The Rams' Defense Is Doing Something Nobody's Done Since 1949. Now Josh Allen Comes to SoFi

Quick trivia question: what do the 2026 Rams and the 1949 Philadelphia Eagles have in common?

Answer: they're the only teams in NFL history to outgain their opponent by 200-plus yards in three straight games, per the AP. The 1949 Eagles won the title, by the way. Just saying.

The latest entry came last Sunday, when LA outgained Philadelphia 415-172 and beat the Eagles 24-20 on the road.

Now the real test arrives: Josh Allen and the 3-1 Buffalo Bills, Monday night at SoFi.

Wait, the Rams are 2-2?

Yep. Despite the yardage dominance, LA is just .500. That's the weird part of this team. The defense has been suffocating, ranking second in the league in total yards allowed (247.5 per game) and second in passing yards allowed (145.5), per the AP and ESPN.

But the offense has been leaky with the football. Matthew Stafford has thrown six interceptions in four games, per the AP. You can outgain people all day; turnovers will still keep you in coin-flip games.

Kyren Williams, PPR cheat code

Against Philly, Kyren Williams scored two late touchdown runs and set a career high with 10 catches for 67 yards, per the AP.

Ten catches! From a running back! In a game the Rams won by four! That's not a stat line. That's a cry for help from fantasy managers who benched him.

The Bills bring the fireworks

Buffalo (3-1) brings Allen, the reigning nightmare for every defensive coordinator in America. The Bills' only loss came against New England, 29-26, per the AP.

And the last time these two teams met? Rams 44, Bills 42 on Dec. 8, 2024, per the AP. That game was basically a Fast & Furious movie with shoulder pads. Nobody played defense. Everybody had fun.

Our take (opinion): this is the most interesting matchup on the Week 5 board. The Rams' defense has been dominant against everybody so far, but nobody on their schedule has a quarterback like Allen, who can turn a broken play into a 40-yard scramble. If LA can keep him in the pocket and Stafford stops gifting the ball away, the Rams win this. If Stafford throws two picks, it's Allen's world and we're all just living in it.

Game info

• When: Monday, Oct. 12, 5:15 p.m. PT
• Where: SoFi Stadium, Inglewood
• TV: ESPN/ABC, per ESPN's schedule

Fantasy angle (free advice)

Our Week 5 model scores each player's matchup by how many fantasy points that opponent has allowed to the position this season. Here's how it lands for this one:

• James Cook III (BUF): still a weekly starter, but the Rams grade as one of the tougher run-defense matchups in our model. Temper expectations a bit.
• Dalton Kincaid (BUF): the Rams are one of the stingiest defenses against tight ends in our numbers. Sit-able in shallow leagues if you have a solid alternative.
• Keon Coleman (BUF): trending up over the last three games and rostered in roughly a third of ESPN leagues. A reasonable flex option in deeper leagues.
• Kyren Williams (LAR): start him. Volume like that doesn't happen by accident.

Lines and statuses move, so check our rankings and the official injury reports before lineup lock.

Our take (opinion): we're taking the Rams. That defense is real, and SoFi on a Monday night should be rocking. But if you told us the final was 38-35, we wouldn't even blink.