Monday night at SoFi Stadium will feel like a race between two teams chasing the same prize. The Buffalo Bills arrive at 3-1, trying to turn another strong start into the Super Bowl run that has slipped away from them in past playoffs. The Los Angeles Rams are 2-2, but they are fresh off a 24-20 win over Philadelphia and still carry the hunger of a team that fell one game short of last season’s Super Bowl.

The biggest spotlight will follow Josh Allen, Buffalo’s powerful quarterback. Allen can fire deep passes, but he can also become a runner when a play breaks down. His seven rushing touchdowns in four games show how dangerous he is near the goal line. James Cook III gives Allen an important partner. Cook already has 421 rushing yards, using quick cuts and speed to turn small openings into long runs.

That rushing attack meets a Rams defense that has been hard to move the ball against. Los Angeles has allowed only 247.5 yards per game, one of the clearest signs that its defenders are getting stops. The Rams will need to keep Allen from escaping and make Buffalo work for every yard. Safety Quentin Lake is questionable with a hip injury, so the secondary, the group that covers receivers, may need other players to step up.

When the Rams have the ball, veteran quarterback Matthew Stafford has a dazzling group of targets. Davante Adams leads the team with 390 receiving yards and has the sharp moves to break free near the end zone. Puka Nacua has played only two games but already has 14 catches. Together, they give Stafford two receivers who can change a drive with one catch.

Kyren Williams is the piece that can make Los Angeles even tougher to defend. He runs with patience, then fights through tackles, and he also catches passes when defenders crowd the line. His 294 rushing yards and four total touchdowns give the Rams a steady engine beneath their passing game. Buffalo’s defense has given up 26.8 points per game, and it will be without defensive tackle Ed Oliver, who is out with a knee injury. That could give Williams more room inside.

Still, the Rams must protect the football. They have lost the turnover battle by five plays this season, meaning they have given the ball away more often than they have taken it back. Against a Bills offense scoring nearly 32 points per game, empty drives could become costly. Buffalo could also be without wide receiver DJ Moore, who is questionable with a shoulder injury, while Joshua Palmer is out. That puts even more importance on Cook and tight end Dalton Kincaid, a reliable middle-of-the-field target.

This matchup looks like a late-game battle between Stafford’s calm passing and Allen’s all-around force. The Rams have the defense and home crowd to make it tight, but Buffalo has shown more firepower through four weeks. Prediction: the Bills win a thrilling Monday night game.

Josh Allen Brings Buffalo’s Big-Play Attack to SoFi Stadium