RAMSEY’S SKILLS A KEY VS. BUFFALO

Rams must slow Bills QB Allen and fast-moving offense

The question came this week during a videoconference call at the Rams’ practice facility. A reporter asked receiver Robert Woods if star cornerback Jalen Ramsey provides him with any specific tips about how to beat cornerbacks.

Before Woods could answer, a voice emerged from the nearby parking lot.

“That’s classified!” Ramsey shouted before entering his car, drawing laughter from Woods.

It’s no secret that the unbeaten Rams are relying on Ramsey and his lockdown skills to help anchor a defense that has given up only 18 points a game.

Though they neutralized quarterbacks Dak Prescott of the Cowboys and Carson Wentz of the Eagles, the Rams are prepared for what could be a tougher test against Josh Allen and the unbeaten Buffalo Bills today at Bills Stadium.

In victories over the Jets and Dolphins, Allen passed for 727 yards and six touchdowns, with no interceptions. Against the Jets, he passed for 312 yards and two touchdowns and rushed for 57 yards and a touchdown in 14 carries to lead the Bills to a 27-17 victory in the season opener.

He passed for 415 yards and four touchdowns last Sunday in a 31-28 victory over the Dolphins.

“He’s like a rebirth of Ben Roethlisberger,” Rams safety John Johnson said, comparing the 6-foot-5, 237pound Allen to the veteran Steelers quarterback. “Like, huge arm, huge body.

“I remember watching him take off and run. I’m like, ‘OK, you really got to have a tackling plan for him. He’s not going down easy, he’s not going to slide and he’s not going to run out of bounds.’ ”

Ramsey, the highestpaid cornerback in NFL history, will be called upon to play a large role in controlling Allen and an offense that also features receiver Stefon Diggs.

Ramsey made key plays against the Cowboys and receiver Amari Cooper. The Eagles barely tested Ramsey in a game that featured interceptions by Rams cornerbacks Darious Williams and Troy Hill.

Hill said he and his defensive mates are reaping the benefit of playing with Ramsey, a three-time Pro Bowl selection.

“We got a shutdown corner on one side, so now you know everything is going to come through us,” Hill said. “So now is the time to strap up . ... That’s kind of like just a competitor’s dream in a way.”

Ramsey said the season has gone well so far.

“That’s what I’m paid to do, is kind of shut down my side of the field and open up plays for other guys at times,” he said. “And I feel like I’ve been able to do that and I’ll continue to do that and anything else that they ask me to do for the defense.”

But as a competitor, would Ramsey like opponents to come at him more?

“I’m always up for the challenge and I always kind of want that,” said Ramsey, who signed a $105 million extension before the season. “But you know, they got 105 reasons why they might not do that.”

Rams defensive tackle Aaron Donald said Allen was similar in some ways to Cam Newton. Allen has been sacked four times this season, but does not hesitate to use his size and strength to evade tacklers.

“He will run through you, run past you, and he will make you miss,” Donald said. “He can do it all. So, when you get him, you better come with your big-boy pads and find a way to get him to the ground.”