Buffalo Bills at Los Angeles Rams – Super Bowl Preview? Live Updates – Sports Illustrated
Well, it is finally here folks. After a very long and very entertaining offseason, the beginning of the NFL season has finally arrived.
The Buffalo Bills head out west to the bright lights of Los Angeles, California, where they will be taking on the reigning Super Bowl champion Los Angeles Rams. Tonight’s game is a potential Super Bowl preview, as the Bills look to finally claim the Lombardi Trophy that has eluded their grasp.
If any season is one to believe the Bills can do it, 2022 might just be the year. They are stacked with weapons on both sides of the ball, boasting one of the deepest rosters in the NFL.
Offensively the Bills are led by the superstar duo of quarterback Josh Allen and receiver Stefon Diggs, one of the best quarterback-receiver duos in the NFL. Tight end Dawson Knox, who recently signed an extension, is also poised for a big season as well.
On the other side of the ball safety Jordan Poyer anchors a defense that looks to put together a second straight year of elite play. Poyer is joined by former Rams’ outside linebacker Von Miller, hoping to claim his third ring with his third different team.
Of course, they don’t get an easy season opener in the defending Super Bowl champions. The Rams will look to flex their muscles a little bit, especially their offseason additions of linebacker Bobby Wagner and receiver Allen Robinson.
Tonight marks a big opportunity for the Bills to put the NFL on notice. A convincing win will show that they’re Super Bowl favorites for a reason, and ready to take the next step that the Rams took last season.
Follow along tonight here at BillsCentral.com as we provide drive-by-drive updates as the Bills take on the Rams from SoFi Stadium.
In-game updates will appear below after kickoff…
FIRST QUARTER: Bills 7, Rams 0
The Rams won the coin toss and elected to defer. The Bills will receive the opening kickoff.
The Bills will start their drive at their own 25.
Josh Allen showing off his legs early, scrambling for 7 yards to convert a 2nd and 4 on the Bills opening drive.
Allen finds Diggs for a gain of 12 yards on 2nd and 8, moving the ball to the Rams’ 35-yard line.
TOUCHDOWN BILLS: Allen finds receiver Gabriel Davis who walks into the end zone for a 26-yard touchdown. Tyler Bass’ extra point attempt is good to put the Bills up 7-0 with 9:56 left in the first quarter. The drive went 75 yards on 9 plays, taking 5:04 off the clock.
The Rams will start their drive at their own 17.
On 3rd and 8 Matthew Stafford finds Cooper Kupp for a gain of 23 yards, as the duo picks up right where they left off from last season.
After a promising start to the Rams’ drive, a Von Miller sack sets them back and allows the defense to get off the field on the next play.
The Bills will start their drive at their own 9.
On 3rd and 4 following a sack by Aaron Donald, Allen finds Diggs again for 10 yards and a first down.
INTERCEPTION RAMS: Allen’s pass intended for Isaiah McKenzie goes through his hands and is intercepted by Terrell Lewis, halting a promising drive.
The Rams will start their drive at their own 24.
SECOND QUARTER: Bills 10, Rams 10
Despite the Allen interception, the Bills’ defense comes out and forces the Rams into another three and out.
The Bills will start their drive at their own 32.
FUMBLE RECOVERY RAMS: The Rams’ defense does their job again, forcing a fumble they recover well inside Bills’ territory.
The Rams will start their drive at the Bills 36.
INTERCEPTION BILLS: Stafford turns it right back over, as his pass intended for Tyler Higbee is intercepted by Dane Jackson.
The Bills will start their drive at their own 33.
Allen finds Davis and Diggs back-to-back for completions of 10 and 21 yards to move into Rams’ territory.
FIELD GOAL BILLS: Tyler Bass’ 41-yard field goal attempt is good to put the Bills ahead with 8:48 left in the second quarter. The drive went 45 yards on 8 plays, taking 4:07 off the clock.
