The Rams will be without CB Tye Hill for at least a month due to torn cartilage in his right knee.  Hill has made 20 tackles this season so he will be missed.  This hurts the Rams’ defense big time as they don’t have much depth at the position.

The Rams have lost starting TE Randy McMichael for the season due to a broken tibia.  He was having a decent season for the Rams this year catching 11 passes for 139 yards (12.6 avg).  McMichael will be replaced in the starting lineup by Joe Klopfenstein who is nowhere near the receiver that McMichael is.  He has caught 1 pass for 8 yards this season.  McMichael’s injury will definately hurt the Rams’ passing offense.

The Rams had no choice but to fire head coach Scott Linehan after the team got out to a 0-4 start this season.  The Rams have been outscored 147-43 so far this season and that just could not be tolerated any longer.  Linehan compiled a 11-25 record (30.6%) in 2+ seasons as the Rams head coach.  The Rams have replaced Linehan with 52-year old Jim Haslett.  Haslett was the Saints’ head coach from 2000-05 and he compiled a 45-51 record (46.9%).  Haslett was also 1-1 in the post season for the Saints.  Haslett is not considered a “interim” head coach so if he can turn things around the job will be his for a while.

Things were looking good after three quarters with the Rams leading 14-13 but the Bills scored 18 unanswered points in the 4th quarter to pull away from the Rams.  Trent Green got the start and he completed 17 of 32 passes for 236 yards with 0 TD passes and 1 interception (it was returned 33-yards for a TD by Jabari Greer).  Steven Jackson had a great game for the Rams against the Bills with 110 yards rushing on 24 carries (4.6 ypc) with a TD run.  He also caught 5 passes for 78 yards (15.6 avg).  Rookie WR Donnie Avery scored on a 37-yard run and he also caught 3 passes for 22 yards.  Torry Holt pitched in with 4 catches for 65 yards (16.3 avg) in this game.  The Rams finished up with 167 yards rushing on 29 carries (5.8 ypc) and they also completed 17 of 33 passes for 213 yards.

The defense really played pretty well in this game for the Rams.  Linebacker Pisa Tinoisamoa (9 tackles) and DE Leonard Little (4 tackles, 2 sacks) led a solid defensive effort.  The Bills finished up with 111 yards rushing on 31 carries (3.6 ypc) and they also completed 15 of 25 passes for 166 yards.  The Rams are now 0-4 on the season.

Rams’ head coach Scott Linehan could have his job on the line in this football game which is bad news for him against a surging 3-0 Buffalo Bills football team.  The Bills will likely come out running the football against a Rams’ defense that is allowing 184.3 rushing yards per game and 5.1 yards per carry.  Look for Marshawn Lynch to have a huge game today and for backup Fred Jackson to scoop up some scraps.  After the running game is established look for Trent Edwards to attack the young Rams’ CBs with Lee Evans and Josh Reed down the field.

The Rams’ offensive line will have to protect veteran QB Trent Green better than they did for Marc Bulger (11 sacks) if he’s going to have any success moving the offense against a Bills’ defense that is only allowing 247.3 yards of total offense per game.  The Bills’ linebackers better be ready for a fight as the Rams will likely lean heavily on Steven Jackson in both the running and the passing game this week.  Look for rookie WR Donnie Avery to be the secret weapon in this game for the Rams as he is getting his first NFL start and he will be working with single coverage as the Bills gang up on Torry Holt.

PREDICTION:  BUFFALO BILLS 24, ST. LOUIS RAMS 20