Rams block punt for TD, but Bills fight back, LA leads 17-14

The Rams got back into the end zone with a great special teams play.

But Buffalo didn’t take long to respond.

Los Angeles blocked a punt and returned it for a touchdown, but Ty Johnson’s 41-yard touchdown on a screen pass made the score 17-14 Rams with 10:23 left in the second quarter.

The Rams’ blocked punt occurred in Buffalo territory, with Hunter Long returning the loose ball 22 yards for a touchdown.

This gave the Rams a 17-7 lead with 12:29 minutes left in the second quarter.

The Los Angeles defense had initiated a punt after forcing three straight incompletions from Josh Allen. Cornerback Kamren Kinchens intercepted a deep second-and-10 pass to Mack Hollins that could have led to a touchdown.

Then on fourth-and-10, linebacker Jacob Hummel took the ball off Sam Martin’s foot and blocked it. The ball splashed around a bit before Long was able to pick it up and get it to the paint.

On the ensuing drive, Buffalo needed just four plays to go 70 yards. After a short run, Josh Allen connected with Mack Hollins for a 12-yard completion, Amari Cooper for a 14-yard completion and then hit Johnson for the 41-yard completion.

The Rams were inside the Buffalo 10-yard line on the club’s previous drive early in the second quarter, but had to settle for a 22-yard field goal when Matthew Stafford’s pass to Puka Nacua fell incomplete.