3 winners and 3 glaring losers from Rams' overtime loss to the Bills

Somehow, it's so unsurprising. Los Angeles Rams fans have seen it so many times before. When it comes down to it, there isn't a more fitting way to blow a game than on a blocked would-be-game-winning field goal in overtime after the offense just marched down the field in 94 seconds to tie it up in regulation. Really, it's too perfect.

It's no surprise that Harrison Mevis is now out of a job, replaced by Jets practice-squad kicker Blake Grupe. A change was needed.

Some positives along the way: receiver Puka Nacua set up a career high in catches, tight end Tyler Higbee is actively aging backwards, and cornerback Jaylen Watson made his return very much felt after missing Week 4 with a shoulder injury.

Some negatives? Special teams and run defense. Also: run defense, special teams.

Gonna go ahead and write that down 98 more times.…

Run-teams-special-defense, special-run-defense-teams.

There, I'm feeling better already. Kind of. Not really.

Rams' winners and losers from Week 5 letdown vs. Bills

Wide receiver Puka Nacua - winner

Nacua finished with a career-high 17 catches for 138 yards, on a whopping 24 targets. He did most of his work as a short-area security blanket rather than a downfield threat.

His longest catch of the day went for only 21 yards, but Nacua showed up time and again at crucial moments as Matthew Stafford's preferred target. And that despite appearing to be in discomfort, perhaps a lingering effect of his previous hip injury, on multiple occasions. Nacua is a baller.

Tight end Tyler Higbee - winner

The 33-year-old tight end continued his renaissance season, finishing second on the team with five catches for 83 yards, his third straight game of at least that many receptions and 60-plus receiving yards.

It was Higbee, not Nacua or Davante Adams, who connected with Stafford on chunk plays down the field. Maybe other teams won't leave him as open as the Bills did, allowing Higbee one catch for 28 and another for 30 yards.

He also converted a crucial fourth-and-six (after his own false start) and drew a 17-yard pass interference penalty.

Linebacker Nate Landman - winner

Landman took some heat for his subpar play through four games, but he got Rams fans back in his corner in Week 5. Not only did Landman lead the team with 13 tackles, he peanut-punched two fumbles out of running back James Cook.

Landman's second punch of the night, in overtime, should have made him a hero in a Rams win. Instead, special teams struck again.

Kicker Harrison Mevis - loser

Mevis is out of a job, which comes as no surprise.

In five games this season Mevis went 3-of-7 on field goal attempts of at least 40 yards, he missed one from 50 in regulation, then had a potential game-winning 48-yarder blocked in overtime. Lucky the Rams even got in range for that one.

Yes, the block is more on the protection up front than Mevis, but a) the kick didn't look good off his foot, a wobbly wedge shot that may well have hooked outside the uprights if it got past the line and b) the feeling of certainty that Mevis would miss as the Rams lined up for the attempt was quite frankly justification enough to search for a new kicker.

How fitting that the Bills won a 45-yarder off the foot of Tyler Bass.

It was a fun ride while it lasted, but was time to hit eject.

Special teams coordinator Bubba Ventrone - loser

Ventrone could only do so much with a kicker who, in golf terms, belongs on an indoor putting set more than a driving range. Mevis, unfortunately, was far from the only disaster on Rams special teams.

The Bills returned the opening kickoff 70 yards, setting up a short field to come away with points on a three-play, negative-five-yard 'drive.'

This isn't a one-off. Ventrone's coverage unit has surrendered explosive returns far too often this season while countering with none of the Rams' own. And then, of course, the blocked field goal. Deja vu.

Head coach Sean McVay cut his kicker, Joshua Karty, and fired his special teams coordinator midseason a year ago. Mevis is already gone. Perhaps Ventrone is next.

Rams' run defense - loser

Facing James Cook and Josh Allen is a tough task for anyone; Cook came in averaging over a hundred rushing yards per game, and we all know about Allen's legs.

That said, being gouged for 234 yards and three scores on better than six yards per carry is inexcusable for any contending NFL defense. Cook accounted for 111 himself, while Allen frolicked his way to 121 on 10 carries.

Where was the quarterback spy? How many times did the defensive line roll out the red carpet for an Allen scramble by outshooting its target and leaving whole pastures of space unattended on the edge.

How many five, six, seven-yard runs did Cook rattle off, keeping the Bills' offense in rhythm, facing second-down-and-manageable and third-and-short all game long.

Against the only high-powered rushing attacks they have faced this season, the 49ers' and now the Bills' - the Eagles lost Saquon Barkley to an injury after two carries - the Rams have been put in a blender.

Frustrated fan: How do you lose a game when the opponent passes seven times in the first half and 19 times total including overtime?

Rams run defense: Yes.

Watch and learn, kiddos.

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