It’s Victory Tuesday for the Buffalo Bills as they advance to 4-1 on the season with their 37-34 overtime win over a tough Los Angeles Rams team. After a bit of a boring first half where the Bills had a 13-7 lead going into the third quarter, it was fireworks between both teams, and the Bills ended up getting the last laugh.
After dropping to the New England Patriots in Week 4 back in Orchard Park, the Bills bounced back in a big way in front of a national audience.
It definitely wasn't the prettiest win, but it was a hard-fought battle. Credit is due to the Bills for turning things around in the second half. The way that this game was going, it truly felt like it was going to be a heartbreaking loss in some fashion. Instead, the Bills were the team that got to celebrate this win.
Coming out of this game, there are 4 winners and 4 losers from the Bills in this game. There is lots to celebrate, but also a lot to improve in as well.
Winners and losers from Bills' dynamic OT win vs. Rams
Winners
QB Josh Allen
Had it not been for a dynamic second half from Josh Allen, he wouldn't have been listed as a winner. However, he came alive when it mattered the most. He carried the Bills on the final drive in overtime and he put everything on the line for the Bills to get this win.
He finished the game with 210 yards through the air, 121 yards on the ground, and 2 total touchdowns. After a rough first half of football, Allen turned things around and became the Superman that Bills fans know and love.
RB Ty Johnson
With the Bills missing DJ Moore and Joshua Palmer on offense, it was running back Ty Johnson who ended up being the team's best receiver in the game. While Khalil Shakir finished as the team's leading receiver, Johnson was more efficient and he had 4 catches fro 72 yards, with his longest catch going for 40 yards.
The Bills' offense operates better when Johnson is on the field, and he made his impact in the receiving game.
DT T.J. Sanders
Making his 2026 debut, T.J. Sanders filled the role for Ed Oliver who was out with a knee injury. Sanders had a rough rookie season last year, but he starts on a high note with a lot of production against the Rams.
He was creating pressure on Matthew Stafford for a majority of the game and he managed to bring Stafford down when the Rams were attempting a 2-point conversion at one point. Fans should be impressed with Sanders and the way he played in this game.
Interior offensive line
For a unit that was going up against a Rams defense that features players like Aaron Donald, Kobie Turner, Byron Young, and Braden Fiske, the Bills' interior offensive line from Alec Anderson, Connor McGovern, and O'Cyrus Torrence deserve so much credit. They didn't let up much pressure on the inside and it should be recognized.
OLB Greg Rousseau
Defensively, Rousseau was solid with providing pressure. However, his big moment came in overtime. The Rams had the chance to kick a game-winning field goal and send Buffalo away with a heartbreak, but Greg Rousseau wouldn't let that happen.
He tipped Harrison Mevis' attempted kick that led to the Rams missing the field goal, and the ball went back to Josh Allen where he got Tyler Bass in position to win it for the Bills. Without that play, who knows if the Bills are the ones celebrating this win.
Losers
WR Skyler Bell
I'll be the first to admit it; I thought Skyler Bell would introduce himself to the NFL world in this game. That couldn't be further from the truth. Despite DJ Moore and Joshua Palmer both being out, Bell wasn't able to make an impact. He ended the game with no catches, and only being targeted twice.
This was a debut that he will want to forget about for sure.
RB James Cook
I know that James Cook rushed for 111 yards and had 2 touchdowns. However, we all know why he's in the loser section. Cook had 2 fumbles (now 4 on the year), and one of them was in overtime that would have been the back-breaking play for the Bills.
Cook's ball security has been a major issue throughout his career. Last season, he had 6 fumbles, and now he already has 4 through 5 games. This is getting out of hand, and he needs to find a way to fix it, and fix it fast.
2nd-half defense
The Bills' defense was playing well in the first half with only giving up 7 points to the Rams. Then in the second half, they completely fell apart. They allowed the Rams to put up 27 points, including the game-tying touchdown with just 5 seconds left in regulation. Buffalo's defense allowed the Rams to convert on 50% of their 3rd-down situations, and the Rams also converted on two 4th-down situations.
This unit almost gave this game away, which continues along with their main theme this season. Buffalo's defense continues to be an issue, but they managed to do just enough to help the Bills leave LA with the win.
Pass-rush
The Bills' pass-rush brought a little bit of pressure, but DeWayne Carter managed to get the team's only sack of the night on Matthew Stafford. This pass-rush wasn't getting to Stafford consistently which allowed him to connect with his receivers to punish the defense.
Despite the Bills lining up five guys on the line, they still couldn't bring Stafford down more. This is something that they will need to improve on going into Week 6 against the Raiders.
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