The Rams will start their drive at their own 40 as Bass’ kickoff sails out of bounds.
Stafford finds Ben Skowronek on 3rd and 6 for a gain of 12 yards to extend the Rams’ drive.
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Darrell Henderson Jr. bursts up the middle for a gain of 18 yards down to the Bills’ 7-yard line.
TOUCHDOWN RAMS: Stafford finds Kupp in the back of the end zone for a 4-yard touchdown catch. Gay’s extra point attempt is good to cut the Bills lead to 10-7 with 3:00 left in the second quarter. The drive went 60 yards on 11 plays, taking 5:48 off the clock.
The Bills will start their drive at their own 25.
Allen finds Diggs once again for 10 yards on 3rd and 7, converting the first down and taking it to the two minute warning.
INTERCEPTION RAMS: Allen’s pass intended for Jamison Crowder is intercepted, his second interception of the first half.
The Rams will start at the Bills 45.
Stafford’s pass for Kupp falls incomplete on 3rd and 10, but a defensive holding penalty gives the Rams a first down and extends the drive.
Stafford keeps it himself on 3rd and 1, scrambling ahead for two yards and extending the Rams’ drive.
FIELD GOAL RAMS: Gay’s 57-yard field goal attempt sails through the uprights to tie this game at 10-10 going into halftime. The drive went 6 yards on 8 plays, taking 1:53 off the clock.
THIRD QUARTER: Bills 24, Rams 10
The Rams will start the second half at their own 10.
The Rams’ opening drive of the second half goes three and out, as a bad snap sees Stafford go down to a sack on 3rd down.
The Bills will start their drive at their own 46.
On 3rd and 7 Allen keeps it himself, running for 8 yards and a first down. Devin Singletary would follow up with a 13-yard run of his own to keep the chains moving.
TOUCHDOWN BILLS: Allen finds McKenzie for a 7-yard touchdown reception. Bass’ extra point attempt is good to put the Bills ahead with 8:02 left in the third quarter. The drive went 58 yards on 8 plays, taking 5:03 off the clock.
The Rams will start their drive at their own 25.
Stafford and Kupp keep their groove from the first half rolling, as they connect for 23 yards, followed by a 10-yard reception to Henderson Jr.
A Rams’ drive that appeared to be promising stalls out following a Von Miller sack to force 3rd and 18, forcing the Rams to punt again.
The Bills will start their drive at their own 10.
Allen keeps it for 3 yards on 2nd and 10, bringing up 3rd and 7 as the third quarter comes to an end.
FOURTH QUARTER: Bills 31, Rams 10
On 3rd and 7 Allen launches it, finding Davis for a gain of 47 yards to the Rams’ 6-yard line.
TOUCHDOWN BILLS: Allen keeps it himself, running it in from 4 yards out for the touchdown. Bass’ extra point attempt is good, extending the Bills’ lead to 24-10 with 13:27 left in the fourth quarter. The drive went 89 yards on 13 plays, taking 6:44 off the clock.
The Rams will start their drive at their own 25.
INTERCEPTION BILLS: Stafford’s throw sails high and is intercepted by Jordan Poyer, Stafford’s second interception of the game.
The Bills will start their drive at the Rams 41.
TOUCHDOWN BILLS: Allen launches his third touchdown pass of the game, finding Diggs for 53 yards. Bass’ extra point attempt puts the Bills ahead 31-10 with 9:25 left in the fourth quarter. The drive went 59 yards on 3 plays, taking 1:36 off the clock.
The Rams will start their drive at their own 24.
INTERCEPTION BILLS: Stafford is intercepted for the third time tonight, as Boogie Basham brings in the tip drill interception.
The Bills will start their drive at the Rams 37.
FUMBLE RECOVERY RAMS: The Rams recover another Bills fumble, as Moss coughs it up pushing for extra yards.
The Rams will start their drive at their own 18.
The Rams final drive comes up short, as the Bills kneel it out following a turnover on downs.
END OF GAME