Even though the Bills are favored, the Rams are one of the hotter teams in the NFL and are in a competitive race for the NFC West crown.
Buffalo will need to execute their game plan to pick up their eleventh win of the year.
With that, here are three keys to a Bills win in Week 14:
Make them stop the run
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Last week, the Bills spammed the running game against the 49ers and it resulted in 220 rushing yards and 35 points on the board. It will be difficult to repeat that success again this week, but the Rams have shown they can be hurt on the ground.
Two weeks ago, the Philadelphia Eagles’ Saquon Barkley did whatever he pleased against them. He ran for 255 yards and two scores on 26 carries. And last week, the Saints’ Alvin Kamara put up 112 rushing yards on 23 carries.
The Bills are at their best when they are a threat both on the ground and through the air. With this game being played in a dome (SoFi Stadium), many will be looking for Josh Allen to put up numbers in the passing game after only 148 pass yards in last week’s snow game. But if the Bills are wise, they won’t abandon the run and they’ll make the Rams have to defend in the trenches on defense.
Contain Rams pass rush
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Despite the loss of Aaron Donald, the young defenders on the defensive line for the Rams have done a solid job in keeping their pass rush competitive. They have four d-linemen with at least 4.5 sacks: Jared Verse (4.5), Kobie Turner (5), Byron Young (6), Braden Fiske (6).
More specifically, Verse has shown improvement this year. According to Pro Football Focus, he is the 12th-most productive pass-rushing edge defender with a pass-rush grade of 82.4.
The Bills haven’t allowed a sack in either of their last two games against the Chiefs and 49ers. That was a big reason they were able to put up 30+ points against both Super Bowl representatives from last year. If the Bills offensive line continues its high level of play, Allen could be in for a big day.
Limit explosives from McVay’s offense
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It’s no secret that the Rams offense has the potential to go toe-to-toe with anyone on any given Sunday. Led by offensive-minded head coach Sean McVay, quarterback Matt Stafford has a few premiere weapons to spread the ball around to.
Puka Nacua and Cooper Kupp are one of the league’s best wide receiver duos, so the Bills’ secondary will have their hands full. The duo both found the field healthy together for the first time in Week 8 after missing much of the season.
Stafford has thrown for eight touchdowns on downfield passes (10+ yards) since Week 8, which is the third-most in the NFL in the span, and he has averaged 11.3 yards per attempt on those throws. The entire team has been lifted since Kupp and Nacua became healthy.
The running game was also effective for them last week as Kyren Williams ran for 104 yards and a touchdown on 6.9 yards per carry. The offense can beat you in many ways much like the Bills’ offense. It will be another test for Sean McDermott, Bobby Babich, and the Bills defense to limit their explosive plays and keep them in check.
What’s at stake for the Seahawks? Week 9 preview and prediction
The Seattle Seahawks are set to face the Los Angeles Rams for the first time in the 2024 season. Seattle has struggled as of late. Since starting the season with a blistering 3-0 record, the Hawks have gone 1-4 since then, including three ugly blowout losses.
Things aren’t going to get any easier for them in Week 9. The Rams may have started the year 1-4, but since their bye they’ve won their last two games. Now they have wide receivers Cooper Kupp and Puka Nacua back in the fold. The extent of which Nacua can play is to be determined, but the Rams expect him in the game.
During this recent stretch, the Seahawks don’t seem to do anything well. Their offensive line cannot offer protection, or open up any kind of running lanes for Kenneth Walker III. Conversely, their defensive front cannot stop any opposing rushing attack. Their pass rush routinely struggles to get any consistent pressure, especially against quarterbacks who can move. Oh, and the defense as a whole isn’t generating enough turnovers.
What else is there to say at the moment? Defense can’t stop anyone, and the offense cannot get going early or stay on the field long enough to sustain any meaningful drives. Once they get to the red zone, they stall out.
