The Los Angeles Rams are eager to start defense of their Super Bowl crown, while the Buffalo Bills are focused on reaching the big game for the first time since the 1993 season.
The two teams begin pursuit of their season goals when the NFL season kicks off Thursday night at Inglewood, Calif.
“It’ll be a big challenge for us,” Bills coach Sean McDermott said. “They’re the defending Super Bowl champs, (and) at their place, so we’ve got to play good team ball.”
The Rams went 12-5 in the regular season last year before going on to secure a 23-20 victory over the Cincinnati Bengals in their home stadium in the Super Bowl.
As Los Angeles begins defending its championship, star cornerback Jalen Ramsey insists his teammates are dialed in.
“When you have great ambition to be legendary and elite, it’s easy to turn that page and go strive for the next big thing,” Ramsey said.
The Bills, who went 11-6 last season, have yet to figure out how to get past the Kansas City Chiefs.
Buffalo lost 38-24 to the Chiefs in the AFC Championship Game two seasons ago and sustained a devastating 42-36 setback in the divisional round last season. The Bills took a 36-33 lead with 13 seconds left in regulation before the Chiefs tied things up with a field goal and then won the game in overtime.
Buffalo now looks for a breakthrough season with Josh Allen firmly entrenched near the top of the best quarterbacks list.
Allen, who passed for 4,407 yards, 36 touchdowns and 15 interceptions last season, downplays the hype over the season opener.
“It’s just another game,” Allen said. “We understand there’s going to be a lot of people watching. It’s an anticipated wait to the NFL season. We’re excited for it, and I know the Rams are excited for it. Going in to play the defending Super Bowl champs and watching them raise their banner, that’ll be an interesting feeling for sure.”
While Allen is healthy, counterpart Matthew Stafford of the Rams battled an injury to his throwing elbow all last season and the troubles continued through the offseason and training camp.
Stafford has been diligently rehabbing the injury and said he can make all the necessary throws.
“I feel good, I’m ready to go, no limitations,” said Stafford, who passed for 4,886 yards, 41 touchdowns and 17 interceptions last season.
Super Bowl MVP Cooper Kupp will again be Stafford’s top target after having a season for the ages in 2021.
Kupp became the fourth player since the AFL-NFL merger to win the receiving triple crown, leading the league in receptions (145), receiving yardage (1,947) and touchdown catches (16). The others are the San Francisco 49ers’ Jerry Rice in 1990, the Green Bay Packers’ Sterling Sharpe in 1992 and the Carolina Panthers’ Steve Smith in 2005.
Of course, the Rams also possess one of the top defensive players in the game in tackle Aaron Donald. The three-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year is two sacks away from 100 for his career.
Buffalo added linebacker Von Miller in the offseason. The eight-time Pro Bowl selection earned a Super Bowl ring with the Rams last season and decided not to show it to his new teammates as he pursues another one.
“There was no reason for me to leave,” Miller said of departing Los Angeles. “I just felt like (Buffalo) was my place to be. And whenever you leave on those terms, it’s always going to be some weird feelings. But at the end of the day, man, those are my brothers. And I know they feel the same about me.”
The Bills expect to have standout safety Jordan Poyer (elbow) and receiver Isaiah McKenzie (groin) on Thursday night. Rams wideout Van Jefferson (knee) missed practice Tuesday and could be a game-time decision.
–Field Level Media
