An Update From Buffalo

[Ramrasta]

I respect the Bills as a team because they can win any given week just like the Rams. On the flip side, they have yet to prove they are anything outside of average.

Lesean McCoy is the main threat here just like Todd Gurley is for the Rams. The strength of both teams are defenses. Tyrod can have a good game now and then but I feel he probably fits the mediocre QB tier right with Keenum. If Robert Woods is a #1 caliber receiver then I suppose most NFL teams have 2 or 3 of them. Charles Clay is a decent TE, maybe he could have a day.

In the end, it will come down to the turnover battle just like most are saying. Go Rams!

 

[Rmfnlt]

To me, I'm still trying to figure out what these teams really are.

Four games isn't enough... regardless, they are both on the upswing and this game is important... so should be a good one!

 

[Roman Snow]

How has your crowd participation been? I know you get tons of fans, but are they active in the game?

Thanks for popping in here Kevin. Our crowds will just be a'ight. -90,000+ will trickle in Sunday, slightly rabid because they haven't had football in 22 years and their first place team is on a 3 game winning streak. Pretty tame overall. Nothing like those excellent Buffalo crowds you speak of.

Hence, if you come to Buffalo, It's deafening, similar to Seattle as I've been to both. I mean, this is after our pregame shenanigans of people going through folding tables. Our tailgate scene is quite large. That of a big time SEC college program.

Again. Our modest folks are in awe of your fandom. Our LA crowd actually may tear out your eardrums.

I think our team is better today without bias,

Again, Kev. Thanks for stopping by and being civil. But we all have bias toward our team, right?

I say Rams 24-20. See what I did there? A little hope. A little faith. A little confidence= fan bias.

It should be a good game.

 

[RamzFanz]

Sammy Watkins is a huge upgrade (and a game changer)

He's out, thank god.

 

[WestCoastRam]

Sounds like you've got some good players... shame about your head coach though.

Out of curiosity, what was the deal with Roman getting fired?

 

[ausmurp]

I'm a very unbiased Rams fan so here is my take:

DBs are about even, with EJ Gains coming back he was just as good if not better than Janoris which is probably why we let him leave. TruJo is just as good if not better than Gilbert. He is way underrated. Stats and play last yr should've sent him to the Pro Bowl but of course that is a joke now. What ever happened to the term 'All Pro'? Off topic but the NFL has ruined it and made it into a fantasy football draft by 2 dorks. Anway.

DL is about even. The Rams pass rush is better but the Bills run D is better. Dareus is a beast but he's not Aaron Donald. You don't have a pass rushing DE anywhere near as good as Quinn who is finally over his 2 yrs of injuries and looking like the top 30 NFL player he was 2 yrs ago. Stats show Bills have the edge here but by years end we will have more sacks IFF Quinn stays healthy.

LBs is where it gets dicey. Both teams have had their struggles. Ogletree was stuck on the outside for yrs when he's a true MLB and now he's showing what he can do. Many people say he's undersized but most teams have put the athletic slim MLB in place to much avail and that is what we're doing now. As you saw we have the legend (Singletary) who made 2 of the greatest MLBs in NFL history in Ray Lewis and Patrick Willis. Ogletree's play has been exponentially better from game to game and you're getting him in game 5 where he's looking like the mold of these guys. And of course we throw Barron down at OLB. Rams are underrated here and have the edge in my opinion.

Offense though is where the Bills break away. Better QB, better WRs, better TEs, better OL. Gurley is a way better runner than McCoy but McCoy is of course a receiving threat where Gurley is starting to become one but still new to it.

Should be interesting. Rams match up very well like another poster said because we own Wilson, own him. And Taylor is flawed copy of Wilson. I expect a close game but 90K fans, in the NFL, is unheard of that is some college shyt. It will play a factor and our 12th man is looking like the best in the NFL right now. 90K...jeez. It's insane. I just can't see the Bills winning primarily because of the 12th.

 

[RamzFanz]

This may be the toughest game for the Rams so far.

The two teams seem to be mirror images with Watkins out. I give the edge to the Rams WR's. Britt is a clutch catcher anywhere on the field. Tavon Austin is doing a lot more route running/traditional WR stuff than in the past, and it's not working as well. I hope to see more of him running (8.1 YPC) and in diversion/gimmick plays where he excels. Regardless, he's dangerous every down and on punt returns. Brian Quick has been on the back burner for years, slow to adapt and then injured, but we have high hopes for him and he's showing this season. Our TE, Lance Kendricks has been pretty reliable this season. We may also have a rookie or two with a lot of promise in the game this week, we'll see.

