Rams (2-0) at Bills (2-0)
Sunday, 1 p.m. ET, Bills Stadium, Orchard Park, New York TV: Fox
Danny Sheridan’s line: Bills by 3
Rams’ keys to victory: While the Bills have a formidable secondary, if QB Jared Goff sets the tone in the air, that will open things up for the Rams on the ground. The likely target for Sean McVay’s play calling will be wherever Buffalo CB Josh Norman was supposed to be. Norman is on the injured reserve list, and WRs Robert Woods and Cooper Kupp will have a big edge on CB Levi Wallace, Norman’s replacement. Rookie RB Cam Akers and Malcolm Brown have provided a solid one-two ground punch.
Bills’ keys to victory: In Buffalo’s first two games of the season, the attack has been filtered through QB Josh Allen. The way that Allen’s been doing it might also be a perfect match for the Bills against the Rams as well. It hasn’t been the deep ball, it’s been the short-to-intermediate routes. Allen has spread the ball around nicely to WRs Stefon Diggs, John Brown and Cole Beasley over the first two weeks of the season. Getting the ball out quickly will help the Bills avoid DT Aaron Donald and the Rams’ pass rush. Quick, shifty routes, namely from Beasley and Diggs, will come in handy.
Matchup to watch: Rams DT Aaron Donald vs. OL Mitch Morse. The Bills are lucky they don’t usually face someone as talented as Donald. On the flip side, Donald and the Rams will be facing an offensive line that’s one of the league’s most improved and plays in front of a mobile quarterback.
Who wins? After facing two of the AFC bottom feeders, the Bills get a tougher test. The Rams have a stout offensive line that will allow those playmakers to get open.
Rams, 27-17