The Buffalo Bills’ 44-42 defeat against the Los Angeles Rams will be a tough setback for various reasons, one of which was the offense straying from the approach that has made it powerful this season. Typically, the offense is well-balanced, with Josh Allen selecting his moments to pass and James Cook contributing in the run game. However, against the Rams, Cook had only six carries, and rookie Ray Davis, who had an impressive performance with 63 yards and a touchdown the previous week, didn’t get any carries at all. Offensive coordinator Joe Brady acknowledged that Davis is too talented to be overlooked in the game plan.
“He needs to be getting touches,” Brady admitted, pointing out a significant issue in the unexpected loss. “His first carry was supposed to come on play 31, and that can’t be the case. He’s a great running back who deserves more opportunities. Part of it was how the game unfolded early on; we may have leaned too heavily on the pass. While there were good passing opportunities, we need to maintain a balanced attack and not become overly reliant on passing.”
Given the presence of a quarterback like Josh Allen, there can be a natural inclination to focus on the passing game. Nevertheless, the Bills have historically balanced their rushing and passing well, but against the Rams, the running game was virtually absent. Allen leading the team in rushing isn’t uncommon, but his 10 carries compared to Cook’s six is not a winning formula for the Bills in 2024.
At least Brady is aware of what went wrong against the Rams and can address these issues before the playoffs. If the Bills aim for a Super Bowl victory, Allen can’t be expected to do everything alone; a solid running game is essential for their success. This need was painfully evident in their loss to L.A.