Making matters worse for them is the fact today’s opponent is… the Rams. Under Sean McVay, Los Angeles has had Seattle’s number. These teams have faced each other 15 times since McVay has been in charge. The Seahawks are only 5-10 against the Rams, including being swept by them last year… and in 2021.
This team is Seattle’s kryptonite, and they are facing each other at a time when they are trending in opposite directions. This is a major gut check moment for the Seahawks. Right now, the Cardinals, 49ers and Seahawks are all tied with identical 4-4 records. However, due to tiebreakers, Seattle is technically in third place in the NFC West.
Around the division, the 49ers are on a bye. The Cardinals host the Chicago Bears this afternoon, which means Rams/Seahawks is the only other action the division has this weekend. If Arizona and Los Angeles both win, then Seattle falls to last place in the west headed into their bye week.
Unfortunately, I wish I could be more optimistic. This Seahawks team is struggling too much on both sides of the ball and at this point, the Rams are obviously better coached. Lumen Field may not be the “road game” for the Seahawks the way it was last week when Bills Mafia invaded, but McVay seems to be inoculated against the 12th Man. His squads are 5-3 in the Emerald City, but in two of those losses it could have easily gone the other way. In 2022, the Seahawks needed overtime to beat a Rams team without Matt Stafford, Cooper Kupp or Aaron Donald. In 2019, Los Angeles missed a game-winning field goal in a 30-29 defeat.
I have picked Seattle over the Rams in many moments where it appeared they were down and out, and each time I was proven wrong. I am no longer going to be Charlie Brown attempting to kick the football Lucy is holding for me. Until I see the Seahawks beat Los Angeles in a moment like this, I may change my tune. But until then, I have a hard time going against history.
Rumors were spreading that the Vikings were close to making a blockbuster trade with the Rams.
You never know what you’ll see on social media these days. Wild rumors are always spreading about what teams are going to do or should do. For the past two days, there have been rumors about the Vikings potentially trading with the Rams to acquire veteran quarterback Matt Stafford.
There was speculation that Kevin O’Connell wanted to reunite with Stafford and hope to bring a Super Bowl home to Minnesota. The Rams would then get Sam Darnold and give him a massive extension.
The truth is, Minnesota is 5-1 with Darnold, and the hope is that the Vikings can rally around J.J. McCarthy starting next season. Minnesota might be buyers before the trade deadline, but the Vikings will be searching for defensive lineman or guard help — more than likely.
The NBC analyst thinks the Vikings should look into the veteran if Minnesota drops a couple of games in the coming weeks.
There will be all kinds of rumors spreading before the November 5 NFL trade deadline, and with the Minnesota Vikings standing at 5-0 in the season, you could hear their names involved in all kinds of rumors. One NFL insider already tried to link the Vikings to a five-time Pro Bowl wide receiver and now NBC’s Mike Florio has another out-of-this-world take.
“If, for example, the Jets provided a blueprint for making Sam Darnold look mortal, the Vikings would be wise (if they lose to the Lions and then to Stafford’s Rams) to at least entertain the possibility of an upgrade,” Florio said. “(Coincidentally, Vikings coach Kevin O’Connell and Stafford worked together for a year in L.A. And they both won a Super Bowl ring for their efforts.)”
Sam Darnold has done everything the Vikings could possibly hope so, and with getting star tight end T.J. Hockenson healthy, Darnold will have yet another weapon at his disposal.
Earlier this week NFL.com ranked all eight divisions around the league on the strength of their starting quarterbacks.
The NFC West remains one of the toughest divisions in the NFL going into 2024. One reason it’s such a strong division is the QB play, which is well above average everywhere outside Santa Clara – where it doesn’t seem to matter. Earlier this week NFL.com ranked all eight divisions around the league on the strength of their starting quarterbacks.
The AFC North came in first, headlined by Lamar Jackson in Baltimore, Joe Burrow in Cincinnati, Deshaun Watson in Cleveland and the combo of Russell Wilson and Justin Fields in Pittsburgh. The NFC West’s quartet of starters came in second on the list, with Seahawks backup QB Sam Howell also getting a shout-out from Eric Edholm.
