3 ex-Rams players now on the Bills hope to fuel an on-the-road win in Week 14

The LA Rams have been a very active team in terms of restocking their roster. Curiously, most of the roster needs have not been due to players retiring, but out of the need to replace veterans whose contracts have expired and who signed on with new teams. One of the teams that seems to be more than happy to sign former Rams players is this week's opponent, the Buffalo Bills.

One veteran who signed with the Bills is former Rams outside linebacker Leonard Floyd. Floyd signed with the Bills in 2023 and contributed 10.5 quarterback sacks and 32 tackles in his only season. He now plays for the San Francisco 49ers. While he will not be helping the Buffalo Bills, several former Rams starters are playing for the Bills. All three players are hoping to emerge from the familiar SoFi Stadium with a win.

IOL David Edwards

The team parted ways with former left guard David Edwards after an injury-shortened 2022 NFL season. Edwards, if you recall, suffered repeated concussion that season, and the team was unwilling to extend him and place him at risk of further injury. He signed with the Buffalo Bills in 2023, appearing in all 17 games but not starting. Now, in 2024, he has earned the right to start.

Edwards starts at left guard for the Bills. While he starts at a familiar position, he is a bit better run blocker than a pass blocker. Curiously, in 727 offensive snaps, he has surrendered no quarterback sacks and has committed three penalties. Per Pro Football Focus, he has allowed 19 quarterback pressures this season. That could be critical, as the Rams are one of the best defensive fronts in terms of creating quarterback pressures this season.

S Taylor Rapp

Former Rams defensive back Taylor Raps was never deployed correctly in the secondary when he wore Horns. But as is the case for many safeties, he seems to have found a niche role for the Buffalo Bills in their secondary that suit his skillset much better. Rapp is not elite in pass coverage, something that frustrated me throughout his career with the team, but he is a hard-hitting safety who is very much at home as the eighth defender in the box.

Per his Pro Football Focus grade, he continues to excel at playing the run. And despite his suspect pass defense, he has two interceptions on the season. So he is not the pushover on the defensive side of the football that he appeared to be when playing for the Rams.

OLB Von Miller

Immediately after his stellar performance alongside All-Pro DT Aaron Donald, All-Pro outside linebacker Von Miller's star has returned to its apex among NFL GMs. That proved to be counter-productive to an LA Rams front office that view Von Miller as the cornerstone to the team's 2022 offseason strategy. You see, the team wanted him back. But he was lured away to sign with the Buffalo Bills over more guaranteed money, leaving the Rams to scramble. Ultimately the Rams signed WR Allen Robinson and ILB Bobby Wagner.

Both veterans were gone the following year.

But Von Miller is still shoveling lake-effect snow in Buffalo, New York, and still terrorizing quarterbacks on the Buffalo Bills defense. When he returned to face his former team on September 8, 2022, he led a dominating pass rush with 2.0 quarterback sacks, on the Bills' way to winning that game by a score of 31-10. Stafford was sacked seven times in that game and threw for three interceptions. Now Von Miller is back. Despite not playing the entire month of October 2024, he has 4.0 quarterback sacks. And he is looking forward to getting more in Week 14.

It seems as though the Buffalo Bills have turned former Rams players into key components of a playoff-bound NFL roster. Now, those players aim to showcase their talents against their former team, coaches, and teammates. Which team will prevail? We are about to find out. Thanks for reading.

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