Matthew Stafford and Puka Nacua lead Rams to thrilling upset win over Bills

So maybe this Rams team is better than average.

Perhaps coach Sean McVay finally has them on track to win the NFC West.

And, dare we posit it: A deep playoff run?

It’s all out there for the Rams, who went from marginal-all-season to mostly magnificent for a day with a 44-42 victory over the Buffalo Bills on Sunday in front of 73,493 at SoFi Stadium.

🏈 Rams 44, Bills 42 — FINAL

The Rams picked up their biggest win of the season, defeating a 10-win Buffalo team behind a heroic effort from Matthew Stafford and the Rams’ passing game.

After Bills quarterback Josh Allen scored on a one-yard quarterback keeper for the Bills with one minute left in regulation to make it a two-point game, the Rams recovered the ensuing onside kick. Buffalo was forced to use its final two timeouts and the Rams ran out the clock as much as possible before their punt into the end zone on fourth down was enough to tick off the final seconds.

The Buffalo touchdown came after Rams safety Quentin Lake and cornerback Darious Williams each were called for pass interference, resulting in 35 yards in penalties.

Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford completed 23 of 30 passes for 320 yards and two touchdowns. Rams receiver Puka Nacua caught 12 passes for 162 yards and a touchdown. He also scored his first career rushing touchdown. Kyren Williams rushed for 87 yards and two touchdowns in 29 carries.

🏈 Rams-Bills summary

Check out the game summary from the Rams’ win Sunday.

Bills quarterback Josh Allen completed 22 of 37 passes for 342 yards and six touchdowns (three passing, three rushing). He rushed for 82 yards in 10 carries.

It was the most combined points in an NFL game this season, and Allen’s six touchdowns is a career-high. There were five passing touchdowns, five rushing touchdowns, no sacks and no turnovers in the game.

🏈 Rams 44, Bills 35 — 1:54 left in the fourth quarter

Puka Nacua scored on a 19-yard run-and-catch, capitalizing on a big block by Cooper Kupp to extend the Rams’ lead with under two minutes left in regulation.

Matthew Stafford managed to escape the Bills’ blitz by getting the ball quickly before Nacua made a tackle-evading sprint to the end zone.

Joshua Karty’s extra-point attempt was no good after he appeared to slip while making the kick.

The drive was extended on a gutsy call on fourth and five with 3:10 left when Tutu Atwell caught an 11-yard pass despite an apparent false start by offensive tackle Rob Havenstein that was not called.

The Bills have all three timeouts left.

Nacua has 12 catches for 162 yards and two touchdowns (one receiving, one rushing).

🏈 Rams 38, Bills 35 — 8:49 left in the fourth quarter

Bills quarterback Josh Allen connected with wide receiver Mack Hollins on a 21-yard pass to make it a three-point game.

It was Allen’s fifth touchdown of the game (three passing, two rushing) and it capped an impressive, 10-play, 91-yard drive that evoked chants of “MVP! MVP!” from the sizable contingent of Bills fans at SoFi Stadium.

Allen fueled the drive with a 30-yard scramble — he has a game-high 71 rushing yards in seven carries.

Rams wide receiver Puka Nacua returned to the game during the ensuing Rams possession.

🏈 Rams 38, Bills 28 — 14:27 left in the fourth quarter

Bills quarterback Josh Allen scored on a one-yard keeper after wide receiver Khalil Shakir made a 34-yard catch to make it a 10-point game once again.

The touchdown capped a speedy, five-play, 70-yard drive for the Bills. A 20-yard yard run by Allen on the drive, that also led to a 15-yard horse collar penalty being called on Rams linebacker Jared Verse, helped fuel the drive.

Allen has completed 15 of 25 passes for 267 yards, with two passing and two rushing touchdowns. Shakir has five catches for 106 yards and a touchdown.

On the ensuing Rams possession, wide receiver Puka Nacua left the field and went to the bench holding his lower right leg. The Rams went three and out on the possession.

🏈 Rams 38, Bills 21 — 22 seconds left in the third quarter

Matthew Stafford connected with receiver Cooper Kupp for an 18-yard touchdown as the Rams kept the Bills at bay.

