With a masterful performance by Josh Allen, the Buffalo Bills defeated the reigning Super Bowl champion Los Angeles Rams 10-31 on Thursday to kick off the 2022 NFL season.
The first game of the new season was presented as a major duel between two teams that appear on the list of great contenders for the ring.
On the one hand, the Bills, winners of the AFC East the last two years, are the number one betting favorites to win the Super Bowl, while the Rams have retained much of the block that led them to victory and continues to be a formidable opponent in the NFC.
SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles (USA), the venue where the Rams won the Super Bowl last February, hosted this inaugural game on a very hot afternoon in the Californian city and also served for the locals to present their fans with the Vince Lombardi Trophy and the championship banner.
But the Bills then spoiled the party.
With a blistering second half in which they held the Rams scorelessly, the Bills signed a fantastic victory thanks to their quarterback John Allen, superb with 26 of 31 passing for 297 yards, 56 yards more himself, three touchdown passes, two interceptions and a rushing touchdown.
Allen strikes first
From the kickoff, the Bills’ offense spared no pyrotechnics.
On their first long drive, Josh Allen confidently and judiciously drove his offense 75 yards (9 plays) until Gabriel Davis scored his team’s first touchdown of the game, the game and the NFL season.
Allen hit Davis with a 26-yard touchdown pass after a perfect third-and-one misdirection.
He didn’t show much love for his former teammates and caught Matthew Stafford in a first quarter that ended with no Angelino touchdowns.
With a Tyler Bass field goal, Buffalo increased their lead (0-10) but gradually Stafford, who has had elbow problems over the summer, began to carburize.
Cooper Kupp scored his first touchdown of the season on a pass from Stafford in a partnership that shone brightly last year (7-10) and, with a field goal by Matt Gay, the Rams tied the game at halftime (10-10).
And then the game was over
With a 58-yard drive and Allen back at the wheel in total control of the game -even running himself if necessary-, the visitors managed another touchdown thanks to Isaiah McKenzie (10-17).
On the other hand, Allen was looking more and more comfortable.
On another patient drive, the quarterback dazzled with a 47-yard pass to Davis and, with the ball six yards from the end zone, finished it off in style with a rushing touchdown (10-24).
Stafford took more risks until he ran into another interception and Allen, in the last quarter, left SoFi Stadium speechless again with a fabulous 53-yard pass to Stefon Diggs, who sealed another touchdown to close a perfect night for the Bills.
