by TYLER HATHAWAY
The Buffalo Bills enter this week after the New England Patriots handed them their first loss of the season a week ago. This week brings about an even bigger challenge as Buffalo will travel out west to face the Los Angeles Rams. The two powerhouses will meet on Monday Night Football as the Bills look to get back on track. Here’s the breakdown:
BUFFALO BILLS (3-1/AFC East)
vs.
LOS ANGELES RAMS (2-2/NFC West)
Monday, SoFi Stadium, 8:15 pm
Storyline #1: Bills stumble against Patriots
For the second season in a row, the Bills have wasted an early-season opportunity to take a commanding lead in the AFC East by losing at home to the Patriots.
The New England offense, which had been one of the worst in football entering the game, scored 29 points including a 23-yard game-winning touchdown pass from Drake Maye to Efton Chism III with less than two minutes left to earn a 29-26 win.
The Bills led by five after Keon Coleman scored a go-ahead touchdown with less than five minutes left before Maye gashed the Bills secondary. The third-year quarterback completed four of his seven passes for 60 yards on what was the game-winning drive.
A win would have put Buffalo three and a half games up on the Patriots in the division standings. Instead, they sit a mere half game up on New England.
Storyline #2: Rams entering off of late rally win
Late into the fourth quarter this past Sunday, it seemed the pre-season favorite Super Bowl favorite Rams were on their way to a shocking third loss in four games. Los Angeles was trailing 20-10 on the road against the Philadelphia Eagles, and the offense was unable to get anything going.
But the Rams rallied, scoring two touchdowns in the final four minutes to earn a 24-20 win and get back to .500 on the season. Los Angeles didn’t give up a single point in the second half.
“I think a lot of teams would have folded in those situations,” Rams coach Sean McVay said postgame. “I think our defense kept giving us a reason to believe.”
Running back Kyren Williams had his biggest game of the season, rushing for 80 yards and catching 10 passes for 67 yards. He scored both of LA’s fourth quarter touchdowns.
Storyline #3: Keon Coleman continues to impress
While most players and Bills fans alike would just like to flush the New England game and move on, it’s important to take a second and recognize third-year wideout Keon Coleman’s impressive performance in what is another great step in his development.
After DJ Moore left with injury, the Florida State product caught six passes for 116 yards and a touchdown. It’s his second game of the season with six catches and 65 or more yards.
“That’s the expectation of Keon, getting the opportunities and making the most of it,” Buffalo coach Joe Brady said after the game. “There’s not a lot of positives, but I was proud of the way that he played.”
Key to the game #1: Josh needs to protect the football
After the first two games of the season in which quarterback Josh Allen didn’t turn the ball over, the former MVP has given it up four times in the past two games. While he was clean for most of Sunday, Allen forced a ball into coverage for an interception that ended the game.
The Rams have one of the best offenses in football. Through four games, Buffalo has had one of the worst defenses in football. Every possession that the Bills have the ball matters tremendously, and giving the ball to the Rams, no matter where you are on the field, could lose Buffalo the game.
Key to the game #2: Get to Matthew Stafford
The one good thing about the Bills defense so far has been the defensive line play, and more specifically, the pass rush.
The Bills rank eighth in the NFL so far with 10 sacks, and while a great quarterback, Matthew Stafford is far from mobile, and was sacked 23 times a season ago. If the Bills can generate a good pass rush like they have been early in the season, and crunch the pocket, they can thwart possessions by forcing punts or takeaways. Stafford has been coughing up the ball more than usual in 2026, and has already tossed six picks in four games.
X-Factor: Bills secondary
The game will be decided based on how good the Bills secondary is against the Rams stacked offense of playmakers. It’s that simple.
The Rams offense is second in the NFL in passing yards per game through four weeks, averaging 290.3 yards of passing offense per game. On the complete contrary is the Bills passing defense, who ranks sixth worst in the NFL as they allow 256.3 passing yards per game.
The Rams have two of the best wide receivers in the entire league in Puka Nacua and Davante Adams who have combined for three 125+ receiving yard games, and a running back in Kyren Williams who had 10 catches last week. If Buffalo had trouble with Romeo Doubs and Efton Chism, they need to play perfect to give themselves a shot.
If one player were to be the X-Factor, it would be second-year defensive back Maxwell Hairston. He was picked on by Maye all day Sunday and gave up a pair of touchdowns to Doubs. Then, he refused to do any interviews post game before abruptly leaving the locker room. He needs to be better, plain and simple.
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