Stafford has completed 17 of 23 passes for 247 yards for a Rams offense that has converted 10 of 11 third downs. It’s also the most points the Rams have scored this season.

Kupp has four catches for 85 yards.

Tutu Atwell and Puka Nacua also had catches during the seven-play, 70-yard drive.

Nacua has 10 catches for 124 yards.

Kyren Williams has rushed for 67 yards and two touchdowns in 21 carries.

🏈 Rams 31, Bills 21 — 3:54 left in the third quarter

Bills receiver Khalil Shakir caught a mid-range pass and turned it into a 51-yard scoring play to cut the Rams’ lead to 10 points.

Bills quarterback Josh Allen set up the touchdown with a spectacular 17-yard scramble the play before the score.

Allen has completed 14 of 22 passes for 233 yards and two touchdowns.

Shakir has four catches for 72 yards.

🏈 Rams 31, Bills 14 — 8:26 left in the third quarter

Kyren Williams scored on a seven-yard run as the Rams built on their halftime lead.

The Rams forced the Bills to go three and out and then launched an 11-play, 76-yard scoring drive.

Matthew Stafford’s 37-yard pass to receiver Cooper Kupp was the big play in a march that included two catches by Puka Nacua, who has nine receptions for 103 yards.

Stafford has completed 14 of 19 passes for 187 yards.

🏈 Rams 24, Bills 14 — HALFTIME

Kyren Williams and Puka Nacua rushed for touchdowns and Hunter Long scored a touchdown off a blocked punt to give the Rams a 10-point cushion.

Nacua caught seven passes for 83 yards. He rushed for 18 yards in three carries, including a four-yard touchdown.

Williams rushed for 48 yards in 15 carries. Williams came up limping after carrying the ball on the final play of the second quarter.

The Rams rushed for 94 yards and converted five of six third downs.

Matthew Stafford completed 10 of 13 passes for 126 yards. He was not sacked.

Bills quarterback Josh Allen completed 10 of 16 for 151 yards and a touchdown.

🏈 Rams 24, Bills 14 — 2:36 left in the second quarter

Puka Nacua scored on a four-yard run to increase the Rams lead. It was the first rushing touchdown of Nacua’s career.

Nacua also caught nine-, 16- and 19-yard passes during the 12-play, 76-yard drive.

Nacua has six catches for 75 yards and has rushed three times for 18 yards and a touchdown.

Matthew Stafford has completed nine of 11 passes for 118 yards.

Kyren Williams has rushed for 43 yards in 13 carries.

🏈 Rams 17, Bills 14 — 10:23 left in the second quarter

Running back Ty Johnson caught a short pass and turned it into a 41-yard touchdown.

Josh Allen completed a 12-yard pass to Mack Hollins and a 14-yard pass to Amari Cooper before the touchdown pass play to Johnson.

Allen has completed eight of 12 passes for 136 yards.

Johnson has two catches for 55 yards.

🏈 Rams 17, Bills 7 — 12:29 left in the second quarter

Linebacker Jacob Hummel blocked a punt, and tight end Hunter Long scooped the ball and returned it 22 yards for a touchdown.

It was a big play by a special teams unit that has made several this season.

The Rams had given up an 18-yard pass on the first play of the Bills’ possession before preventing Josh Allen from completing his next three attempts. Rams safety Kamren Kinchens broke up a long pass during the series.

🏈 Rams 10, Bills 7 — 13:37 left in the second quarter

Joshua Karty kicked a 22-yard field goal to put the Rams in the lead for the second time.

Karty’s kick ended a 10-play, 65-yard drive.

Matthew Stafford’s 24-yard pass to Cooper Kupp and 13-yard pass to Tutu Atwell keyed a drive that included running back Blake Corum carrying the ball six times for 28 yards.

The Rams achieved first and goal at the five, but the Bills twice stopped Corum before Stafford’s pass to Puka Nacua fell incomplete.

Stafford has completed four of six passes for 66 yards.

🏈 Bills 7, Rams 7 — 3:22 left in the first quarter

Bills quarterback Josh Allen scored on a one-yard sneak to cap a drive that the Rams had a chance to end early.

The Bills would have gone three-and-out, but Rams edge rusher Byron Young was penalized for roughing the passer on a pass that Allen threw out of bounds.

