Rams Can Bank(s) on Quarterback

ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. — This time, St. Louis Ram quarterback Tony Banks made sure he got over the goal line.

Banks, stopped less than a yard short of the end zone on the final play last week, scored a touchdown on a two-yard run with 11 seconds left on Sunday to give the Rams a 34-33 victory over the Buffalo Bills.

Last week, Banks dived for the end zone but came up short of a touchdown as time ran out in the Rams’ 38-31 loss to the Minnesota Vikings.

“Any time you’re able to come away with a win instead of a loss, there’s justice there,” said Banks. Trailing 33-28, the Rams began the winning drive on their 20 with 3:57 left. After Banks made two key plays--a 34-yard completion to Ricky Proehl and 14-yard shuffle pass to Amp Lee--he ran in for the go-ahead touchdown.

The Rams (1-2) couldn’t make the two-point conversion, but the Bills (0-3) had no time for a comeback.

St. Louis trailed, 28-10, in the third quarter before two Buffalo turnovers led to scores. After recovering a fumble, the Rams made it 28-13 on a 25-yard field goal by Jeff Wilkins. Rob Johnson was intercepted on the Bills’ next possession by Dexter McCleon and Banks took advantage, throwing to Lee for a 23-yard touchdown.

Steve Christie’s 36-yard field goal gave Buffalo an 11-point lead but a pass interference call against Ken Irvin helped set up Greg Hill’s one-yard touchdown plunge with 10:32 left. Lee ran for the two-point conversion to make it 31-28.

On the Rams’ next series, Hill--who rushed for a career-high 158 yards--suffered a broken leg when he was tackled in the end zone by Ted Washington for a safety that put the Bills up 33-28. Hill will be sidelined six to eight weeks.