Opening Night Primer: BUF@LAR

Buffalo Bills @ Los Angeles Rams

SoFi Stadium Inglewood, CA

Thursday September 8, 2022

Kickoff - 08:20 PM EDT

Who Wins and Why:

The defending Super Bowl champion Los Angeles Rams open up the 2022 NFL season at home against the Buffalo Bills. Both teams are Super Bowl favorites this year and look primed to make another run at a Lombardi trophy. The Bills are my Super Bowl pick for this season, but I think the Rams will take them down in this matchup. Why? The Rams have the healthiest version of Matthew Stafford that they will have all season and Buffalo is missing star corner Tre'Davious White. Stafford has been dealing with tendinitis in his throwing elbow and was on a throwing program all offseason. I imagine the elbow issue will only get worse for Stafford as the season goes on and there are limited chances for him to rest. Stafford being fresh allows the Rams to do plenty of what made them successful last season- throw the ball. Stafford finished 2021 third in passing attempts and powered LA to the fifth best passing offense in the NFL. With Tre'Davious White starting the year on the PUP list (Physically Unable to Perform), last seasons NFL leader in receptions, receiving yards, and receiving touchdowns, Cooper Kupp, should get loose often. Even if Buffalo decides to double-team Kupp, Allen Robinson is a significant mismatch for Buffalo's next man up.

Josh Allen is one of the best quarterbacks in the league and will not hesitate to push the ball down the field on a suspect Ram's secondary. However, his favorite target, Stefon Diggs will be shadowed by one of the league's best corners in Jalen Ramsey. If Ramsey takes away Diggs like I think he will, Allen will need to rely on his second and third options Gabriel Davis and Isaiah McKenzie to produce. Allen should still have a solid night in the air, but with Diggs effectively taken away and a lackluster running attack I do not think Buffalo will have enough to edge out the Rams.

Final Score Prediction: LA Rams 27 Buffalo Bills 24

My Pick: Rams (+2.5)

Over/Under: Under (51.5)

Odds Provided by Draftkings Sportsbook