Rams overcome offensive woes and avoid disaster in win over Raiders
It need not be pretty.
Style points, let alone a semblance of offense, are not required.
The Rams learned last season that the start of a season turnaround can be accomplished sans “Showtime.”
On Sunday, a defense fueled by cornerback Cobie Durant’s second-quarter burst and Jaylen McCollough’s two interceptions helped the Rams defeat the Las Vegas Raiders, 20-15, before 73,267 at SoFi Stadium .
Durant intercepted a pass that set up Kyren Williams’ touchdown run, and he forced a fumble that led directly to a Kam Curl’s scoop and score. One of McCollough interceptions set up a touchdown and the other sealed the victory as the Rams improved their record to 2-4.
The defensive highlights sufficed against the struggling Raiders, a team with future Hall of Famer Tom Brady now on the ownership roster but, unfortunately for coach Antonio Pierce, not playing quarterback.
The Rams’ victory helped coach Sean McVay’s team avert near disaster.
Consider: Only four teams in NFL history overcame 1-5 starts to make the playoffs.
Now the Rams have a modicum of momentum with the Minnesota Vikings (5-1) coming to SoFi Stadium on Thursday night.
Rams defeat Raiders after Jaylen McCollough picks off Gardner Minshew
🏈 Rams 20, Raiders 15 — FINAL
Rams safety Jaylen McCollough intercepted a pass from quarterback Gardner Minshew as he tried to escape pressure, sealing the Rams’ win over the Raiders.
It was McCollough’s second interception of the game and it ended the Rams’ two-game losing streak.
Rams manage to hold Raiders out of the end zone
🏈 Rams 20, Raiders 15 — 2:38 left in the fourth quarter
Daniel Carlson kicked a 27-yard field goal — his fifth field goal of the game — as the Raiders continued to cut into the Rams’ lead in the fourth quarter.
After Raiders wide receiver Tre Tucker moved the ball to the Rams’ four-yard line on an 11-yard run, the defense stood tall for L.A. like it has for most of the day.
Rams safety Quentin Lake made an outstanding open-field tackle on Raiders tight end Brock Bowers before a false start penalty by DJ Glaze on fourth down persuaded the Raiders to go for the field goal instead of a touchdown.
The 15-play, 66-yard Raiders drive took 7:55 off the clock.
Rams’ Joshua Karty misses 35-yard field-goal attempt
🏈 Rams 20, Raiders 12 — 10:11 left in the fourth quarter
Rams rookie kicker Joshua Karty missed a 35-yard field-goal attempt, with the ball clanking off the left upright, to keep it a one-score game in the fourth quarter.
The missed field goal came at the end of a nine-play, 54-yard drive that managed to get into the Raiders’ red zone for the first time this afternoon without the benefit of a Raiders turnover.
Tyler Johnson made a 35-yard reception to fuel the drive, but it ultimately stalled at the Las Vegas 11 after an illegal formation penalty and a pair of incomplete passes from Matthew Stafford.
Karty missed an extra-point attempt when the Rams scored in the third quarter.
Raiders tack on another field goal to make it a one-score game
🏈 Rams 20, Raiders 12 — 14:52 left in the fourth quarter
Raiders cornerback Nate Hobbs picked off Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford and returned it 35 yards to set up a 27-yard field goal by Daniel Carlson — his fourth field goal of the game — to cut into the Rams’ lead.
Hobbs’ interception came after Robert Spillane tipped the ball. It put the Raiders on the Rams’ 14-yard line, but the Rams’ defense managed to keep them out of the end zone, limiting the damage.
Raiders kick another field goal to cut into the Rams’ lead
🏈 Rams 20, Raiders 9 — 2:25 left in the third quarter
Daniel Carlson kicked a 38-yard field goal to cut the Rams’ lead.
Carslon’s third field goal of the game capped a 10-play, 50-yard drive.
Gardner Minshew has completed 10 of 23 passes for 110 yards for the Raiders.
Jaylen McCollough interception sets up another Rams touchdown
🏈 Rams 20, Raiders 6 — 7:30 left in the third quarter
Safety Jaylen McCollough intercepted a pass for the second time in as many games and set up Kyren Williams short touchdown run.
McCollough, a rookie undrafted free agent, intercepted a pass and returned it for a touchdown in an Oct. 6 loss to the Green Bay Packers.
Receiver Xavier Smith’s 24-yard gain on a run preceded Williams’ second touchdown.
Williams has rushed for 45 yards in 14 carries.
Daniel Carlson kicks another field goal for Raiders
🏈 Rams 14, Raiders 6 — HALFTIME
Daniel Carlson kicked a 47-yard field goal as time expired in second quarter to cut the Rams’ lead.
Gardner Minshew directed an eight-play, 41-yard scoring drive, highlighted by passes to receiver Tre Tucker and running back Alexander Mattison.
Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford has completed seven of 10 passes for 70 yards.
Kyren Williams has rushed for 43 yards and a touchdown in 10 carries.
Tutu Atwell has three catches for 31 yards.
Cobie Durant comes up big again for Rams on second touchdown
🏈 Rams 14, Raiders 3 — 1:14 left in the second quarter
Cobie Durant comes up big again.
The Rams cornerback hit Raiders quarterback Gardner Minshew on a blitz and forced him to fumble. Safety Kam Curl scooped the ball and returned it 33 yards for a touchdown.
During the previous series Durant intercepted a pass to set up Kyren Williams’ touchdown run.
Raiders starting quarterback likely will not return to the game. He is standing on the sideline with a brace on his right thumb.
