Live In-Game Updates: Bills Dominate Rams En Route to 31-10 Blowout
The 2022 NFL season is here!
The Los Angeles Rams and Buffalo Bills are set to kick things off Thursday night in LA at SoFi Stadium, as the defending champs begin their run at repeat titles against one of the best teams in the league.
The Rams and coach Sean McVay begin the second season in the Matthew Stafford-led offense, as the usual suspects like receiver Cooper Kupp, Cam Akers, Darrell Henderson Jr., and Tyler Higbee all return.
LA also added veteran Pro Bowl receiver Allen Robinson to the mix, as he'll look to provide a significant boost to the receiving corps alongside Kupp.
On defense, the Rams return superstar defensive lineman Aaron Donald, cornerback Jalen Ramsey, second-year linebacker Ernest Jones, and EDGE rusher Leonard Floyd.
LA also added eight-time Pro Bowl linebacker Bobby Wagner to the fold on the Rams' championship-winning defense.
As for the Bills, their offense is star-studded with quarterback Josh Allen, receiver Stefon Diggs, tight end Dawson Knox, and the underrated receiving talent of Gabe Davis.
On defense, Buffalo added former Rams linebacker Von Miller during the offseason. Safeties Jordan Poyer and Micah Hyde will hold things down in the secondary as star cornerback Tre'Davious White sits due to continued ACL recovery.
Keep it locked with RamsDigest.com as we provide live in-game updates for Thursday's season-opener.
The Rams won the toss but deferred to the second half, as the Bills will receive the opening kick.
FIRST QUARTER
The Bills begin their first drive with a short completion from Allen to Diggs for a six-yard gain.
Bills running back Devin Singletary rushed for a seven-yard gain before catching a screen on the next play for a first down.
Allen then found Diggs wide open in the middle of the field for a 12-yard gain and a first down.
TOUCHDOWN BILLS: Allen find Gabe Davis wide open, as the receiver snuck behind the LA secondary and waltzed in for a 26-yard touchdown. The Bills take an early 7-0 lead.
change of possession
The Rams begin their season-opening drive at their own 17-yard line.
Henderson gets the start at running back, as he takes the opening carry seven yards before getting another carry and a two-yard gain.
But then the Stafford-Kupp connection had it's big play of the season. as Kupp found his way open on the right sideline for a 23-yard gain.
Stafford then completed a 10-yard pass to Higbee, who got the Rams across midfield.
Stafford was then met by his former teammate, as Miller got home for a eight-yard loss on the sack to bring up a third-and-long.
The Rams were unable to do anything with the drive after the sack and were forced to punt.
change of possession
Donald got his first sack of the season, as he bullied his way through blockers to get home to Allen.
But Allen came back and converted three-straight first downs with throws to Diggs, Jamison Crowder, and Isaiah McKenzie.
INTERCEPTION RAMS: Allen had started the game 10 of 10 passing, but his 11th throw bounced throguh McKenzie's hands and into the arms of Rams linebacker Terrell Lewis. The Rams will begin their second drive at their own 24-yard line.
change of possession
Stafford found Kupp for a six-yard gain as the first quarter winded to a close.
END OF FIRST: Bills 7, Rams 0
SECOND QUARTER
The Rams were unable to do anything with the interception and punted after a three-and-out.
change of possession
FUMBLE RECOVERY RAMS: But just two plays into Buffalo's next drive, rookie running back James Cook lost the ball, as Leonard Floyd recovered to set LA up at the Bills' 36-yard line.
change of possession
INTERCEPTION BILLS: The turnover fest continued, as Stafford threw a pick to Bills cornerback Dane Jackson just one play after the Rams forced a fumble.
change of possession
Allen then completed two straight passes to Davis, the second of which resulted in a 10-yard gain on third-and-short.
On the next play, Allen found Diggs for a 21-yard gain down the left sideline before connecting with Moss for two more completions.
