The Los Angeles Rams and the Buffalo Bills are set to play in a Monday night contest that could change the trajectory of both their seasons. Buffalo looks to stay hot, avenge a loss to the New England Patriots, and move toward 4-1 on the season, while the Rams hope to avoid a losing record for the third time this season.
For Los Angeles, there are three main causes for concern, and how the team handles these situations should be the deciding factor.
Allen unleashed
We've written enough about Josh Allen, his prolific ability, and his fascinating skill set. Having moved the ball with ease against the Rams' defense on multiple occasions in the past, fans know about him too. The difference with this game is that he has a head coach in Joe Brady who understands how
to utilize his quarterback within the entire framework of managing a contest, which has set Allen up to be even more surgical.
Managing how to defend against Allen is already a near-impossible battle. Now, the Rams have to deal with a head coach who won't make sloppy mistakes, especially with offensive play calling and clock management. Even if Brady does flub, his connection with Allen - supported by the power vested in the head coaching position – gives Buffalo the boldness to overcome anything Los Angeles can throw at them.
Shula's moment
Last time Rams defensive coordinator Chris Shula faced Allen, the quarterback scored six total touchdowns. Six. Shula's unit in that 2024 contest was young and trying to do a job with little training. Rookies were starting, Day 3 picks and undrafted free agents were roaming the field. Shula was the first defensive play-caller under Sean McVay to not have Aaron Donald. Things were a mess.
Two years later, Shula's unit is more experienced and much improved. Donald is back. Trent McDuffie and Jaylen Watson eliminated any excuse for the secondary. However, Allen is older and better too. He and James Cook make up a frightening duo, and Shula has always struggled against dual-threat quarterbacks, especially if they have a dynamic workhorse running back next to them.
A candidate for multiple jobs last season, if Shula looks to join his family as an NFL head coach, this is his moment to eliminate the bad narratives that have surrounded him. There's no excuse. Game on.
McVay misfires again
This feels like a trap game for the Rams. The Bills have the front seven to stop the Rams' rushing attack, and even presenting the hint that a defense is keyed in on the run will have the Rams seeking to push the ball in the air. The mere whiff of the defense thinking briefly that Los Angeles could run is enough of a justification for Sean McVay and Matthew Stafford to throw the ball.
To be fair, who could blame them? Puka Nacua is more effective than any running back in the league at moving the chains (outside of Jahmyr Gibbs and Bijan Robinson) and any one-on-one matchup feels like a handoff at this point. Davante Adams is an ageless wonder, and Tyler Higbee suddenly looks like a new man.
The downside is that Stafford's overt targeting of his No. 1 receiver can lead to bouts of inefficiency, and McVay hasn't proved he's willing to ease off the throttle, even in the midst of misses. That's constant second- and third-and-long situations, which lead to punts – or worse: turnovers.
Balanced playcalling with an aggressive tone will be key. Balancing those two contrasting ideals won't be easy, and if the Rams can't get hot early, the Bills can make them pay.
This article originally appeared on Rams Wire: Rams' 3 biggest causes for concern vs. Bills on Monday night
