Was it a Super Bowl 61 preview, one played in the very Sofi Stadium venue that will serve as Super Sunday’s stage on Valentine’s Day? Let’s hope. Was it as good as a 44-42 shootout won by the Los Angeles Rams two years ago? Depends on your perspective but probably given how it ended? Was it a quality, highly compelling Monday night watch that put a sweet bow on Week 5 of the 2026 NFL season? Fo shizzle (hey, the game was in greater LA).
Yes, the Rams and Buffalo Bills put on another show in the shadow of Hollywood on Oct. 12, the Bills prevailing 37-34 after a wild overtime. And while neither team has played to the level of consistent excellence predictive of a future champion through five weeks, both reaffirmed why they’re considered top contenders
for the Lombardi Trophy despite the somewhat uneven starts to their ’26 campaigns – the, now, 2-3 Rams in particular.
And while it stands to reason that both of these teams will be winners for good stretches of this season, “MNF” was a reminder that there are always winners and losers, beyond the final score, on any gridiron. They are as follows:
WINNERS
Josh Allen
The Bills QB has evinced his 2024 MVP form at times this season, though Monday wasn’t his best performance. Still, he was plenty valuable on Buffalo’s final possession, using his legs to set up the game-winning field goal – and giving Allen the first OT triumph (in 8 attempts) of his nine-year career.
Matthew Stafford
The Rams QB hasn’t evinced his 2025 MVP form for most of this season, but it was on full display against Buffalo. He passed for 383 yards and three TDs and deserved to enjoy a win on this night.
Puka Nacua
He hauled in a career-best 17 receptions for 138 yards, including a 2-yard TD snag. Another pretty good bullet point on the résumé of a guy playing for a massive contract extension.
ESPN
The Worldwide Leader can only hope the Super Bowl, which it will broadcast for the first time, is as good. Even up against the American League Championship Series, Bills-Rams should be a ratings monster given the teams involved and the matchup of recent MVPs Stafford and Allen.
LOSERS
Rams special teams
LA's undoing. Again. It’s worth wondering how many more lives K Harrison Mevis has here. He missed two field goals, including the potential game-winner in overtime – which was blocked.
Aaron Donald
Game 3 of his 2026 comeback was about as quiet as the first two, though Donald was denied his first sack of the season due to an illegal contact penalty by CB Trent McDuffie. AD99 finished with two tackles and recovered a fumble in overtime, but that turned out to be a footnote.
C.J. Gardner-Johnson
What a microcosm of his career. He made six tackles; was beaten in coverage for a touchdown by Davante Adams, who let CJGJ know about it; went headhunting on Rams TE Tyler Higbee and was penalized; and eventually left the game with an injury.
Self-inflicted Buffalo wounds
Two turnovers, a missed PAT and 13 penalties – thirteen. They were quite fortunate to win.
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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Bills, Rams put on a show on MNF: Winners and losers from wild OT shootout