Kyren Williams extends his touchdown streak to give Rams the lead
🏈 Rams 7, Raiders 3 — 3:00 left the second quarter
Rams cornerback Cobie Durant intercepted a pass to set up a 13-yard touchdown run by Kyren Williams.
Williams has scored a touchdown in nine consecutive games.
Matthew Stafford’s 23-yard pass to tight end Colby Parkinson moved the Rams to the 13-yard line, and Williams finished the drive.
Williams has rushed for 43 yards in 10 carries.
Stafford has completed seven of 10 passes for 70 yards.
Raiders jump into lead with Daniel Carlson field goal
🏈 Raiders 3, Rams 0 — 14:04 left in the second quarter
Daniel Carlson kicked a 38-yard field goal to give the Raiders the lead.
Carlson’s kick capped a nine-play, 56-yard drive engineered by quarterback Gardner Minshew, who came on after starter Aidan O’Donnell left the game because of an apparent hand injury.
Minshew’s 25-yard pass to tight end Brock Bowers on third down was the key play.
Bowers has three catches for 38 yards.
Raiders quarterback Aidan O’Connell leaves for locker room
🏈 Raiders 0, Rams 0 — 2:33 left in the first quarter
Raiders starting quarterback Aidan O’Connell left the field with an apparent right hand injury after it made contact with Rams safety Kam Curl on the follow through of a pass. Gardner Minshew replaced him under center.
Raiders coach Antonio Pierce told CBS at the end of the first quarter that it doesn’t look like O’Connell will return to the game.
Both teams have struggled to find offensive rhythm so far — each has already punted twice.
Brock Bowers, once a Rams draft target, excelling with Raiders
It’s no secret that the Rams coveted Raiders tight end Brock Bowers going into the 2024 NFL draft.
The Rams attempted to trade up to select the former Georgia star, but the Raiders selected Bowers with the 13th pick.
Bowers has excelled, catching 37 passes on 46 targets for 384 yards and a touchdown.
“All the things that made him such a great prospect, you’re seeing be brought to life early on in his NFL career,” Rams coach Sean McVay said. “There isn’t anything that he can’t do.”
Cooper Kupp will not play for Rams vs. Raiders
Rams star receiver Cooper Kupp is inactive for Sunday’s game against the Las Vegas Raiders at SoFi Stadium.
The Rams had hoped that Kupp would be able to return from an ankle injury that sidelined him for three games. Kupp was limited in practices this week.
With the progress he made in recovery, Kupp might be able to return on Thursday night when the Rams play host to the unbeaten Minnesota Vikings.
Kupp caught 14 passes for 110 yards and a touchdown in the season opener against the Detroit Lions before he was injured in a Week 2 rout by the Arizona Cardinals.
Rams expecting to see a lot of Maxx Crosby on Sunday
In the aftermath of trading star receiver Davante Adams, it was a crazy week in Raidersland, with star defensive end Maxx Crosby playing a leading role.
Crosby, one of the most dominant defensive players in the NFL, was regarded as a potential top target for the Detroit Lions to pursue in the aftermath of Aidan Hutchinson’s season-ending knee injury.
Crosby sat out practices too because of an ankle injury and was listed as limited on Friday.
But the Rams are preparing to deal with a sixth-year pro who has 57½ sacks, including 5½ this season.
“He’s an incredible player,” Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford said. “He jumps off the tape. He’s in there on every single play, and his effort is relentless. He obviously has great skill, technique, and physical attributes as well, but he has the motor to go with it that’s as good or better than everybody that I’ve put on when I watch the tape.”
Because of a spinal bruise, Stafford did not play in the Rams’ 2022 victory over the Raiders. But he heard Crosby loud and clear during a joint practice between the Rams and Raiders before the 2023 season.
“He loves to be out there playing, he loves to be talking, and he can back it up,” Stafford said.
Rams offensive coordinator Mike LaFleur also has vivid memories of Crosby.
“You got to see him up close and how destructive this guy can be,” LaFleur said.
Rams’ urgency ahead of Raiders game: Only four 1-5 NFL teams have made playoffs
There is no sense of panic.
Not, at least, among the Rams.
They are 1-4. On the brink of possibly falling out of playoff contention.
But if desperation was entirely fitting for the situation, it also was notably absent this week as coach Sean McVay and his players prepared for Sunday’s game against the Las Vegas Raiders at SoFi Stadium.
It’s still early, it can be said: Not even a third of the Rams’ season is complete.
How have the Rams performed following an off week?
Under coach Sean McVay, the Rams have mostly turned it on immediately after off weeks.
Since 2017, the Rams are 4-3 in their next games after open dates.
Last season, the Rams were 3-6 before their break. They defeated the Seattle Seahawks, 17-16, at SoFi Stadium to start a three-game winning streak. The Rams won seven of their last eight games, finishing 10-7 and earning a playoff spot.
The Rams, 1-4 going into Sunday’s game against the Las Vegas Raiders, are looking to repeat last season’s turnaround.
Rams vs. Raiders: How to watch, prediction and betting odds
The 1-4 Rams aim to repeat last season’s feat, when they came out of an off week and turned around their season en route to a playoff berth.
Quarterback Matthew Stafford said he benefited from the week off. Before the break, the 16th-year pro suffered back soreness after getting hit 10 times in a defeat by the Green Bay Packers.
Star receiver Cooper Kupp practiced this week and appeared on track to return from an ankle injury that has sidelined him for three games. He is listed on the injury report as questionable to play, and likely that will be a game-time decision, said coach Sean McVay.