Gurley is due for a big breakout game and I hope it's this one. They've been too predictable in play calling and need to bounce him outside more.

The Bills are better at take away/give away, but that's mostly because of the Rams first game. Case is not known to turn the ball over and is 4/1 TD int the last 3 games.

Rams ST are freaking ballers. One of the best all around punters in the league who can throw the ball and our kicker, who has become more accurate this season, practises from the 65 yard line so long attempts are more than possible.

I expect a brawl. I can't call this game.

 

[Merlin]

That didnt work out to well for arizona. Whoever turns it over the least will win.

Every game and matchup is different.

This particular matchup the Rams are going to play defense like they do vs the Seahawks, with the DL staying in their lanes and crushing the pocket to contain the QB. They're quite good at that, and it should be a tough game for Buffalo's QB from that perspective.

UNLESS Buffalo runs the ball well. If that happens they're probably gonna put up enough points to win this game.

It is a similar deal from the other side too. Their secondary is not Tampa's and is playing better than Arizona's. If they stuff Gurley the Rams aren't going to put up a lot of points.

 

[~lyser]

Living here is Western NY, I had the pleasure to sit through the last two Bills games. They are talented at every level in the defense and opportunistic. McCoy looks like the Philly Shady of a couple of years ago, cuts on a dime with burst. The QB can sling it deep and has wheels but not super accurate or great vision from what I've seen. Palmer was an int machine against them and the Patriots had zero energy.

 

[KevinBuffalo]

Sounds like you've got some good players... shame about your head coach though.

Out of curiosity, what was the deal with Roman getting fired?

Greg Roman was an odd one. The rumor was that he was using our job to get a heading coaching gig, and had a balloon like head after a top 10 year in most categories in 2015. However, in 2016 he started running some goofy plays, miscommunications, timeouts, and a lack of balls to Sammy Watkins, Charles Clay, and Robert Woods. After a terrible showing against Baltimore and a 4 day later loss to the Jets, Rex thought it was best to let him go.

It was the right move. We are now 2-0 with Anthony Lynn. He is a great coach that has gotten a few head coaching interviews in 2015. He plays with pace and players really like him.

 

[NJRamsFan]

Man..sounds like we have no chance and Buffalo is the best in the biz....maybe i won't even bother watching. Hell they just shut out the patriots on the road first team since 1993! I can't think of anything that would skew that stat

 

[OnceARam]

The Bills... give me a break. They have a junior varsity version of Wilson playing QB. What has he accomplished in the league exactly?

And Shady, in all his glory, will get lite up by our fast as lightning LBs and DBs. I see images of Shady sulking on the side lines complaining about how he keeps getting earhold when trying to get out of the backfield to go on a route.

Mark Barron is Shady cryptonite.

We win 10-3

 

[KevinBuffalo]

I'm a very unbiased Rams fan so here is my take:

DBs are about even, with EJ Gains coming back he was just as good if not better than Janoris which is probably why we let him leave. TruJo is just as good if not better than Gilbert. He is way underrated. Stats and play last yr should've sent him to the Pro Bowl but of course that is a joke now. What ever happened to the term 'All Pro'? Off topic but the NFL has ruined it and made it into a fantasy football draft by 2 dorks. Anway.

DL is about even. The Rams pass rush is better but the Bills run D is better. Dareus is a beast but he's not Aaron Donald. You don't have a pass rushing DE anywhere near as good as Quinn who is finally over his 2 yrs of injuries and looking like the top 30 NFL player he was 2 yrs ago. Stats show Bills have the edge here but by years end we will have more sacks IFF Quinn stays healthy.

LBs is where it gets dicey. Both teams have had their struggles. Ogletree was stuck on the outside for yrs when he's a true MLB and now he's showing what he can do. Many people say he's undersized but most teams have put the athletic slim MLB in place to much avail and that is what we're doing now. As you saw we have the legend (Singletary) who made 2 of the greatest MLBs in NFL history in Ray Lewis and Patrick Willis. Ogletree's play has been exponentially better from game to game and you're getting him in game 5 where he's looking like the mold of these guys. And of course we throw Barron down at OLB. Rams are underrated here and have the edge in my opinion.

