Throughout the offseason, theRams.com will be looking ahead to select games and opponents on the team's 2026 schedule.
This year's series continues with an advanced look at the Buffalo Bills, who the Rams will host on Monday Night Football at SoFi Stadium in Week 5 (5:15 p.m. PT, ESPN).
The driving force behind this game will be the NFL's last two MVPs squaring off in the Rams' Matthew Stafford and the Bills' Josh Allen, but this will also be a big early-season test for Los Angeles' defense going against the league's leading rusher in 2025 in Buffalo running back James Cook.
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2025 recap
Most viewers who watched the Bills prior to the 2025 season were accustomed to Allen being the do-it-all engine for Buffalo's offense – not surprising given that dual-threat skillset powered an MVP-winning 2024 season. Allen still logged close to his average in terms of rushing attempts (112; career is 116 per season), but Cook's league-high 1,621 rushing yards played also played a big role in the success of the Bills' offense last season, a unit that led the league in rushing yards per game (159.6) and finished second in yards per carry (5.6).
Buffalo was also aided by the NFL's No. 1 pass defense en route to finishing 12-5 and reaching the postseason for the eighth time in nine years under head coach Sean McDermott. However, its season ended with a 13-6 overtime loss to Denver in the divisional round.
Key changes
Joe Brady was promoted from within as McDermott's replacement, elevated from offensive coordinator. Defensive coordinator Bobby Babich departed to join the Packers' coaching staff and was replaced by Jim Leonhard, who had been working with the Broncos since 2024.
The Bills also acquired wide receiver DJ Moore in a trade with the Bears.
Head coach
Brady is entering his first season as the Bills' head coach, and as an NFL head coach overall. He had previously served as Buffalo's offensive coordinator since 2022.
What to watch for
New Bills defense led by Leonhard
The high-scoring history – see the 2024 game with a combined 86 combined points and nearly 1,000 total yards of offense – will make a big draw for this game. Just as intriguing as these two offenses led by their respective quarterbacks, though, is what the Bills' defense will look like under Leonhard.
Under McDermott, that unit was a 4-3 base defense – four down linemen, three linebackers. Leonard has said his base defense will be a 3-4 alignment – three down linemen, four linebackers (two inside linebackers and two outside linebackers). Having spent two years working under veteran defensive coordinator Vince Joseph in Denver, Leonhard also plans to bring that aggressive identity over. Since 2023, Joseph consistently sent five or more rushers at the quarterback – the fourth-highest blitz rate in the NFL in that span. Meanwhile, Buffalo ranked 29th in that same span, so this will be a different Bills defense philosophically than the one the Rams saw back in 2024.
Stafford has excelled against the blitz, especially last season. it will make for an interesting chess match in Week 5 for him and the Rams' offense.
Check out photos of the Rams playing against the Buffalo Bills throughout the years.
Los Angeles Rams runningback Eric Dickerson (29) tries to fend off Buffalo Bills cornerback Mario Clark as each entwine their fingers in the other's facemask during the first quarter at Anaheim Stadium, Sunday, Nov. 27, 1983, Anaheim, Calif. No penalty was charged. Dickerson gained 12 yard and a first down on the running play. (AP Photo/Doug Pizac)
Los Angeles Rams quarterback James Harris is pictured in action against the Buffalo Bills at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, Dec. 15, 1974. The Rams won, 19-14, and finished atop the NFC West with a 10-4 record. (AP Photo)
Los Angeles Rams quarterback James Harris is pictured in action against the Buffalo Bills at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, Dec. 15, 1974. The Rams won, 19-14, and finished atop the NFC West with a 10-4 record. (AP Photo)
Los Angeles Rams center Doug Smith (56) blocks Buffalo Bills defensive tackle Fred Smerlas (76) during the NFL Pro Bowl, a 34-3 NFC victory on January 29, 1989, at Aloha Stadium in Honolulu, Hawaii. (Paul Spinelli via AP)
Los Angeles Rams cornerback Jerry Gray (25) hammers Buffalo Bills running back Thurman Thomas (34) during the NFL Pro Bowl, a 27-21 NFC victory on February 4, 1990, at Aloha Stadium in Honolulu, Hawaii. (Paul Spinelli via AP)
Buffalo Bills quarterback Trent Edwards (5) is sacked for a by St. Louis Rams' Leonard Little during the second quarter of an NFL football game, Sunday, Sept. 28, 2008, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)
St. Louis Rams wide receiver Donnie Avery (17) gets the ball across the goal line for a touchdown as Buffalo Bills' Ko Simpson (30), Leodis McKelvin (28) and Jabari Greer defend during the first quarter of an NFL football game, Sunday, Sept. 28, 2008, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Tom Gannam)
