The Raiders left Week 7 with another loss, and the numbers behind it make the same point in a sharper way. Las Vegas fell to the Los Angeles Rams for its fourth straight defeat on Sunday, and while Klint Kubiak’s team made things interesting late enough to get the score to 28-18 in the fourth quarter, the overall performance was rough.
The biggest problems were familiar ones. The Raiders couldn’t get the run game going, and they couldn’t slow the Rams on the ground either.
Los Angeles piled up 199 rushing yards against Las Vegas, while the Raiders managed just 48 of their own. Kirk Cousins also needed time to settle in through the air; the passing game was quiet in the first half before waking up in the second once the Rams shifted into zone coverage.
Cousins finished with 295 yards and two touchdowns, and Tre Tucker posted his second straight 100-yard game.
What stands out from the advanced numbers is how clearly the Rams targeted Las Vegas’ issues with heavy personnel.
The Rams leaned into 13 personnel, lining up in that package on 50 percent of their snaps, which was 41 percent above league average. That was a direct stress test for a Raiders defense that has already shown problems against those looks.
The Buffalo Bills exposed that weakness in Week 6, and the Rams clearly saw the same thing on tape. This time, the results were even worse.
The defensive tackles weren’t able to anchor the middle, and that opened the door to the chunk runs that kept stacking up for Los Angeles.
The good news for Las Vegas is that not every opponent will have the same incentive or the same tendency to line up that way. The Rams already use 13 personnel more than anyone else in the league, so they were naturally suited to press that advantage. Still, the blueprint is now out there, and other teams could try to copy it in some form.
The other pressure point came when the Rams decided to attack Cousins with extra rushers. The Patriots had already shown how disruptive that can be against this offense, and the Rams followed that formula early.
They blitzed heavily in the first half and held the Raiders to six points. PFF had Cousins at 6-for-13 against the blitz, and Sumer Sports noted that Los Angeles sent a blitz 25 percent of the time before the break.
The Raiders’ line had trouble handling the cover 0 looks, and Cousins was off target when the pressure came.
That changed after halftime. The Rams blitzed only 11 percent of the time in the second half, and Las Vegas found more room to operate.
It was a useful swing for the Raiders, but also a reminder of what still needs fixing if this offense wants to move consistently. With Aaron Glenn and the Jets up next in Week 8, the pressure figures to come fast again.
In Other News...
Raiders Just Put Dont'e Thornton Jr. Under A Real Spotlight
The Raiders have finally brought Dont'e Thornton Jr. back onto the active roster, a move that comes after head coach Klint Kubiak had been non-committal about whether the rookie receiver would be ready in time. His return gives Las Vegas another pass-catching option at a time when the offense could use all the help it can get, especially with Jack Bech also expected back at practice soon after a broken forearm.
Thornton's activation also forced a roster decision, and the Raiders chose to make it on the defensive side of the ball. For a team still sorting out how its receiving mix will look moving forward, the timing adds a little more pressure to Thornton to show he can contribute quickly and make the most of the opening he was given. [Read more 🡒]
Raiders Roster Shakeup Could Be Just The Start
The Raiders made a roster tweak this week by activating Donte Thornton Jr. and moving on from Jonah Laulu, who could circle back to the practice squad. Its the kind of housekeeping that comes with a long season, but it also fits a team still sorting through its depth and trying to find a workable mix after another rough stretch.
What makes the move more interesting is that it may not be the last one. Jack Bech is expected back from injury soon, and his return could force another shuffle at wide receiver as Las Vegas keeps reworking the bottom of the roster. Beyond that, the Raiders are still dealing with the broader noise around the team, from former wideout Zay Jones landing with Arizona to fresh chatter about Maxx Crosby as the losses keep piling up. [Read more 🡒]
Raiders May Have Let A Rare O-Line Chance Slip Away
Four straight losses have turned the Raiders from a team trying to hang around the playoff picture into one that has to think about the trade deadline very differently. At 3-4, the conversation in Las Vegas is no longer just about adding help for a push, but about whether the roster needs bigger-picture fixes, especially along an offensive line that has been under the microscope for much of the season.
So when a rare name like Quenton Nelson suddenly came off the board, it was the sort of move that naturally makes the Raiders wonder what might have been. Nelson would have fit the kind of upgrade this offense could use, but his availability came with the usual complications tied to his contract and the timing of where Las Vegas appears to be headed as a team. In a year that already looks like it could tilt toward rebuilding, chances to land a premium lineman do not come along often. [Read more 🡒]