A month ago, this game looked like a rough draw for Las Vegas. Instead, the Rams come in at 2-4 and badly shorthanded, and that opens the door for the Raiders to snap their three-game losing streak in Week 7.
Los Angeles is dealing with a long injury list, with Poona Ford, Kobie Turner, and Davante Adams all out for the foreseeable future. Puka Nacua is a game-time decision, while Trent McDuffie is questionable. Against that backdrop, the Raiders’ offense has a real shot to control Sunday.
Kirk Cousins may not have a true WR1 behind him, but he has been steady enough through the skid, and this matchup gives him a clean runway. The Rams have only eight sacks this season, and with Ford, Turner, and Myles Garrett unavailable, Cousins should have plenty of room to work from a clean pocket.
His lack of mobility has shown up at times, but that shouldn’t be the issue here. If Los Angeles also ends up missing McDuffie, the secondary becomes even easier to attack.
Expect a strong day from the 15-year veteran.
The ground game could follow a similar script. Ashton Jeanty has been held down this season, averaging 3.2 yards per carry with one rushing touchdown in six games, but he’s been dealing with injuries during that stretch.
The Rams’ front won’t exactly be in peak condition either. At this point, Los Angeles’ defensive line is a makeshift group, with Aaron Donald leading it.
Jeanty has a chance to pop, though Mike Washington Jr. is expected to take some of the workload, which points to a smaller carry total than a full-blown feature-back game. Even so, Jeanty should top what he’s done over the last two weeks, when he managed 49 yards and one touchdown on 20 attempts.
Then there’s Brock Bowers, who should be in line for early targets after taking until the third quarter to record his first catch last week. He still finished with four receptions for 70 yards, and the expectation is that he’ll be involved much sooner this time around.
If Cousins and Bowers get connected early, the tight end could post one of his biggest games of the season. He has already gone over 100 yards in two of his four games, and doing it for the third time in 2026 is very much on the table.
In Other News...
Raiders Face A Receiver Crunch At The Worst Possible Time
With Week 7 looming, the Raiders are trying to sort out a wide receiver room that feels thinner than they would like at exactly the wrong moment. Mike Washington Jr. is questionable for the game, and the team is also working through injury-related roster decisions with Dont'e Thornton Jr. and Jack Bech, all while trying to keep the offense steady during a stretch that has already tested its depth.
The timing matters because Las Vegas is coming off a 3-3 start, a record that has left Klint Kubiak evaluating the group as even but still looking for cleaner execution. The Raiders also named new captains for Week 7, a small sign of the team trying to settle itself amid the uncertainty, but the bigger picture remains the same: how they manage the receiver situation over the next several days could shape more than just this one game. [Read more 🡒]
Maxx Crosby Trade Talk Is Heating Up For One Complicated Reason
Maxx Crosbys pressure numbers have kept him near the top of the pass-rushing conversation, even as the sack column has lagged behind. Through six games, he has piled up 15 quarterback hits and remains one of the most disruptive edge players in the league, which is part of why his name keeps surfacing whenever the Raiders long-term direction comes up.
The trade chatter is tied to a bigger question about value and timing, especially with Crosbys contract situation in the background. Around the league, pass rushers with similar production have moved for more modest draft returns than fans might expect, and that has made his case one to watch even without any confirmed talks on the Raiders side. [Read more 🡒]
Raiders Trade Deadline Could Decide Their Biggest Weakness
The Raiders spent the offseason reworking plenty of their roster, but the offensive line is still the spot that can define how far this team can go. There has been improvement, yet the group remains a concern, and offensive coordinator Andrew Janocko has made clear the coaching staff is approaching it with a careful eye, looking for gradual progress instead of pretending the unit is already where it needs to be.
That puts the trade deadline in the conversation as a possible turning point for Las Vegas. The Raiders could look outside the building to help shore up the front, or they could keep leaning on the current group and trust the development already underway, but either way the line is going to shape how the rest of the offense is judged from here. [Read more 🡒]