The Buffalo Bills narrowly escaped the overtime thriller of the season against the L.A. Rams in Week 5, as Monday Night Football turned into a feature film- Complete with rave reviews. As with any great film there was misdirection, expectations both met and squandered, a heroic comeback, and victory snatched from the jaws of defeat.
Yet, we cannot be film critics without digesting what's put before us. What good is art if all that's said about it is 'Bills win'? That is, assuming we believe that sports can be art. A game like the Bills' heart-stopping escape from the Rams makes a solid case.
What was learned from this daring escapade? Which lessons do we impart, and which do we forget?
Important factors that Bills fans must notice from Week 5
Josh Allen makes the Bills run game happen
Perhaps is a lesson already learned, but the reminder is necessary. The Buffalo Bills are nothing without Josh Allen, and not just because he's a quarterback. His ability to create when the default passing game isn't working has saved Buffalo countless times. It saved them again on Monday night.
Often it's his scrambles to create plays downfield that defenses struggle to stop, but not this time. Allen ran for 121 yards on 10 attempts; That's a whopping 12.1 yards per carry. In a game where the Bills failed to pass early, Josh Allen created opportunities in other ways.
The L.A. Rams defense was as good as imaginable on downfield passing, but the Bills adjusted to short throws and repeated runs for big gains. As James Cook too carved up the Rams for consistent yardage, the fans know what the team looks like without Josh as a mobile contributor.
Tylan Grable is a solid right tackle
Panic hits the Bills when their dominant offensive line starts to crumble. Losing starting RT Spencer Brown seemed to spell doom for Buffalo, who were already struggling early on offense. Instead, backup tackle Tylan Grable stepped up in a major way.
From his athletic downfield blocking on big plays to his creation of holes in the run game, credit must be given where it's due. Where the team needed help, it came from a surprising place. If Spencer Brown misses extended time, Grable proves himself to be an adequate fill-in.
Greg Rousseau has a case for DPOY
There's truly no defender impacting an NFL game this season to the degree Greg Rousseau is. The DE-turned-OLB racked up 6 sacks in his first three games, and has been absolutely everywhere since.
His game-saving field goal block in overtime gave the Bills everything they needed to go back and win the game. Where Greg Rousseau is, opposing offenses take not. Where he isn't, they target. Rousseau isn't just the best defensive player on the Bills this season, he's the best defensive player in the league.
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