Josh Allen needed 8 overtime appearances to finally secure his first victory in an extra period. After the Buffalo Bills edged the Los Angeles Rams 37-34 on Oct. 12, Allen delivered a memorable message about Matthew Stafford, praising the veteran quarterback’s passing ability.
“If he’s not the greatest thrower of a football of all time, I don’t know who is,” Allen said of Stafford after the game, according to NFL.com. The compliment came after Stafford threw for 383 yards and 3 touchdowns in a performance that nearly carried Los Angeles to victory.
Buffalo’s win was dramatic, but Allen’s comments added a personal dimension to the contest. Two of the NFL’s most accomplished quarterbacks produced contrasting performances, traded late touchdowns and pushed the game into overtime before Buffalo finally prevailed.
Allen’s praise for Stafford says plenty
Allen’s postgame comment showed his respect for Stafford’s ability to deliver the football. Despite leading Buffalo to victory, Allen acknowledged the difficulty of facing a quarterback capable of producing explosive plays under pressure.
Stafford completed 40 of 54 passes for 383 yards and 3 touchdowns against Buffalo. He repeatedly found receivers in critical moments, helping the Rams erase a late deficit and force overtime at SoFi Stadium.
The praise was especially notable because Allen had just helped defeat Stafford in a game that swung repeatedly between the teams. Rather than focusing solely on his own performance, the Bills quarterback highlighted the opponent who had pushed Buffalo to the limit. Read the NFL.com game analysis.
Buffalo finally breaks its overtime drought
The 37-34 victory marked Allen’s first career win in an overtime game. Before Monday night, he had gone 0-7 in games that required an extra period, including postseason contests, making the result a personal milestone for Buffalo’s franchise quarterback.
The Bills improved to 4-1 with the victory, while the Rams fell to 2-3. Buffalo had to survive a late Los Angeles rally, a turnover in overtime and a potential game-winning field goal attempt before securing the result.
Allen acknowledged that his team had not executed perfectly throughout the night. He credited the defense and special teams for making important plays, emphasizing that Buffalo found a way to win despite its mistakes. The Bills’ official recap details the dramatic finish.
Stafford nearly led Los Angeles to victory
Stafford’s performance kept the Rams competitive through a frantic fourth quarter. He connected with Davante Adams and Puka Nacua for important touchdowns, helping Los Angeles answer Buffalo’s scoring drives and maintain pressure until the final seconds.
The veteran quarterback finished with 383 passing yards and 3 touchdowns. His 40 completions from 54 attempts reflected the workload required to keep pace with Allen and the Bills’ rushing attack during the back-and-forth contest.
Los Angeles tied the game 34-34 when Kyren Williams scored on a 1-yard run with seconds remaining in regulation. The touchdown gave Stafford another opportunity to win in overtime, but the Rams’ special teams ultimately failed to deliver the decisive kick.
Allen used his legs to change the game
Allen completed 12 of 19 passes for 210 yards, 1 touchdown and 1 interception. His passing numbers were modest compared with Stafford’s, but his rushing production became the defining feature of Buffalo’s offensive performance.
The Bills quarterback rushed 10 times for 121 yards and a touchdown. His ability to escape pressure and gain yards on the ground repeatedly created opportunities when conventional passing plays did not produce enough progress.
Those runs proved decisive in overtime. After Buffalo’s opening possession ended with a fumble, Allen took advantage of another opportunity and scrambled for crucial yardage. His movement helped put kicker Tyler Bass in position for the winning 45-yard field goal.
A blocked kick turned the contest around
Overtime initially appeared to favor Los Angeles after the Rams recovered James Cook’s fumble. Stafford moved the offense to Buffalo’s 30-yard line, putting Harrison Mevis in position for a potential game-winning 48-yard field-goal attempt.
Bills outside linebacker Greg Rousseau blocked the kick, preventing Los Angeles from taking the lead and giving Buffalo another possession.
Allen then used consecutive scrambles of 19 and 13 yards to move the Bills into field-goal range. Tyler Bass converted a 45-yard field goal with 1:55 remaining in overtime, securing Buffalo’s 37-34 victory.
Buffalo’s rushing attack supported Allen
Allen did not carry the offensive burden alone. Running back James Cook III rushed 25 times for 111 yards and 2 touchdowns, providing Buffalo with a consistent ground threat that complemented the quarterback’s mobility throughout the game.
The Bills finished with 234 rushing yards as a team. That production helped Buffalo maintain offensive balance even as its passing game encountered difficulties, including Allen’s interception.
Cook also fumbled twice, losing his second fumble in overtime and giving Los Angeles an opportunity to win. Buffalo responded when Greg Rousseau blocked Harrison Mevis’ 48-yard field-goal attempt, allowing the Bills to regain possession and secure the victory.
The Rams must address special teams mistakes
Stafford’s passing performance gave Los Angeles a realistic chance to beat one of the AFC’s leading teams. However, missed field goals and the blocked attempt in overtime left the Rams unable to convert their offensive production into a victory.
Mevis missed a 50-yard field goal in the first quarter before his overtime attempt was blocked. Those failures proved especially costly because the game remained close enough that one successful kick could have changed the outcome.
Rams coach Sean McVay also faced questions about the decision-making that preceded the missed overtime attempt. The defeat left Los Angeles at 2-3, increasing the importance of correcting execution problems as the season continued. NFL.com’s analysis examines the special teams breakdown.
Both quarterbacks leave a lasting impression
The game offered a reminder that quarterback excellence can take different forms. Stafford relied on accuracy, timing and volume, while Allen combined efficient passing with explosive rushing plays to produce the winning result.
Allen’s compliment also underscored the respect shared among elite NFL players. His praise did not diminish Buffalo’s accomplishment; instead, it recognized the opponent whose performance made the victory difficult to secure.
Fun fact: Josh Allen is an avid golfer who has played in the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am three times, partnering with professional golfer Keith Mitchell.
TL;DR
- Josh Allen praised Matthew Stafford as potentially the greatest football thrower of all time after Buffalo’s 37-34 overtime win.
- Stafford threw for 383 yards and 3 touchdowns, keeping the Rams competitive throughout the game.
- Allen recorded 210 passing yards, 121 rushing yards and 2 total touchdowns.
- Greg Rousseau blocked a potential game-winning field goal, and Tyler Bass later secured the victory with a 45-yard kick.
- The win was Allen’s first career overtime victory, ending an 0-7 streak.
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This article was made with AI assistance and human editing.