Okay, so the Buffalo Bills and Los Angeles Rams aren’t exactly arch-rivals, right? They don’t square off twice a season like some teams. But let me tell you, their matchups? Pure gold, packed with some seriously unforgettable moments. We’re talking last-second touchdowns, Hall of Fame milestones, and even a Super Bowl celebration getting spoiled. These two franchises have battled it out 15 times since 1970, with Buffalo holding a 9,6 lead in the series, winning five of the last six matchups. Still, the Rams snagged the most recent victory, a game that probably still gives Bills fans a pounding headache. With the Bills hitting Los Angeles for Monday Night Football, it’s time to dive into the history books for a look back at these wild showdowns.
LA’s Early Welcome Wagon Was BRUTAL
When these two teams first tangled on September 27, 1970, it was the NFL’s first season after the AFL-NFL merger. Buffalo had been tearing it up in the AFL, even snagging back-to-back championships in ’64 and ’65. The Rams? They’d been in the NFL since ’37. And let’s just say, Los Angeles was NOT playing nice. They rolled into Buffalo and slapped the Bills with a 19,0 shutout. Seriously, a 19-0 shutout in their very first meeting! That set the tone, with Los Angeles taking three of the first four games. Buffalo finally broke through on December 7, 1980, with a tight 10,7 home win against a Rams team that had just been in the Super Bowl the season before. It wasn’t exactly a fireworks display of offense, but hey, a win’s a win! Then, in 1983, the Rams clapped back hard with a 41,17 victory, leaving Buffalo trailing 3,1 in the series. It would be another six years before they met again, and by then, the Bills were building a roster that would eventually make four straight Super Bowl runs.
Reich, Thomas, and the MNF Heartbreaker
The Rams might have dominated those early matchups, but things flipped in 1989. The Bills absolutely owned the next three games, including a Monday night thriller that still gets talked about and a total blowout that put a future Hall of Famer into the NFL record books. On October 16, 1989, an UNDEFEATED Rams squad rolled into Rich Stadium for Monday Night Football. Jim Kelly was sidelined with a shoulder injury, meaning backup Frank Reich got his first NFL start. For most of the night, Reich played well, keeping Buffalo right in it. In the fourth quarter, he hit Thurman Thomas with a touchdown pass that put the Bills up 16,13. When Buffalo got the ball back late in the game, everyone thought it was over. Then, Thomas fumbled. Los Angeles recovered the ball, and Jim Everett immediately connected with Flipper Anderson for a mind-blowing 78-yard touchdown. Just like that, the Rams were up 20,16 with only 1:22 left on the clock. Reich, who had literally never started an NFL game before that night, responded by c
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Buffalo Rumblings.
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