The National Football League began their 103rd season on Thursday night, as the defending world champion Los Angeles Rams hosted the Buffalo Bills at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles. At the end of the night Buffalo who many think will end up in the Super Bowl this season would spoil the opening night party, intercepting Matthew Stafford three times and recording seven sacks in a convincing 31-10 win.
Buffalo got off to an early lead, taking the opening kickoff and going 75 yards in 11 plays capped off by a Josh Allen to Gabe Davis 26 yard touchdown pass. Allen was intercepted and rookie James Cook on his first ever carry lost a fumble on the next two Bills possessions, but Stafford was intercepted for the first time on the night after that recovery that would lead to a 41 yard field goal by Tyler Bass to give the guests a 10-0 advantage. Los Angeles came alive before the end of the half as Stafford found his favorite target Cooper Kupp for a four yard TD, and after Allen was intercepted a second time kicker Matt Gay nailed a 57 yard field goal in the final seconds to make it 10-10 at the break.
The Buffalo offense really came alive in the second half, while the defense would stiffle Los Angeles. Allen scored the game winning touchdown with a four yard keeper early in the third quarter, stretching the ball across the goal line. After a Rams punt, Allen connected with Isaiah McKenzie for a seven yard score to extend the lead to 14. The defense intercepted Stafford two more times, and the Bills got into the endzone for a final time on a 53 yard pass from Allen to Stephon Diggs with 9:33 left to play.
Allen went 26-31 passing for 297 yards with three touchdowns and two interceptions. He was also the Bills leading rusher with 56 yards and a touchdown. Diggs had eight receptions for 122 yards and the long fourth quarter TD catch. Jordan Poyer, Dane Jackson, and Boogie Basham had the interceptions. Tremaine Edmunds had seven total tackles, while Von Miller returned to LA to face the team he won the Super Bowl with last season and had two sacks and three tackles for loss. Stafford finished 29-41 for 240 yards with one touchdown and the three interceptions. Kupp had 13 catches for 128 yards and the lone Rams touchdown. Allen is the first quarterback in NFL history in a teams win to throw for 250+ yards, have 50+ rushing yards, toss three or more passing touchdowns, have a rushing touchdown, and complete 80% of passes in a game.
