Dion Dawkins came away from Monday night with more than a win. The Bills left SoFi Stadium with a 37-34 overtime victory over the Rams, but Dawkins also walked off with another clear reminder of what Aaron Donald still brings to the table.
Donald, who returned to the Rams after coming out of retirement, matched up with Dawkins in a battle that carried the same edge as their previous meetings. The respect between them, though, was right there too. Speaking on “The Ariel Helwani Show,” Dawkins described a brief conversation he had with the defensive star and explained what stood out to him.
“I asked him, ‘Bro, how does your body feel after not taking all of these hits?’ He was basically saying it takes repetition. With primetime games and commercials, you have a long time to talk to your opponent,” said the veteran offensive tackle.
Dawkins did not stop there. Even if Donald had been away for a stretch, the Bills tackle made it clear he still sees the same dominant force.
“Great dude. Superhero, man.
Superhero. He's still him, bro.
He still flashes, and he still has quick hands and a quick switch. He's still superhuman, obviously, and that violent rage that AD has is definitely there, like we see with the face mask pulls and fighting.
Dion Dawkins says Aaron Donald hasn't lost a step after going up against him last night on MNF:
— Ariel Helwani (@arielhelwani) October 13, 2026
“I had asked him, 'Bro, how does your body feel after not taking all of these hits?’
He was basically saying it takes repetition. With primetime games and commercials, you have a… pic.twitter.com/7goIH9r9IT
It's an aggressive world,” added Dawkins.
Donald finished with two tackles against Buffalo.
The game itself ended with Tyler Bass drilling a 45-yard field goal after the Bills had already blocked Harrison Mevis’ attempt on the previous play. Buffalo moved to 4-1 with the win.
Josh Allen also checked off a milestone of his own, earning his first overtime victory. He went 12-of-19 for 210 yards and a touchdown through the air, and added 10 carries for 121 yards and another score on the ground.
The Bills now turn to a road trip to face the Las Vegas Raiders on Sunday.
In Other News...
Rams Get A Timely Injury Boost Before A Key Cardinals Test
The Rams are heading into Week 6 with a much cleaner injury picture than they have had at other points this season, and that matters with the Cardinals coming to town. Tight end Davis Allen was the only Los Angeles player listed as a non-participant because of a foot injury, while several others were limited and stars such as Aaron Donald were not on the report at all.
For a Rams team trying to keep momentum in a division matchup, simply getting healthier at the right time can shape the whole feel of the week. Arizona is dealing with more problems of its own, with several Cardinals players limited or out, including running back Jeremiyah Love after a second ankle injury, leaving another layer of uncertainty for a game that already carries some weight in the NFC West race. [Read more 🡒]
Rams MNF Stage Became Backdrop For Rare ESPN Booth Tension
The Monday Night Football stage at SoFi Stadium had a bit more drama behind the scenes than the broadcast suggested. According to Front Office Sports, Joe Buck and Troy Aikman, ESPNs lead NFL booth team, had an argument before the game, with the disagreement tied to their different contract situations. Buck had already agreed to a new deal, while Aikman had not yet received a formal offer.
The exchange reportedly cooled down before kickoff, and the two went on to call the game without any visible trouble once the action started. For a Rams primetime spotlight, it was a rare reminder that even the familiar voices of a national telecast can bring their own offseason tension into the booth. [Read more 🡒]
Alaric Jackson Controversy Just Took Another Turn After Chubb Spoke Out
The leagues handling of Alaric Jacksons Week 5 altercation with Bradley Chubb already had plenty of people talking, and now Chubb has added his own account to the mix. During the Bills-Rams game, the two exchanged words before things boiled over and Jackson punched Chubb, leading to an NFL suspension that was first set at two games before being reduced to one on appeal.
Chubb has now publicly clarified what he says happened, pushing back on one of the details that had helped fuel the debate around the incident. He denied mentioning Jacksons family and described the trash talk that led up to the punch, giving the Rams another layer to a situation that still has a little more noise around it than clarity. [Read more 🡒]