Bills rally in 4th to defeat Rams
Buffalo blew 25-point lead before go-ahead TD in final minute
ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. — Josh Allen completed a 3-yard touchdown pass to tight Tyler Kroft with 15 seconds remaining, and the Buffalo Bills survived to beat the Los Angeles Rams 35-32 after squandering a 25-point lead on Sunday.
The Rams (2-1) were poised to match the third-largest comeback in NFL regular-season history after Jared Goff led the team to touchdowns on four straight drives, capped by Darrell Henderson’s 1-yard run with 4:30 remaining.
Allen responded by marching the Bills (3-0) on an 11-play, 75-yard drive, which was extended by a pass interference penalty against Darious Williams on fourth-and-7 from the Rams 12. Williams interfered with intended receiver Gabriel Davis at the 3.
One play later, Allen rolled to his left and lobbed a pass over a Rams defender. Kroft made a leaping catch and secured the ball before tumbling to the ground, his second TD of the game. He earned additional playing time with starter Dawson Knox sidelined by a concussion.
Allen finished with four touchdown passes and scored on a 1-yard run. The third-year starter, however, contributed to the Rams’ comeback bid, with an interception and a lost fumble leading to Los Angeles scores.
Allen now has had a hand in 12 touchdowns, the most in team history through the first three games of the season. Hall of Famer Jim Kelly held the record of 10, set in 1991.
Buffalo has won its first three games in consecutive seasons, the first time the franchise has done that since 1991-92 and the third time overall.
The decisive drive also featured a facemask penalty on Allen, who pulled down Justin Hollins while trying to avoid a sack. Following an incompletion and facing a third-and-25 from the Rams 30, Allen found Cole Beasley for a 16-yard catch over the middle.
The Bills picked up a first down on the following play, when Davis drew
the pass interference penalty.
Allen finished 24 of 33 for 311 yards with four touchdown passes and also scored on a 1-yard run. The Bills appeared to be in good shape when Allen capped Buffalo’s fourth consecutive touchdown drive by hitting Stefon Diggs for a 4-yard pass with 8:05 left in the third quarter.
Back came the Rams, led by Goff, who finished 23 of 32 for 321 yards with two touchdowns and one interception.
The Rams scored twice in a span of 1:55 to cut the Bills’ lead to 28-17 with 2:52 left in the third quarter.
After Goff scored on a 1-yard run, the Rams got the ball back after Allen threw his first interception of the season. Allen threw deep up the left sideline where Kroft pushed aside cornerback Troy Hill, and made a leaping catch only to have the ball stripped from his arms by John Johnson III.
The Rams scored three plays later, with Goff faking a handoff left before spinning around and hitting Robert Woods, who scored on a 25-yard catch and run.
Aaron Donald had two sacks and also forced an Allen fumble, which he recovered at the Bills 37. The recovery led to Henderson’s touchdown, which put the Rams up 32-28.
The Rams were in position to overcome the largest deficit in team history. The then-St. Louis Rams rallied from being down 27-3 to win 31-27 at Tampa Bay on Dec. 6, 1992.
It was the eighth successful fourth-quarter comeback for Allen in his three seasons. Last week, the Bills overcame a 2017 fourth-quarter deficit to beat Miami 31-28.
INJURIES
Rams: S Jordan Fuller did not return after sustaining a shoulder injury in the first half.
Bills: WR John Brown did not return after sustaining a calf injury in the first half . ... S Micah Hyde hurt his left ankle in the fourth quarter.