The Los Angeles Rams take on the Buffalo Bills at home this week after playing two straight games on the road. They'll look to pick up their second straight win after defeating the Philadelphia Eagles.
On the other side, the Buffalo Bills look to move on from their 29-26 loss to the New England Patriots. That game provided three major lessons that the Rams could use this week.
They'll use Khalil Shakir in motion to scheme him up into open space
Whether it's a screen, crosser, some type of comeback route, or a way to get him the ball in the flats with room to run, the Bills will use Shakir as a space interpreter to set up easy throws that will get Josh Allen into rhythm and yards after the catch.
Despite the talent of D.J. Moore, the Rams have to use Trent McDuffie to cover Shakir. McDuffie's inside-out ability is
the perfect match for Shakir, and if Los Angeles allows Buffalo to scheme up Shakir on safety Quentin Lake, they will get burned just like they did in Melbourne.
Shakir, then Dalton Kincaid. Those are Allen's hot pass catchers.
Get the ball to Nacua quickly
Let's be real: Matthew Stafford is going to bombard Puka Nacua with targets. Good. The Bills' only shot at neutralizing the Rams' offense is to allow Sean McVay and Stafford to throw themselves out of the game. This will happen if Stafford waits in the pocket. The reason is their edge rushers, Greg Rousseau (who has an NFL-leading six sacks so far) and Bradley Chubb. Plus, their interior defensive line is no joke either. Their secondary is suspect, and they have to play a mile off the ball to prevent big plays.
Get the ball to Nacua, force Buffalo to change their approach, and prohibit the defensive line from making a game-changing play. The Eagles scored because Stafford was too loose with the ball. Scheme out that possibility, as Buffalo has to allow the Rams to do so.
Drag the game out
Force Josh Allen to throw underneath, make Buffalo go on long drives, use tight ends and the running game to tire out the defense, and use the quick passing attack to neutralize their pass rushers. Low and slow. No one in the NFL can throw themselves out of a game faster than Josh Allen.
He is always looking for the big play. Do not let him complete passes deep, make him go on long drives, and bait him into throws with pre-snap blitz looks. The key is to drag this game on, with Allen having a chance to win it. Blitz him, and watch him throw the game-losing interception.
Whatever the Rams do, Allen can never have a multi-possession lead.
This article originally appeared on Rams Wire: 3 lessons Rams can learn from Bills' loss to Patriots in Week 4