Buffalo Bills wide receiver Lee Evans, right, catches a 49-yard pass as St. Louis Rams cornerback Tye Hill defends during the first quarter of an NFL football game, Sunday, Sept. 28, 2008, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)
Buffalo Bills running back Fred Jackson, front, is pulled down by St. Louis Rams linebacker Will Witherspoon after catching a pass during the fourth quarter of an NFL football game Sunday, Sept. 28, 2008, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)
Buffalo Bills running back Marshawn Lynch, center, runs with the ball as St. Louis Rams cornerback Tye Hill (26) and linebacker Pisa Tinoisamoa give chase during the first quarter of an NFL football game Sunday, Sept. 28, 2008, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Tom Gannam)
Buffalo Bills wide receiver Lee Evans catches a touchdown pass as the St. Louis Rams' Jason Craft defends during the fourth quarter of an NFL football game Sunday, Sept. 28, 2008, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)
Buffalo Bills' Willis McGahee (21) eludes St. Louis Rams' Aeneas Williams (35) during the second half of the game at Ralph Wilson Stadium in Orchard Park, N.Y., Sunday, Nov. 21, 2004. The Bills won 37-17. (AP Photo/David Duprey)
Buffalo Bills quarterback Tyrod Taylor (5) looks on during the second half of an NFL football game against the Los Angeles Rams Sunday, Oct. 9, 2016, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Kelvin Kuo)
St. Louis Rams running back Steven Jackson (39) is tackled by a host of Buffalo Bills players including linebacker Nigel Bradham (53) during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 9, 2012, in Orchard Park, N.Y. (AP Photo/Bill Wippert)
St. Louis Rams punter Johnny Hekker (6) kicks the ball under pressure from Buffalo Bills outside linebacker Nigel Bradham, center, and defensive end Kyle Moore during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 9, 2012, in Orchard Park, N.Y. (AP Photo/Gary Wiepert)
Buffalo Bills wide receiver Stevie Johnson (13) runs with the ball as St. Louis Rams strong safety Craig Dahl (43) tackles him during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 9, 2012, in Orchard Park, N.Y. (AP Photo/Bill Wippert)
Buffalo Bills' Sam Young (71) blocks during the first half of an NFL football game against the St. Louis Rams' Chris Long (91), Sunday, Dec. 9, 2012, in Orchard Park, N.Y. (AP Photo/Bill Wippert)
St. Louis Rams quarterback Sam Bradford, center left, prepares for the snap from center Scott Wells during the first half of an NFL football game against the Buffalo Bills, Sunday, Dec. 9, 2012, in Orchard Park, N.Y. (AP Photo/Bill Wippert)
Buffalo Bills quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick, right, is hit by St. Louis Rams defensive end Chris Long during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 9, 2012, in Orchard Park, N.Y. (AP Photo/Bill Wippert)
FILE - In this Dec. 21, 2014, file photo, New York Giants wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr., right, runs with the ball as St. Louis Rams cornerback Janoris Jenkins defends during the first half of an NFL football game in St. Louis. After a monster rookie season, New York Giants receiver Beckham has become a marked man. After Eli Manning threw a fourth-quarter interception, on Sunday, Oct. 4, 2015, in Buffalo, Beckham was knocked off his feet by Bills safety Duke Williams on the return. On videotape of the play, Beckham clearly threw a jab at Williams. He was not penalized, but he admitted on Wednesday, Oct. 7 that he was fined by the league. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel, File)
St. Louis Rams quarterback Sam Bradford (8) reaches out to recover a ball on a play in which Buffalo Bills defensive end Mario Williams, bottom left, forced a fumble during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 9, 2012, in Orchard Park, N.Y. (AP Photo/Bill Wippert)
Buffalo Bills tight end Scott Chandler (84) is tackled by St. Louis Rams strong safety Craig Dahl (43) during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 9, 2012, in Orchard Park, N.Y. (AP Photo/Bill Wippert)
Buffalo Bills running back C.J. Spiller, right, runs with the ball with St. Louis Rams defensive end Robert Quinn (94) in pursuit during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 9, 2012, in Orchard Park, N.Y. (AP Photo/Bill Wippert)
The Los Angeles Rams take on the Buffalo Bills in week 14 of the 2024 NFL regular season.
The Los Angeles Rams take on the Buffalo Bills in week 14 of the 2024 NFL regular season.
The Los Angeles Rams take on the Buffalo Bills in week 14 of the 2024 NFL regular season.
The Los Angeles Rams take on the Buffalo Bills in week 14 of the 2024 NFL regular season.
The Los Angeles Rams take on the Buffalo Bills in week 14 of the 2024 NFL regular season.
