The Los Angeles Rams aren’t finishing games and it’s perhaps a trend, and other NFL news on a Tuesday
The Los Angeles Rams failed to close out a game against the Buffalo Bills in Week 5 on Monday Night Football, and it’s easily at least the second time that has happened this year with the Rams losing a 16-point lead and eventually the game to the Denver Broncos in Week 3.
The Rams had that game, and for other reasons, the Rams could’ve had the win against the Bills. The Rams didn’t lead by 16, but they had chances to put the Bills away. The special teams may deserve the brunt of the blame, but a team loses as a team.
The takeaway is that just like in 2025, the Rams are showing an inability to close out the games. The Rams are showing weak spots on special teams. Special teams and a failure to close the game can go hand in hand when the margins for winning and losing are so small.
But the offense and defense are part of the equation too. After a loss like this, the entire team needs to be examined. That’s how it works when you fall to 2-3 with Super Bowl dreams.
For the Rams, it’s concerning. For other NFL teams, it’s exactly what they want to see. The Rams faltering, and the Rams are delivering in the worst way.
Rams’ Sean McVay fuming over special teams errors: ‘It cost us the game tonight’ (nfl.com)
““It’s been a while since I’ve been this pissed after a game,” McVay said via the Associated Press.
McVay had every right to be upset. He should first direct his ire at the man in the mirror.
The coach’s decision to take his foot off the gas after the Rams pushed past the 35-yard line on the final drive was an unexcusable gaffe. His kicker, Harrison Mevis, already missed one kick on the night and doesn’t have the strongest leg. Settling for a 48-yard kick was asking for trouble.
The Rams’ special teams have long been an issue. The team didn’t fix it this offseason, and the problems reared their head Monday night. From the opening kickoff, the unit was wobbly, allowing Ray Davis to return a kickoff 70 yards. On the Rams’ first drive, Mevis missed a 50-yard field goal. Then came the block.
McVay said he plans to “evaluate everything” about his kicking unit.
“In the kicking game, especially with our PAT, field goal, not even close to good enough,” he said. “It cost us the game tonight.”
Bills get a massive blocked field goal in overtime, then Josh Allen leads Buffalo to dramatic win over Rams (sports.yahoo)
“It looked on Monday night like Josh Allen had played well enough to win, only for the rest of the Buffalo Bills to let him down. But the Bills, and James Cook in particular, got a reprieve.
The Los Angeles Rams were in position to win a thrilling game in overtime on a field goal, after Cook had lost his second fumble of the game to start overtime. But linebacker Greg Rousseau, who is off to a great start this season, blocked a potential game-winning Rams field goal.“
Rams vs. Bills score: Buffalo hits game-winning field goal in OT after Greg Rousseau’s block gives new life (cbssports)
“Overtime was a near disaster for the Bills as they took possession to begin the extra period and seemed destined to put points on the board, particularly after Khalil Shakir ripped off a 57-yard gain to get them on the doorstep of the red zone. However, on the very next play, James Cook fumbled for the second time on the night. The loose ball forced by Rams linebacker Nate Landman was scooped up by Aaron Donald, and it appeared as if that was the final nail in the Bills’ coffin. That was until Rousseau’s clutch block.”
Rams lose in overtime heartbreaker to Buffalo Bills and fall to 2-3 (latimes.com)
“Tyler Bass kicks a 45-yard field goal in overtime shortly after the Bills block a Harrison Mevis field-goal attempt in the Rams’ 37-34 loss.”
Rams’ Matthew Stafford shows off Davante Adams connection with MNF touchdown (sports.yahoo)
“Stafford and Adams had just the one connection as of the two-minute warning of the first half, but Stafford was crisp and on target as he attempted to keep up with Josh Allen and the Bills in a 13-7 game. He found eight different players with his passes as the game continued toward halftime.
Donald looked more like the dominant pass rusher and run stuffer fans were accustomed to seeing after McVay shared a glowingly positive update about his injury status before the matchup. The Rams’ defense gave up 6.4 yards per play to Allen and the Bills, showing they still had plenty of work to do as the game headed toward halftime.“
HIGHLIGHTS: Rams WR Davante Adams catches a pass from QB Matthew Stafford for a 4-yard touchdown vs. the Bills (therams.com)
“Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Davante Adams catches a pass from quarterback Matthew Stafford for a 4-yard touchdown against the Buffalo Bills at SoFi Stadium.”
HIGHLIGHTS: Matthew Stafford’s best throws from 3-TD game vs. Bills in Week 5 (therams.com)
“Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford’s best throws from his three-touchdown game vs. the Buffalo Bills during Week 5 of the 2026 NFL season.”
Rams wasted a statistically exceptional offensive performance in loss to Bills (ramswire)
“The Los Angeles Rams’ offense had a night to remember against the Buffalo Bills, even though the result will make everyone forget their 34-point, 454-yard performance. The loss was such an unbelievable letdown; no team in the NFL this season has come close to collapsing the way the team did on Monday night.
The Ringer’s Sheil Kapadia shared that the Rams are the first team in two years to perform so well on offense and still lose the game. According to Kapadia, the Rams’ offensive output was in the 99th percentile in terms of EPA per drive.“
Watch Rams’ Alaric Jackson punch Bills’ Bradley Chubb in wild MNF scene (sports.yahoo)
“After the incident, Chubb commented on the exchange, saying: “They always catch the second guy, so I let him swing and my teammates held me back and I just chilled.”
We will now have to wait and see whether the NFL hands down any punishment to Jackson, who was already in hot water over a June arrest for suspicion of felony domestic violence. He previously served a two-game suspension in 2024 for violating the NFL personal conduct policy.“
Comment of the Day:
“You need to block the opposing team too so they don’t block the kick. Comedy of errors McVay grows a yellow streak up his back at 3rd and 6 and tried a run to the right. Mevis comes out during a timeout to look at the goalposts like he never seen them before the kick was blocked by someone who wasn’t blocked. What a joke and And Malibu McVay is home at his hacienda Looking at the waves of the pacific and thinking he wants Romos old analyst job.” -LaRams&NyMets