Bills survive Rams in overtime, Bass kicks winning field goal
Tyler Bass delivered a 45-yard field goal in overtime as Buffalo beat Los Angeles 37-34, while the team received mixed grades for its offense, defense and coaching.
Buffalo secured a 37-34 overtime victory over the Los Angeles Rams on Monday night after kicker Tyler Bass converted a 45-yard field goal in the extra period. Bass said he relied on his routine and expressed sympathy for the Rams’ kicker Harrison Mevis, who missed the chance to win the game for Los Angeles.
Quarterback Josh Allen highlighted the decision to attempt a long field goal rather than run a play, noting the risk of penalties and turnovers. He added that the team felt confident in Bass’s range from the left hash mark.
Analyst Sal Maiorana graded Buffalo’s performance, giving the pass offense a C, citing the loss of D.J. Moore and limited impact from Joshua Palmer. The run offense earned an A+, driven by James Cook’s third 100-yard game and two touchdowns, as well as Allen’s 121 rushing yards.
The pass defense was rated an F after the Rams’ receivers, especially Puka Nacua, found success against the secondary. The run defense received a B+, with the unit containing the opposing rushers and recording a sack on a critical two-point conversion.
Special teams were rated A-, highlighted by a 70-yard kickoff return that set up Bass’s earlier field goal and solid coverage statistics. Coaching received a C-, with criticism directed at the defensive staff’s performance and the offensive game plan’s limited passing options.
"Just trust in my routine and going out there and doing my 1/11th," Bass said after the kick. "I've been there, it's tough, but Mevis is a good guy, and he's gonna be just fine," he added.
Penalties remained a concern for Buffalo, which incurred 13 infractions for 112 yards, though only one occurred during the kicking game.