The Bills then got rolling, with Allen completing 16-yard passes to Khalil Shakir and Mack Hollins, and a 14-yard pass to running back Ty Johnson.

Allen completed four of five passes for 51 yards during the nine-play, 70-yard drive.

🏈 Rams 7, Bills 0 — 8:26 left in the first quarter

Kyren Williams scored on a three-yard touchdown run to give the Rams the lead.

The Rams drove 70 yards in 12 plays with Williams leading the way.

The third-year pro, who ran for 104 yards in last Sunday’s victory over the New Orleans Saints, carried seven times for 27 yards.

Matthew Stafford’s third-down pass to Puka Nacua for 17 yards was a key play in the drive.

Stafford completed two of three passes for 29 yards.

Defensive lineman Braden Fiske and edge rusher Jared Verse have competed and pushed each other since they were teammates at Florida State.

The competition continued after the Rams selected Verse in the first round and Fiske in the second in the 2024 NFL draft.

Last week, Fiske was named NFL defensive rookie of the month for November, equaling the feat Verse achieved in September.

“I was telling [outside linebackers] coach [Joe] Coniglio, ‘the only reason I got it is to piss Jared off,’” Fiske said, chuckling. “That’s all I was looking for.

“I’m glad that we’re just step-by-step competing. That was probably the coolest thing coming into the Rams with Jared was like, you know what, this is going to be the best thing for our careers because I know it’s going to take our work ethic to the next level.”

The 6-foot-4, 291-pound Fiske has six sacks, eight tackles for loss and two forced fumbles for a Rams defense that will attempt to neutralize Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen on Sunday at SoFi Stadium.

Fiske said rookie-of-the-month recognition was “super special” and “cool.”

“But we have a bigger goal in mind.” he said, “and I have bigger goals in mind. We have to get to the playoffs and I think that’s the main focus. ... I definitely take pride in it, but we’re still chasing something bigger.”

Last Sunday against the New Orleans Saints, Fiske was on his way to a highlight-reel play after he scooped a ball that had been knocked out of quarterback Derek Carr’s hand. Fiske ran down the right sideline about 40 yards to the 15-yard line, where he made a great cutback move to the end zone.

“Had to take it back to old Pop Warner days playing running back,” he said. “The first time I had the ball in my hands in a long time. ... By the time I got to about that 15 I was, ‘We gotta finish this off.”

Unfortunately for Fiske and the Rams, the play was ruled an incomplete pass rather than a fumble.

“Jogging back to the sideline seeing [Coach Sean] McVay’s face, I was, ‘It ain’t looking too good,’” Fiske said. “I could just tell the vibe. I was like, ‘Yeah, this might not be happening.’ It was a cool moment and cool to have that memory regardless of it stood or not.”

During his college career at Michigan, running back Blake Corum had at least 20 carries in a game 14 times. He twice eclipsed 30.

Last week against the New Orleans Saints, the Rams rookie carried eight times for a season-high 42 yards in the Rams’ 21-14 victory.

Corum is emerging as a valuable complement to starter Kyren Williams, and he could see his role grow larger on Sunday against the Buffalo Bills.

“Last week was a good indicator of what is probably best — to be able to take advantage of both those guys,” coach Sean McVay said.

Corum had eight carries in a Week 2 rout by the Arizona Cardinals, but those came late in the fourth quarter after the game got out of hand.

Against the Saints, he played the second series and gained 32 yards in five carries.

“Just getting into the rhythm of the game, feeling out the defense,” Corum said. “Getting into that rhythm was awesome.”

Jordan Whittington seized the moment — and would welcome more of them on Sunday against the Buffalo Bills.

Whittington, a rookie receiver, had waited all season to make a breakout kickoff return, and he took advantage of opportunities last Sunday against the New Orleans Saints.

Whittington’s 43-yard return in the fourth quarter set up the Rams final touchdown in a 21-14 victory.

“That didn’t just happen,” Whittington said. “That was practice throughout the weeks, and every guy on the kick-return team was blocking their man. I just had to hit the hole.”

The 6-foot, 1-inch, 202-pound Whittington also had a 45-yard yard return in the first quarter, but it was marred by a holding penalty. He also had a 23-yard return.