FIELD GOAL BILLS: Buffalo's drive was halted, but kicker Tyler Bass nailed a 41-yard field goal to extend the Bills' lead to 10-0.
change of possession
But Bass then kicked the ball out of bounds, giving the Rams great field position as the Buffalo 40-yard line.
Despite drop from receiver Tutu Atwell, Stafford found Ben Skowronek for a 12-yard gain and a first down.
The Bills then got their second sack of the night, as Jordan Phillips got to the pocket and took down Stafford.
Stafford then found Robinson for his first catch as a Ram, a 12-yard completion that brought up a fourth-and-short. But Kupp got the yardage with a push from his teammates, as LA picked up the first.
Henderson took the next two carries, bringing the Rams into a prime scoring opportunity.
TOUCHDOWN RAMS: Stafford connects with Kupp in the back of the end zone for a toe-tapping touchdown, as the Rams pull closer to make it a 10-7 game.
change of possession
The Bills begin their next drive as their own 25-yard line.
Facing an early third down in the drive, Allen found Diggs for a back-shoulder throw for the conversion right before the two-minute warning.
INTERCEPTION RAMS: Troy Hill makes a big play in his Rams return, intercepting Allen to give LA a chance at a lead headed into halftime.
change of possession
Stafford targeted Kupp on three-straight throws, the last go which brought up a third-and-short, which Stafford converted on a short run.
But the Bills sacked Stafford for the third time in the half, bringing up a 2nd and 19.
FIELD GOAL RAMS: Matt Gay impressively nailed a 57-yarder to tied the game at 10-10 headed into halftime.
HALFTIME: Rams 10, Bills 10
THIRD QUARTER
Henderson takes the first carry of the second half and gains two yards before catching a four-yard pass.
The Buffalo defense then got its fourth sack after Stafford has trouble with the snap. The Rams had to punt after a three-and-out.
change of possession
Singletary took the first touch of the next drive 12 yards for a first-down run.
Faced with a third down, Allen took it himself and stiff-armed Nick Scott for the first down. Singletary then picked up another first down with a 13-yard carry.
TOUCHDOWN BILLS: Allen finds McKenzie for a seven-yard score as the Bills retake the lead at 17-10.
change of possession
Stafford finds Kupp for his ninth catch of the game on a 23-yard gain.
Henderson then took a 10-yard catch for a first down.
And then another sack for Miller, who gave Buffalo its sixth sack of the night. The Rams were forced to punt.
change of possession
Allen found Crowder for an 11-yard gain before Moss got two additional touches to bring up a third down.
Crowder came through again for a third-down conversion.
END OF THIRD: Bills 17, Rams 10
Allen finds Davis for a huge 47-yard bomb to set Buffalo up right outside the goal line.
TOUCHDOWN BILLS: Allen rushes four yards for the score to extend Buffalo's lead to 24-10.
change of possession
Stafford connected with Brandon Powell for a 10-yard gain to start the drive before finding Kupp again for a seven-yard gain.
INTERCEPTION BILLS: Stafford's pass is a bit high for Kupp, as the ball hangs in the air and is plucked by Poyer, as the Bills now had their second pick of the game.
change of possession
TOUCHDOWN BILLS: Allen unloads a big, 53-yard shot to Diggs, who beats Ramsey and falls into the end zone to give Buffalo a 31-10 lead.
change of possession
The Rams offense continued to be nonexistent, as they had to go for it in their own territory. But Henderson barely picked up the first down on a short carry.
INTERCEPTION BILLS: Bills defensive lineman Boogie Basham gets the tipped ball and comes up with the pick.
change of possession
FUMBLE RECOVERY RAMS: Moss fumbled as the Bills were on the way to scoring again. LA linebacker Justins Hollins came up with the recovery.
change of possession
FINAL: Bills 31, Rams 10
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You can follow Zach Dimmitt on Twitter at @ZachDimmitt7
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