How Bills and Josh Allen Challenged Rams’ 2022 NFL Reign
The conversation began as a pre-season debate but was settled with brutal efficiency on opening night. Heading into the 2022 NFL season, Josh Allen and the Buffalo Bills were widely seen as the primary threat to the Los Angeles Rams, who had just been crowned Super Bowl LVI champions.
The question wasn’t if the Bills were contenders, but if they were the team to end the Rams’ reign before it truly began.
Josh Allen challenged Rams’ defense
That question was answered emphatically on September 8, 2022. In the season’s kickoff game at SoFi Stadium, the Bills dismantled the defending champions in a stunning 31-10 victory.
It was a statement that validated months of analysis and set the stage for two franchises whose fortunes would diverge dramatically over the course of the season, all under the broader umbrella of the National Football League’s ongoing developments.
Entering 2022, the Rams were the benchmark of success in the NFL, having captured the Lombardi Trophy in their home stadium. But the buzz building in Buffalo was impossible to ignore.
Many analysts believed the Bills possessed the most complete team in the league, with PFF analysts stating in September 2022, “It’s tough to look beyond the Bills as the single best roster in football.” The pressure on Buffalo was immense.
This sentiment was fueled by the meteoric rise of quarterback Josh Allen, who had become a legitimate MVP candidate with his dual-threat capabilities. The combination of a high-powered offense and a stout defense made them a popular Super Bowl pick.
The Houston Chronicle noted just before the season began that Allen would “likely take another step and lead them to a Super Bowl appearance,” reflecting a league-wide consensus.
For the Rams, the narrative was about repeating, a notoriously difficult feat for any champion. While they retained their core stars, the preseason NFL Power Rankings often placed the Bills just ahead, a perceived slight that PFF called “disrespectful” to the reigning champions. The stage was set for a titanic clash between the established kings and the heir apparent.
A Defining Victory on Opening Night
The season opener was more than just a game; it was a coronation and an abdication rolled into one. The Bills didn’t just defeat the Rams on their home turf; they dominated them in every phase. The 31-10 scoreline, while lopsided, didn’t fully capture the disparity between the two teams on that Thursday night in Inglewood.
Josh Allen was masterful, shaking off early turnovers to showcase the elite talent that had the league buzzing. He orchestrated an offense that the Rams’ vaunted defense simply could not contain. The victory immediately solidified the Bills’ status as the team to beat in the entire NFL.
For Los Angeles, the loss was a jarring start to their title defense. It exposed vulnerabilities that would plague them all season. The offensive line struggled, and the offense looked out of sync, a shocking turn for a team that had been so efficient the previous year. It was the first sign that their championship reign was built on shakier ground than anyone had realized.
Buffalo’s Dominant Run Meets a Familiar End
The opening night victory was no fluke. The Buffalo Bills went on to have a spectacular 2022 regular season, finishing with a 13-3 record and clinching the AFC East for the third consecutive year. Their statistical dominance was undeniable, finishing second in the NFL in both points scored (455) and points allowed (286).
They proved week after week that their roster was among the league’s elite, navigating the rigors of a demanding NFL schedule and pre-season stadium preparations.
Josh Allen delivered on his MVP hype, posting incredible numbers for the season. He threw for 4,283 yards and 35 touchdowns while adding 762 rushing yards and seven more touchdowns on the ground. His performance earned him a second Pro Bowl selection and cemented his status as one of the most dynamic players in football.
The Bills’ offense was a juggernaut, with total offensive yards reaching 6,361.
However, the season ended in familiar disappointment. After a hard-fought 34-31 Wild Card victory over the Miami Dolphins, the Bills’ Super Bowl aspirations were once again dashed in the Divisional Round. They suffered a decisive 27-10 home loss to the Cincinnati Bengals, marking a frustrating end to a season that promised so much.
The Historic Collapse of a Champion
While the Bills soared, the Rams crumbled. Their 2022 season became a cautionary tale of how quickly fortunes can change in the NFL. The team stumbled to a dismal 5-12 record, not only failing to make the playoffs but also securing their first losing season since 2016 under head coach Sean McVay.
Their .294 winning percentage gave them the dubious distinction of the worst record ever by a defending NFL or AFL champion. The high-powered offense that had carried them to a title vanished, plummeting to 27th in the league with a meager 18.1 points per game.
Injuries to key players like quarterback Matthew Stafford (2,087 passing yards) and star receiver Cooper Kupp (812 receiving yards) were devastating blows from which they never recovered.
A Shadow of Their Former Selves
The team that entered the season as a Super Bowl favorite ended it as a broken shell of its former self. Their total offensive output was just 4,769 yards, a significant drop-off that highlighted their struggles.
Running back Cam Akers led the team with just 786 rushing yards, a testament to an offense that could never find its rhythm. The season served as a brutal reminder of the parity in the NFL and the difficulty of maintaining greatness.
The Legacy of the 2022 Season
Looking back, the 2022 season was a pivotal chapter for both franchises. For the Bills, it was the year they fully arrived as a perennial powerhouse, even if the ultimate prize remained elusive. The dominant win over the Rams and their strong regular season confirmed that as long as Josh Allen is under center, they are a threat to win it all.
For the Rams, it was a humbling reset. The historic collapse forced the organization to re-evaluate its roster and approach. While they have since re-tooled and remain a contender, the 2022 season proved that no amount of talent can overcome injuries and inconsistency. The brief reign was over, and the path back to the top would require a significant rebuild.
The narrative that began in August 2022 was not just about NFL Power Rankings; it was about a symbolic transfer of power. While the Bills did not lift the Lombardi Trophy that year, their decisive victory in Week 1 effectively ended the Rams’ era of dominance and announced their own arrival as the new force to be reckoned with in the NFL.