“He’s a violent runner,” special teams coordinator Chase Blackburn said. “He has good vision, contact-balance, ball security, a little bit of everything that you’re looking for in a returner, especially in the kick-return guy.”

Whittington, a sixth-round draft pick from Texas, caught 18 passes for 202 yards in the first five games. A shoulder injury sidelined him for several games and his snaps on offense have been limited since.

But he has remained prepared.

“I’d rather be ready and then not [be called upon] then have it happen and not be ready,” he said. “That’s something I learned in college.

“So, just trying to stay ready and prepared as if I am going to be in it. And when you do that, when opportunities arise you’re able to take advantage of them.”

Here are the players who will not be suiting up for the Rams on Sunday:

QB Stetson Bennett, CB Emmanuel Forbes Jr., RB Cody Schrader, OLB Brennan Jackson, OL Dylan McMahon, OL Warren McClendon Jr.

And here are the Bills’ inactives:

Kobie Turner’s musical talent is not a mystery.

The defensive lineman’s post-sack celebration includes choral- and orchestral-inspired movements that in college earned him the nickname “The Conductor.”

Turner also can sing. During the offseason, he belted the national anthem before Lakers and Kings games. And this week, it was revealed that Turner had been a contestant on the television show “The Masked Singer,” making it to the quarterfinals before he was eliminated.

It’s going to be a yardstick Sunday for Los Angeles NFL teams.

The Rams play host to the Buffalo Bills on Sunday afternoon, followed by the Chargers at Kansas City that night.

Those are litmus tests, a chance for the Rams and Chargers to see how they measure up against two of the best teams in the league.

The Bills already have clinched the AFC East — an astounding feat, considering there are five games to play — and the Chiefs have the NFL’s best record at 11-1, their only loss coming to Buffalo.

The Rams have played against several mobile quarterbacks this season, but none the size of Josh Allen of the Buffalo Bills.

The 6-foot-5, 237-pound Allen has passed for 20 touchdowns, with five interceptions, and has rushed for six touchdowns.

Rams players said that when they play against Allen on Sunday at SoFi Stadium, it will be like tackling a defensive lineman or linebacker.

“He’s not looking to slide,” cornerback Cobie Durant said. “He’s looking to run you over.”

The Rams have faced Allen twice since coach Sean McVay was hired in 2017.

In 2020, Allen passed for 311 yards and four touchdowns and rushed for a touchdown in the Bills’ 35-32 victory at Buffalo.

In the 2022 opener at Sofi Stadium, Allen passed for 297 yards and three touchdowns and rushed for a touchdown in a 31-10 rout of the Rams.

“It was a humbling night,” McVay said.

Allen is capable of making it another.

“When things go off schedule, that’s when you see what a special player he is,” McVay said. “He can beat you with his mind. He can beat you with his arm and he can beat you with his legs…. He’s a lot bigger and a harder tackle in person than probably what guys that haven’t played against him realize.”

Allen also has been elite within the framework of the Bills offense.

“He’s taking care of the ball,” Rams defensive coordinator Chris Shula said, adding, “He’s playing just true quarterback and then still has all the stuff when it comes to being Josh Allen.”

Matthew Stafford has played nearly 16 NFL seasons, absorbing hits that resulted in broken bones, strains, sprains and bruises. Has the Rams quarterback played a full season without an injury?

“No,” Stafford said Wednesday, chuckling.

Stafford, 36, displayed resilience and toughness during 12 seasons in Detroit and three-plus with the Rams. And he will do it again this week as the Rams prepare for Sunday’s game against the Buffalo Bills at SoFi Stadium.

The Rams are 6-6 after last Sunday’s victory over the New Orleans Saints, and the streaking Buffalo Bills will make it difficult for the Rams to get over .500 for the first time this season.

Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford suffered an ankle sprain against the Saints, but he practiced this week and said he would be ready to go against the Bills. Stafford has passed for eight touchdowns in the last three games, including two in the second half of the 21-14 victory over the Saints.

Running back Kyren Williams is coming off a 104-yard rushing effort, and rookie Blake Corum showed against the Saints that he is worthy of a larger role.