Week 5 GameScout: Bills at Rams

Sep 21, 2017 - 7:48 PM GAME SNAPSHOT

KICKOFF: Sunday, 4:25 p.m. ET, Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. TV -- CBS, Kevin Harlan, Rich Gannon, Scott Kaplan

SERIES HISTORY: 12th regular-season meeting. Bills lead series 6-5. Buffalo has not played the Rams in Los Angeles since 1983, and that game was played at Anaheim Stadium, a 41-17 Rams victory. The Bills' last visit to the Coliseum was for a 1992 game against the Los Angeles Raiders.

GAMEDATE: 10/9/16

KEYS TO THE GAME: New Bills offensive coordinator Anthony Lynn faces his stiffest test to date in devising ways to protect QB Tyrod Taylor from the Rams' deep and aggressive front four. The first critical component is RB LeSean McCoy having early success on the ground and contributing in the screen game to take some of the bite out of that pass rush. Second is taking advantage of his legs, as Taylor is second on the Bills with 140 yards and a touchdown on 21 carries. His ability to get to the edge and/or keep plays alive is an X-factor. WR Robert Woods and TE Charles Clay combined for 12 receptions last week with Sammy Watkins sidelined. They must continue to produce as the Rams' 23rd-ranked secondary will give up yards ... when the quarterback has time.

QB Case Keenum has steadied the Rams' offense, but it's hardly prolific. Teams are stacking the box to contain RB Todd Gurley and make Keenum move the ball with his arm. WR Tavon Austin is dangerous with the ball in his hands, but most of his touches come near the line of scrimmage, while Keenum continues to work with bigger bodies in Kenny Britt and Brian Quick downfield. The Bills have rebounded from an ugly loss to the Jets to play improved defense, including shutting out rookie QB Jacoby Brissett and the Patriots last week. CBs Stephon Gilmore and Ronald Darby have shown good form of late and will look to jump on a few of Keenum's heavy diet of slant passes.

MATCHUPS TO WATCH:

--Bills interior line vs. Rams DT Aaron Donald. Donald has ascended to the very top of the best defensive player conversation, especially now that Houston's JJ Watt is likely done for the season. He is a disruptive force in the middle against both the run and the pass, and Bills C Eric Wood and OGs John Miller and Richie Incognito will have to find a way to keep him out of the backfield. The good news for the Bills is that RB LeSean McCoy is adept at cutting and bouncing runs to the outside, so perhaps he'll be able to avoid Donald should he gain penetration.

--Bills WLB Preston Brown vs. Rams RB Todd Gurley. Despite his 2.6-yard average per carry, everyone recognizes Gurley's importance to the Rams' offense. Understated, however, has been Brown's contribution to Buffalo's defensive improvement. His 52 tackles is the most by a player through the first four weeks of a season since Washington's London Fletcher in 2009, and he was recognized as the AFC Defensive Player of the Month after getting in on a career-high 18 tackles against New England last week.

INJURY REPORT: BILLS -- Out: T Cyrus Kouandjio (ankle), C Patrick Lewis (knee), WR Greg Salas (groin), CB Corey White (shoulder). Questionable: TE Charles Clay (knee), DT Marcell Dareus (hamstring), RB Jerome Felton (back), CB Stephon Gilmore (ankle), T Cordy Glenn (ankle), RB LeSean McCoy (hand), S Jonathan Meeks (foot). RAMS -- Questionable: WR Kenny Britt (thigh), DT Michael Brockers (hip), RB Benny Cunningham (thigh), S Cody Davis (groin), DE Williams Hayes (ankle), DE Robert Quinn (shoulder)

PLAYER SPOTLIGHT: Bills DT Marcell Dareus -- Dareus returns from his four-game suspension and while Corbin Bryant may start for at least one more week, coach Rex Ryan made it clear Dareus will play against the Rams.

FAST FACTS: The Bills have lost six consecutive games on the West Coast dating back to 2004, when they defeated San Francisco and Seattle. ... Buffalo's Tyrod Taylor is one of two NFL quarterbacks with a passer rating of 95.0 or higher (96.6) and at least 700 rushing yards (708) since the start of the 2015 season. ... Rams QB Case Keenum has won five of his past seven starts.

PREDICTION: The Bills haven't won on the West Coast in 12 years. Not only is it a long haul, but the Rams sport the league's most physical defense, with the wild card in a close game being Los Angeles' excellent special teams units.

OUR PICK: Rams, 16-13

--Derek Harper