“All four starters are established. I also listed Howell, a 17-game starter for the Commanders last season, because I believe the Seahawks want someone to push Smith after the veteran slid back a bit last season. Geno’s 2022 campaign was a career-changer, but getting back to that level of play — in a new offensive system — won’t be automatic. I’ll be a bit surprised if Howell doesn’t start games for Seattle this season…”
Interesting stuff. As far as we know Geno Smith has a very strong lead for the QB1 position in Seattle, but there’s a fair amount of smoke and rumors around Sam Howell as a potential successor, perhaps as soon as this year. We’ll believe that when we see it, but as far as 2025 goes all bets are off.
As for the rest of the division, Matt Stafford is not getting any younger but he’s still good enough to deserve another big contract. Kyler Murray looked to be his old self again last season after he returned from a major knee injury, and he’s the only reason Arizona will win more than three games this year. Brock Purdy isn’t very good, but he has an obscene amount of talent around him to prop him up and minimize his mistakes. If Purdy grows into a legitimate starter Seattle is screwed. Until then, there’s still a window.
The New York Giants host the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday afternoon in Week 17, and here are six keys to victory.
This Sunday, the New York Giants return to East Rutherford to host the Los Angeles Rams at MetLife Stadium.
The Tommy DeVito trial is over and Tyrod Taylor has returned as starting quarterback with Daniel Jones’ season ended several weeks ago. After winning three in a row, the Giants dropped their last two and ended any thought of a postseason run.
Still, the season isn’t over and the Giants don’t want to end on a sour note. The Rams present a challenge the Giants haven’t seen yet this season with a veteran quarterback, a breakout rookie wide receiver, and a sophomore running back who is second in the league in rushing.
That said, there are six keys to the Giants earning a win at home in Week 17.
To learn more, we spoke with Rams Wire managing editor Cam DaSilva.
The Seahawks got upset by the Rams at home back in Week 1. Now they have the opportunity to return the favor on Sunday when they visit their division rivals at SoFi Stadium.
To learn more, we spoke with Rams Wire managing editor Cam DaSilva. Here are a few questions he answered about how his team is doing.
Here are nine things to know going into their Week 11 matchup.
The Seahawks have a chance to get some payback this week as they visit the NFC West rival Rams, who shut them out in the second half of a season-opening loss in Seattle. While Sean McVay always seems to give this team trouble, the good news is that these two teams look far different than they did two months ago. Let’s take a look.
Here are nine things to know going into their Week 11 matchup.
Tunnel Vision – a look back at Sunday for fantasy free agents, injuries and notable performances.
SUNDAY SALUTES
Quarterbacks
Pass-Rush
TD
Sam Howell
397-11
4
Josh Allen
324-41
3
Dak Prescott
304-19
4
Jalen Hurts
319-6
3
Joe Burrow
283-43
3
Running Backs
Yards
TD
Christian McCaffrey
12-54
6-64
2
Gus Edwards
19-80
2-14
3
Alvin Kamara
17-59
4-51
2
Travis Etienne
24-79
3-70
1
Austin Ekeler
15-29
7-94
1
Wide Receivers
Yards
TD
CeeDee Lamb
12-158
2
DeAndre Hopkins
4-128
3
A.J. Brown
8-130
2
Tyreek Hill
8-112
1
Ja’Marr Chase
10-100
1
Tight Ends
Yards
TD
Trey McBride
10-95
1
George Kittle
9-149
0
Taysom Hill
9-63
1-14
2
T.J. Hockenson
6-88
1
Evan Engram
10-88
0
Placekickers
XP
FG
Brandon McManus
0
4
Brandon Aubrey
5
2
Younghoe Koo
2
3
Cameron Dicker
3
3
Jake Elliott
5
1
Defense
Sack – TO
TD
Broncos
3-5
0
Cowboys
2-1
1
Jaguars
3-2
0
Vikings
4-1
0
Steelers
3-3
0
Bumps, Bruises and Bowouts
QB Matt Stafford -Thumb
QB Kirk Cousins – Achilles
QB Tyrod Taylor – Ribs
QB Kenny Pickett – Ribs
QB Desmond Ridder – Benched
QB Patrick Mahomes – Flu
RB Damien Williams – Foot
RB Travis Etienne – Ankle
WR DeVante Parker – Head
WR Kendrick Bourne – Knee
WR Drake London – Groin
WR Curtis Samuel – Toe
TE Darren Waller – Hamstring
Chasing Ambulances
QB Matt Stafford – He was already playing through a hip injury and left the Cowboys matchup when his thumb hit a helmet. He remained sidelined with a taped thumb after they examined it in the locker room but the Rams would not make a statement about it and Stafford did not talk to the press. Brett Rypien is the only other quarterback currently on their roster. Stetson Bennett is on the reserve/non-football illness list but the Rams have not disclosed exactly why. If Stafford misses any time, Cooper Kupp and Puka Nacua will likely suffer a decline.
