The Los Angeles Rams did enough offensively to take the Buffalo Bills to overtime Monday night, but another miscue in the kicking game left them with a 37-34 loss. Harrison Mevis missed both field goal attempts, including an overtime try blocked by Bills defensive end Gregory Rousseau, before Tyler Bass delivered the 45-yard winner.
Mevis is now 5-for-9 on field goals this season, with a long of 48 yards. His failures leave the Rams with a decision they can no longer delay, according to Locked On Rams host Gavin Carlson.
Carlson argued that Mevis’ limited range changes the Rams’ late-game calculus. Carlson said the team needs to get deeper into opposing territory than teams with kickers capable of consistently converting from 50 yards and beyond, and he urged Los Angeles to pursue another answer rather than accepting Monday’s miss.
The special teams problem goes beyond Mevis. Buffalo opened the game with a 70-yard kick return, and the Rams again allowed the third phase to dictate critical moments in a game that featured six lead changes. The NFL noted that Los Angeles has now had both of the league’s walk-off field-goal attempts blocked across the past two seasons, following Joshua Karty’s blocked try against Philadelphia last year.
Sean McVay also faces a broader roster-management question. Michael Brockers, a Locked On Rams co-host, suggested using more trusted defensive contributors on coverage units, while Carlson pointed to the repeated changes already made around the operation. A new kicker would address the most visible failure, but it would not erase a kickoff-coverage and protection issue that has followed the Rams through multiple games.
Rams News and Notes
– Defensive coordinator Chris Shula earned praise from Carlson for Los Angeles’ first-half plan against Josh Allen, including a disguised third-down coverage look that produced a coverage sack. Allen’s late rushing success, however, exposed issues with contain and quarterback-spy execution.
– Linebacker Nate Landman forced two fumbles by Bills running back James Cook. The second one came in overtime with Buffalo well within field goal range.
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