The Rams found their footing Sunday in Las Vegas, and they did it with balance, burst and a milestone from Matthew Stafford.
Los Angeles rolled past the Raiders 35-21, shaking off last week’s rough outing with a sharp performance that was built on the ground and finished through the air. The Rams did most of their damage early, stacking four straight touchdowns after an opening punt and racing to a 28-6 halftime lead.
Stafford made history in the first half, throwing three touchdown passes to become the Rams’ all-time leader in touchdown passes and move past Roman Gabriel. He ended the day 23-of-29 for 195 yards with three scores and an interception, the lone mistake coming on a throw that went off Colby Parkinson’s hands and into the arms of Nakobe Dean.
The Rams’ rushing attack set the tone all afternoon. Kyren Williams led the way with 99 yards on 16 carries and a touchdown, while Blake Corum added 93 yards on 17 carries and also found the end zone. L.A. was on pace for more than 200 rushing yards before the late kneel-downs took that number down.
Puka Nacua continued to contribute despite a calf injury, finishing with eight catches for 68 yards and a touchdown while adding 10 rushing yards on two carries. Tight end Davis Allen accounted for Stafford’s other two first-half touchdowns.
The second half brought a little more drama. A Williams fumble and Stafford’s interception slowed the Rams’ momentum, and when Kirk Cousins hit Ashton Jeanty on a 15-yard touchdown pass, the Raiders had cut it to 28-18. But Los Angeles answered with a long, methodical march - 12 plays, 70 yards - capped by Corum’s 4-yard touchdown run to put the game away.
Cousins finished 26-of-44 for 295 yards with two touchdowns. Tre Tucker had five catches for 103 yards and a score, while Jeanty was held to 15 yards rushing on eight carries but added 61 receiving yards on eight catches. Brock Bowers finished with 73 yards on six receptions.
Now 3-4, the Rams head back to SoFi Stadium for a Week 8 matchup with the Chargers. The Raiders, also now 3-4 after starting 3-0, head on the road to face the Jets next Sunday.
In Other News...
Raiders Receiver Battle Just Got More Complicated At The Worst Time
The Raiders receiver picture is suddenly getting a little tighter at a time when they could have used some clean answers. Jack Bech, who went down with a forearm injury in Week 3, has been designated to return from injured reserve, opening the door for him to get back on the field after missing several games and resume practicing with the team.
Jack Bechs return window adds another layer to a position group already waiting on Donte Thornton, who has been working back into the mix but still has not been activated. For Las Vegas, the timing matters because the roster math is getting more complicated by the day, and the next move on Thornton will say a lot about how the Raiders are planning to sort out the back end of their receiving depth. [Read more 🡒]
Raiders Suddenly Have An AFC West Problem They Can't Ignore
After a 3-0 start, the Raiders have spent the better part of a month watching their season tilt in the wrong direction, and the AFC West has quickly turned from a strength into a problem. Las Vegas has now dropped four straight to fall to 3-4, while Kansas City sits at 5-1 despite its recent loss and Denver has surged to 5-2 with three wins in a row. Even the Chargers 0-6 start does little to ease the pressure, because the division picture is no longer about whether the Raiders can keep pace, but whether they can stop the slide before it becomes defining.
The timing makes the situation even harder to ignore, with the schedule offering no obvious relief and the rivals around them continuing to bank wins. The Raiders have to find a way to steady themselves quickly, especially with a road trip to the Jets coming next while Denver and Kansas City are set to meet. In a division this tight at the top, the gap can grow fast, and Las Vegas no longer has the luxury of treating this as a short skid. [Read more 🡒]
Raiders Face Growing Trade Deadline Pressure They May Already Regret
The trade deadline is creeping closer, and the Raiders are giving no indication they plan to chase a splashy fix for their uneven offensive line. Guard play has been one of the clearer pain points, which is why the decision to sit out the market has already drawn scrutiny. Around the league, some analysts have pointed to the move for Quenton Nelson as the kind of deal Las Vegas might have explored more aggressively, especially with the team still trying to stabilize itself.
Instead, the bigger picture in Las Vegas feels like it is drifting toward bigger questions than a single roster upgrade. Trade chatter has started to swirl around names tied to the franchises future, including Maxx Crosby, while Kirk Cousins has also surfaced in rumors as the deadline nears. For a team that could use clarity as much as help, the next few days may say as much about direction as they do about personnel. [Read more 🡒]