Week 1 Thursday Night Football NFL Odds, Picks & Predictions: Bills vs. Rams (2022)
It’s the Tuesday after Labor Day, which officially means the NFL is back as we are now just hours away from the start of the season. Kicking us off this year are two teams amongst the favorites to make the Super Bowl, as the Buffalo Bills travel west to take on the reigning-champion Los Angeles Rams.
With expectations sky-high for both sides, let’s take a closer look at how this one might play out at SoFi Stadium.
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Details
- Opening Line: Rams +1, O/U 52
- Current Line: Rams +2.5, O/U 52.5
- Last meeting: September 27, 2020, Rams 32, Bills 35
Overview
The only team in the NFL to hold opposing offenses to less than 300 yards and 18 points per game last season, the Bills return much of their elite defense from last season. At the quarterback position, Josh Allen maintained his 2020 pace, throwing for over 4,400 yards and 36 passing touchdowns for the second straight year.
Elsewhere on the depth chart, the Bills took (and will take again) a running back by committee approach, as Devin Singletary remains RB1, joined now by James Cook in the backfield.
As for the Rams, Matthew Stafford’s jump to Los Angeles proved the right decision for all parties, as the former Detroit Lion led the team to glory in his very first season at the helm. Turning in one of the best seasons of his career that included 4,886 passing yards and 41 touchdowns, Stafford is now back with all of his weapons (outside of OBJ).
On the defensive end, the Rams did regress some, allowing three more points per game from the previous season. As great teams do, however, the unit led by Aaron Donald rose to the occasion to limit opponents to just 18.8 points per game in the postseason.
Bottom Line
As we’ve already touched on here, there are zero reasons to think that either of these teams’ offenses will regress in the slightest entering this new season, as they combined to average 55.5 points per contest in 2021. On the defensive side of the ball, however, the case is quite different.
For the Bills, they’ll be without their CB1 in Tre’Davious White to start the season, with a brand-new rookie stepping into his place for the time being. The Bills will also have to contend with yet another new weapon for Stafford, as Allen Robinson joins the fold in place of OBJ.
As for the Rams’ defense, outside of Donald and CB1 Jalen Ramsey, their depth isn’t there this season following some moves this offseason in order to get them under the cap.
All signs point towards the over Thursday night in Los Angeles.
Pick: Over 52.5
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