Buffalo Bills vs Los Angeles Rams Match Player Stats (Dec 8, 2024)
I’ve been covering football games for years, but those Buffalo Bills vs Los Angeles Rams match player stats from December 8th blew my mind. This game is why football is the greatest sport on the planet.
A 44-42 final score? For real?
My buddy texted me “WHAT IS HAPPENING” midway through the third quarter, and honestly, I had no answer. SoFi Stadium was going nuts the entire game.
NFL 2024: The Game That Broke Football
The Rams pulled off a miracle against the Bills in a game where nobody played defense.
LA got to 7-6 while Buffalo fell to 10-3, ending their seven-game hot streak. Buffalo still leads the AFC East, but this loss hurt their chances at grabbing the #1 seed in the conference.
The craziest part? Not one sack. Not one pick. Not one fumble. Just four quarters of scoring madness.
This was the Rams’ first win over Buffalo since 2012. Had to Google that because it’s been so long.
Josh Allen Went Video Game Mode
I thought I’d seen everything Josh Allen could do. I was wrong.
His stats look made up:
- 22/37 completions
- 342 passing yards
- 3 passing touchdowns
- 0 interceptions
- 10 carries for 82 rushing yards
- 3 rushing touchdowns
Nobody in NFL history had ever thrown three TDs and run for three more in the same game. Nobody! Every Buffalo touchdown came from Allen.
That 51-yard bomb to Khalil Shakir was insane. The ball flew 60 yards in the air and dropped perfectly over Shakir’s shoulder between two defenders. Then the 41-yarder to Ty Johnson where Allen rolled right, stopped, and threw back across his body. Perfect strike. The 21-yard dart to Mack Hollins went through a keyhole between three defenders.
And his team still lost. Football makes no sense sometimes.
Want to see how Allen and the Bills did against division rivals? Check out their game against the Patriots where they lit up the scoreboard again.
Stafford Stayed Cool Under Pressure
While Allen was putting up video game numbers, Stafford just kept making the right throws at the right time.
His stats look normal until you watch the tape:
- 23/30 completions (76.7%)
- 320 passing yards
- 2 touchdowns
- 0 interceptions
That throw to Nacua with under two minutes left was pure clutch. Pocket collapsing, season on the line, and he puts it right on the back shoulder where only his guy could get it. Took a huge hit too. Classic Stafford.
No picks in a game with 86 points? Wild.
Nacua Made Me A Believer
I’ve been skeptical about Puka Nacua. Not anymore.
The rookie went off against Buffalo:
- 12 catches (on 14 targets)
- 162 yards
- 1 receiving touchdown
- 5 carries for 16 yards
- 1 rushing touchdown
That sideline catch in the third quarter was ridiculous. Fully horizontal to the ground, gets both feet in, secures it against his chest, crashes out of bounds. Then scores the game-winner! Kid’s special.
Kupp did his usual thing:
- 5 catches (on 8 targets)
- 92 yards
- 1 touchdown over the middle
Buffalo spread the ball around:
- Shakir: 5 catches, 106 yards, 1 TD
- Cooper: 6 catches, 95 yards but on 14 targets
- Hollins: 4 catches, 57 yards, 1 TD
- Johnson: 2 catches, 55 yards, 1 TD
Talent all over the field, but Nacua was the star of the show.
One Team Had A Running Game
Here’s where the game was won and lost. One team could run, one couldn’t.
Kyren Williams was a machine for LA:
- 29 carries
- 87 yards (3.0 per carry)
- 2 touchdowns
- 2 catches for 10 yards
My legs hurt just watching him pound away all game. Blake Corum added 8 for 34.
Buffalo’s running backs? Missing in action:
- James Cook: 6 carries, 20 yards
- Curtis Samuel: 1 carry, 1 yard
That’s it! The Bills ground game was all Allen, all day.
That’s why the Rams had the ball for almost 5 more minutes. Hard to score when you’re watching from the bench.
The Rams have relied on this balanced attack all season, just like in their tough game against Detroit where running the ball was key.
The Game-Changing Play Nobody Talks About
The play that decided the game wasn’t a touchdown pass or run.
Early second quarter, Jake Hummel busts through and blocks Sam Martin’s punt. Hunter Long scoops it up and runs 22 yards to score.
In a two-point game, that special teams touchdown was everything.
The place went absolutely nuts when Long scored. Everyone in the stadium knew how big that play was going to be.
Coach McDermott said after the game his team “lost phases on defense and special teams.” No kidding, coach.
Did Anyone Play Defense?
The tackle stats are brutal if you’re a defensive coach:
Buffalo’s top tacklers:
- Taylor Rapp: 13 tackles (8 solo)
- Damar Hamlin: 13 tackles (7 solo)
- Terrel Bernard: 10 tackles (4 solo)
When safeties make that many tackles, something’s wrong.
LA wasn’t much better:
- Christian Rozeboom: 8 tackles (3 solo)
- Darious Williams: 6 tackles (5 solo)
The only defensive highlight came when Omar Speights stuffed Allen at the goal line with about a minute left. Massive play.
Overall? A rough day for defenders. Even the NFL officials had an easy day with few penalties to call in this clean offensive showcase.
Small Details That Decided The Game
Beyond the crazy stats, a few little things made the difference:
- LA had the ball for almost 5 minutes longer
- Rams went 6-for-11 on third downs (Bills: 5-for-11)
- Both teams crushed it in the red zone (4-for-5)
- Stafford to Tutu Atwell for 11 yards on 4th down in the final drive was HUGE
I’ve rewatched the game highlights three times and still notice new things.
FAQs About Buffalo Bills vs Los Angeles Rams Match Player Stats
Was this the highest scoring NFL game of the 2024 season?
While 86 total points is massive, it wasn’t the highest of the 2024 season. Still, it ranks among the top offensive games, especially with zero turnovers from either team.
Who had the better quarterback rating between Allen and Stafford?
Even with Allen’s six touchdowns, Stafford posted a higher passer rating thanks to his 76.7% completion rate compared to Allen’s 59.4%. Both avoided interceptions, keeping their ratings high.
How did Puka Nacua perform compared to other rookie receivers in 2024?
Nacua’s 162-yard, 2-touchdown game ranks among the best rookie performances of 2024. His versatility shined with both a receiving and rushing touchdown in the same game.
What did Bills coach Sean McDermott say about the blocked punt?
McDermott admitted his team “lost phases on defense and special teams” and needed to “come out with some urgency.” The blocked punt returned for a touchdown was the difference in a two-point game.
Has any quarterback ever had a similar game to Allen’s 6-TD performance?
Several QBs have accounted for 6+ touchdowns in NFL history, but Allen became the first ever to record exactly 3 passing and 3 rushing touchdowns in the same game.
The Game That Had Everything
I keep thinking about this Buffalo Bills vs Los Angeles Rams match player stats sheet weeks later.
Allen did things I’ve never seen a quarterback do. One of those “I was there when” performances.
But that’s football for you. One guy can dominate and his team still loses. A blocked punt. Time of possession. Clutch throws when it matters most.
This game is why I love football. One guy can be amazing, but you still need your whole team to win.
Whenever someone mentions Buffalo Bills vs Los Angeles Rams match player stats from this game, I’ll just smile. What a ride.
