the Bills try to steady that side of the ball. With the NFL trade deadline approaching, Brad Gagnon floated a fix that fits the kind of move teams often explore when a roster flaw has become too visible to ignore: a modest addition aimed at bringing some stability to the middle of the defense.
The idea centers on Arizona linebacker Mack Wilson, a player who could be available as the Cardinals move through a rebuild and look to make practical roster decisions. Gagnons suggestion is the sort of low-cost swing that makes sense for a contender searching for help, especially if Buffalo believes it can patch a weakness without paying a premium. The question is whether the Bills think the answer is worth pursuing before the deadline passes. [Read more 🡒]