Offense though is where the Bills break away. Better QB, better WRs, better TEs, better OL. Gurley is a way better runner than McCoy but McCoy is of course a receiving threat where Gurley is starting to become one but still new to it.

Should be interesting. Rams match up very well like another poster said because we own Wilson, own him. And Taylor is flawed copy of Wilson. I expect a close game but 90K fans, in the NFL, is unheard of that is some college shyt. It will play a factor and our 12th man is looking like the best in the NFL right now. 90K...jeez. It's insane. I just can't see the Bills winning primarily because of the 12th.

Some of this is true. Not all.

We are very good at stopping the run, however our pass rusher is Jerry Hughes (OLB). He has 4 sacks on the year. You have to remember we run a 3-4 over, similar to a 4-6. We have 3 interior defensive lineman (Kyle Williams, Marcel Dareus, Corbin Bryant and Adolphus Washington will rotate). We play two MLBs right behind those three, Preston and Zach Brown have balled out. Both are ranked top 8 by PFF and Zach Brown may when defensive player of the week (18 tackles, 2 FF, 1 sack). Then on the outside we will use Jerry Hughes and Lorenzo Alexander, both have 4 sacks on the year (tied for 3rd). We have 13 total team sacks, good for third in the NFL, which is almost double what the Rams have. I'd give the Bills the pass rushing advantage.

Don't forget it's Rex's m.o. to come after the QB from ALL different angles and make him uncomfortable. We will have 5 people in the immediate box to make sure you don't run, and will generally have two blitzing OLBs and a S/CB coming from a different spot on the field. If case can blitz beat (getting the ball out in 2 seconds like Flacco), he will have success. If he holds the ball, he will commit turnovers or go down.

Refs do have us plunked for penalties, we lead the league last year, broke a franchise record, and give up nearly a football field per game. It seems like you guys get your fair share as well, as you've been flagged a lot in 2016. I will guarantee you get 1 or 2 roughing the passer/unnecessary roughness penalties. The only real points the Cardinals scored on us was because of this. We also had a sack fumble against Fitzpatrick taken away be an atrocious roughing the QB penalty that even Jets fans laughed at. Jerry Hughes should have 6 sacks on the year.

I'm saying, Rex will lose with good QB play. If you have it, you'll win. If you don't, Rex will feast. We had no problem stopping David Johnson/Legarrette Blount (leading the NFL at the time) from rushing.

I'm interested to see this crowd you speak of, we've already gone to Baltimore, and New England, so we aren't phased too much by this, but if its as "rapid" as you claim, it will be tough. I don't rank a crowd based on how many people go/how excited they are, rather how LOUD they get in key times, how many plays they alter, and how they limit other teams fans.

I'm interested in a good game, and I promise I root for the Rams over every other NFC West team. I'm also a secondary Kings fan (obviously i'm in Sabres territory).

 

[KevinBuffalo]

Man..sounds like we have no chance and Buffalo is the best in the biz....maybe i won't even bother watching. Hell they just shut out the patriots on the road first team since 1993! I can't think of anything that would skew that stat

Almost sounds like a Patriots fan. They were touting the best team ever prior to our game, and calling Brady a system QB. 3-0 after shutting out a 3-1 Houston team on the same field, with the same QB.

By all means, have fun with the Patriots whenever you have to play them.

 

[Elmgrovegnome]

I hope that Buffalo is exhausted from giving the Patriots all of their energy. Otherwise I don't like this match up for the Rams.

I'll add though that Fisher has seen Rex before and he is usually good at game planning against coaches he knows.

Also Sexy Rexy was all but insulting toward Aaron Donald last year. I hope Aaron is ready to set him straight.

 

[KevinBuffalo]

The Bills... give me a break. They have a junior varsity version of Wilson playing QB. What has he accomplished in the league exactly?

And Shady, in all his glory, will get lite up by our fast as lightning LBs and DBs. I see images of Shady sulking on the side lines complaining about how he keeps getting earhold when trying to get out of the backfield to go on a route.

Mark Barron is Shady cryptonite.

We win 10-3

Hopefully your team takes us more seriously than that.

 

[Jacobarch]

Let's not get too ahead of ourselves. The Bills are just like the Rams. They'll play really well for a couple weeks and then take a crap the next 3 games. I like Tyrod but he's a lot like Russell Wilson and we are very good at defending him.

