NFL

Injury Riddled Rams Allow First 100-Yard Rusher of Season

The Los Angeles Rams allowed 194 yards on the ground without their three starting defensive linemen on Sunday in a 30-19 loss to the Buffalo Bills.

Will the real Slim Shady please stand up. 

LeSean "Shady" McCoy rushed for 150 yards (111 of which came in the first half), as the Los Angeles Rams allowed an opposing running back to gain over 100 yards on the ground for the first time this season. 

McCoy was unstoppable in the first half, breaking out a 53-yard run following a Todd Gurley fumble that set up the Bills second touchdown. Shady would continue to run rampant on the injury-riddled Rams defensive front as Buffalo went on to win the game, 30-19.

"Three of our four starting defensive linemen were watching the game today," Rams head coach Jeff Fisher said of the team's struggles to stop the run. "It was an unacceptable run defense. He's an outstanding back."

Defensive ends Robert Quinn and William Hayes were unable to suit up for the Mob Squad on Sunday and defensive tackle Michael Brockers also missed the game, leaving Aaron Donald the lone starter of arguably the best defensive front in the NFL this season.

"Aaron Donald is a heck of a player," McCoy said of the Rams sole starter up front. "He's always on the ball, always in the mix. He's extremely disruptive and gives offensive teams issues." 

Donald did the best he could, recording two tackles and half a sack, but he was sandwiched between two offensive linemen virtually all game and could have used the help of his best soldiers in the trenches.

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"It's gonna hurt you, but I think we just played sloppy today," Donald said of having to play without his three starters up front on defense. "We just need to watch the film and fix it."

Sure, there's things any defense can fix, but McCoy is not your usual running back, and Shady can make any team look sloppy. The hard-nosed, up-the-gut, ball carrier recorded his 28th 100-yard game of his career and second of the season. 

"They really blocked well for me today," McCoy said. "There were some plays that I missed, but overall, our front blocked for sure. A win is a win. We got a W against a good team."

In total, the Bills stampeded over the Rams to the tune of 194 total yards on the ground and buried the NFC West leaders with a 24-yard run by McCoy with 2:55 left in the game and the Rams trailing by four.

Two plays later, Tyrod Taylor found Marquise Goodwin sitting down in the end zone for a six-yard score. 

"LeSean played well," Taylor said of his star running back. "The guys in the front have been blocking and creating holes for LeSean to go out there and do the things that he's been doing. He's definitely played with an extra 'gear' to his game." 

Meanwhile, Gurley failed to reach 100 yards for the fifth consecutive game, finishing with 72 yards on 23 carries. He also caught three passes for 36 yards as the Rams try and use their best player in the passing game more frequently.

Gurley scored the first touchdown by the Rams at the L.A. Coliseum since 1979 when he scampered up the middle for a one-yard score with 6:35 remaining in the second quarter. It was the Rams lone touchdown and the only silver lining in the game. 

The Rams will travel to Detroit to square off with the Lions next Sunday before heading on an international flight to London where they will host the New York Giants at Twickenham Stadium.

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