QB Kirk Cousins – He suffered what is feared to be a season-ending Achilles injury. For a team already missing Justin Jefferson, this is catastrophic. The only healthy quarterback on the team is the rookie Jaren Hall. Sean Mannion is on the practice squad and Nick Mullens is on injured reserve. At 3-4, do they give up and make do with what they have or do they try to acquire or trade for someone? The worst part is that Cousins likely takes the Minnesota passing game with him, impacting Jordan Addison, T.J. Hockenson, and Jefferson when he returns.
QB Tyrod Taylor – The Giants quarterback suffered a rib injury and was brought to a local hospital. He was already replacing Daniel Jones who is out with a neck injury. The Giants are down to Tommy DeVito who entered the game and completed 2-of-7 passes for a net loss of one yard. The expectation is that the Giants will bring in free-agent quarterbacks though the shelves are rather bare. The Giants cannot afford to have yet another step downward in their passing offense.
QB Kenny Pickett – The Steelers quarterback left with a rib injury and the immediate concern is how quickly he will heal since the Steelers host the Titans on Thursday. Mitchell Trubisky will take the start if Pickett cannot play. More should be known on Monday.
QB Desmond Ridder – Was evaluated for a concussion and did not return to the loss to the Titans. HC Arthur Smith said that Ridder was held out for health reasons and not as a benching. Taylor Heinicke took over and completed 12-of-21 for 175 yards and a touchdown. Barring new information, Ridder remains the starter and will play if healthy. Practices will indicate if Ridder or Heinicke are most likely to start against the Vikings this week.
RB Travis Etienne – He left with an ankle injury but later returned and scored a 56-yard touchdown on a catch. He is fine.
WR Kendrick Bourne – The Patriots’ No. 1 receiver was injured in the fourth quarter, holding his right knee in obvious pain. He was able to walk to the medical tent and was ruled out of the game. He is due to have an MRI on Monday and the hope is that it is just a sprained MCL. DeVante Parker was hit helmet-to-helmet as well and is expected to be diagnosed with a concussion. That would be serious since he missed games due to a concussion in 2022. JuJu Smith-Schuster has been a disappointment since joining the Pats and had his own health issues. But he received more playing time after Bourne left and caught a three-yard touchdown on his only reception.
WR Drake London – The Falcons star wideout left the game and was looked at by the trainers. After visiting the medical tent, he was ruled out with a groin injury. London claimed that he was fine after the game, but he’ll be evaluated Monday and his status will be clearer later in the week. If he is out for the Vikings matchup this week, Kyle Pitts, Jonnu Smith, Mack Hollins, and Van Jefferson would have to take up the slack but London is the difference-maker out of all receivers.