Rex Ryan is an average coach just like Fisher. In fact they're almost the same guy. Had some success early in their career and hasn't done much since. I lived in Buffalo for 22 years and that team is about as abysmal as the Browns.

I think we have the advantage with being at home and playing a mobile QB. If Gurley gets going finally, it won't be close.

How dare you come here and be so logical!!! lol

 

[NJRamsFan]

Almost sounds like a Patriots fan. They were touting the best team ever prior to our game, and calling Brady a system QB. 3-0 after shutting out a 3-1 Houston team on the same field, with the same QB.

By all means, have fun with the Patriots whenever you have to play them.

Whenever we play the Patriots they will have Tom Brady back...

You're not actually under the impression Brady wouldn't have made a significant difference in that game are you ?

 

[Corbin]

Hello All,

I hope your transition to LA has been ok for your fan base. We know first hand how that could have gone. Luckily, we had a billionaire invest a ton of money into our sports/city.

As you know, we shut out the Patriots on the road, the first team since 1993 to do so.

This is after totally dismantling the Cardinals on every phase. The Bills are clicking on all cylinders and are getting healthy. We get Marcell Dareus and Seantrel Henderson (6th OL/swing tackle) back against the Rams.

Our only injuries heading into the game are Sammy Watkins (IR), Reggie Ragland our second round pick (IR), and first round pick Shaq Lawson (back week 7). We expect the entirety of our roster to play except those three.

Outside of the Thursday Night explosion by the Jets (played their super bowl as Rex as tauanted Ryan Fitzpatrick for like 10 years), we have only allowed 10.6 points per game, and those three opponents are 7-5 (with two of those loses being from us).

Rex will ALWAYS play well against inexperienced or low level starting QBs. Case Keenum has to perform. The Bills will always be top 8 in stopping the run, so they better have a game plan outside of just Todd Gurley. we didn't have any problems with David Johnson, outside of some garbage time production.

If there is anything I can answer about the team, fire at me. I know we only play at each others places every 8 years.

Enjoy watching Tyrod Taylor / LeSean McCoy in person. They both make awe-inspiring cuts/jukes.

https://pbs.twimg.com/tweet_video/Ct3ER6TWAAAiKjF.mp4

He what up Kev? Welcome to ROD! I enjoy hearing from fans of other teams and sorry for the certain kool aid drinking homer to rake you over the coals! lol

My best friend is a life long Bills fan and we been talking about this game last night at his house and hes hesitant to say anything positive towards a win but TBH I've been confident over our 4 games this year but I expect a let down this week TBH. We historically don't play well out our NFC West and get blown out after big wins with Fisher. However this year could prove to be otherwise with us winning 3 in a row and first time since 2006 and the feel of this young team is they are starting to believe which is a powerful thing.

I'm pretty familiar with your team ala my best friend so I see this game matching up pretty well but thinking we lose somewhere like 17-10 or 24-13 ish. In particular I'm relieved Watkins is out for the game but very worried about shady running and catching the ball and historically we don't handle good, versatile backs that well especially at key moments. If you guys get the lead on us 10+ points early I see that as the ballgame with your D vs. our O.


As far attendance so far in LA we had like 110k+ vs Dallas in the preseason and 91k+ when I went to LA vs. the seagulls and it was loud as shit! there was quite a few Hawks fan in the stadium ( 15-20k maybe?) so it was a bit noisy when we were one O but don't expect that many Bills fans to be in attendance this Sunday. It will be loud and with the Collesium being over packed will be deafening once again. It'll be hot, sunny, and hostile.


My question is how will Tyrod react in that type of enviroment... I know you guys go to Miami to play but I don't picture Miami being that hostile and across the country like LA will be. I'm very curious to see how Fisher and OC play this game since I been absolutely livid about their predictable Madden 98 play calling.

 

[UKram]

Hey man welcome to ROD ... Can you do us a favour and make sure Rex does put 5 in the box ..... Because untill our o line gels in the run game the only way you're stopping Gurley is to put 9 in the box see niners Seahawks Tampa and Arizona BUT

And whilst case is no Peyton manning ... He is starting to make teams pay for doing it

and honestly you haven't faced a D like the Rams ... Them boys are playing with chips on their shoulders ...and with fire

I am worried about this game as its out of our division and we notoriously struggle ... Should be a good game