TE Darren Waller – Suffered a hamstring strain and left the game. His status will be updated later this week, but the Giants’ problems at quarterback are an equally troublesome development for Waller’s fantasy value.
Free Agents, Flops and Other Notables
New starting quarterbacks – The worst injury situation appears to be Kirk Cousins and the situation they are in if he cannot play as expected. The Vikings are likely to bring in veteran quarterbacks who will carry some fantasy value, but watch what moves they make in the early week. The NFL trade deadline is Tuesday, so we’ll know quickly if they acquire any notable replacement.
QB Will Levis (TEN) – The 2.02 pick by the Titans in the NFL draft was the fourth quarterback selected. Levis took his first NFL start and threw for 238 yards and four touchdowns – three on deep passes to DeAndre Hopkins. Ryan Tannehill only totaled two touchdowns after six games. Levis has to be the ongoing starter. He became the third quarterback in NFL history to throw for four touchdowns in their first start.
RB Emari Demercado (ARI) – The Cardinals have turned to Demercado as the full-time back with 20 carries for 78 yards versus the Ravens on Sunday. He also caught one pass for one year. James Conner remains out for at least two more weeks and it could be longer since the Cardinals have not been very forthcoming about Conner’s prognosis.
TE Trey McBride (ARI) – The Cardinals placed Zach Ertz onto injured reserve and that left second-year McBride as the primary tight end. He responded well, leading all fantasy tight ends with ten catches for 95 yards and a score against the Ravens. McBride was drafted last year in the second round and this was the sort of development they were hoping to see.
TE Taysom Hill (NO) – The Swiss Army knife of the Saints already scored last week on five rushes for 18 yards and gained 50 yards as a receiver. Against the Colts, Hill ran for 63 yards and two touchdowns on nine rushes and caught a 14-yard pass. He’s always been inconsistent, but that’s two straight fantasy-relevant performances. He has been shifted to being a quarterback on some depth charts but remains a tight end on many.
RB Miles Sanders (CAR) – He missed Week 6 with a shoulder injury but had a bye to help him heal. He was removed from the injury report and was expected to resume his role as the starter, along with Chuba Hubbard. But Sanders only carried twice for no yards, and Hubbard ran 15 times for 28 yards. Sanders is far too risky to merit a fantasy start until he can prove to be healthy and a part of the game plan.
WR Demario Douglas (NE) – The Patriots rookie hasn’t scored and topped out in Week 7 with four catches for 54 yards. Against the Dolphins, he ended with five receptions for 25 yards but it was notable because his seven targets were three more than any other Patriot receiver. And Kendrick Bourne and DeVante Parker both were injured last week.
RB Gus Edwards (BAL) – He’s been consistent with around 50 yards in most games and scored only in Week 2. But these last two games, Edwards has his best performances of the year. In Week 7, he ran in a score, rushed for 64 yards and caught an 80-yard pass. For Week 8, he produced a career-best three touchdowns on his 19 rushes for 80 yards and caught two passes for 14 yards. Jackson dialed back his role as a rusher for these last two weeks and Edwards has feasted.
WR Tyreek Hill (MIA) – He currently has 1,014 receiving yards and is the first player to do that in their first eight games in the last 62 years of NFL history. He is on pace to gain 2,154 yards on the season.
Germany Alert! – The NFL returns to Europe this week with their first-ever game in Germany. The notable part is that they are showcasing the NFL by playing the Dolphins and Chiefs. That means there are a lot of fantasy team owners who need to get up well before 9:30 AM EST (6:30 AM EST) and check their lineups or risk missing an inactive.
Huddle player of the week
Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports
CeeDee Lamb (DAL) – The Cowboys No. 1 receiver already gained 117 yards last week, and he upped that mark against the Rams when he caught 12 passes for a career-best 158 yards and two touchdowns. After a three-week lull in production, Lamb is turning in big stats for multiple weeks and just led the NFL in fantasy points.
Salute!
Drama 101 – Somebody has to laugh, somebody has to cry
