Raiders (2-4) vs. Rams (1-4)
When: Sunday, 1:05 p.m.
Where: Sofi Stadium; Inglewood, Calif.
TV: KCBS-2 (Los Angeles), KLAS-8 (Las Vegas): Fubo, Hulu + Live TV, Paramount+, Sling TV, NFL+.
Radio: KSPN-AM (710 Los Angeles); RNR 920AM (Las Vegas)
Line: Rams by 7 points; over/under 43.5
Notable injury designations:
Rams: Questionable: Cooper Kupp (Ankle), Joe Noteboom (Ankle), Jordan Whittington (Shoulder)
Raiders: Out: Tommy Eichenberg (Quad), Kana'i Mauga (Knee), Dylan Parham (Foot); Questionable: Adam Butler (Knee/Illness), Zamir White (Groin), John Jenkins (Illness); Doubtful: Jakobi Meyers (Ankle)
What is at stake? The Los Angeles Rams can only afford to lose a few remaining games as they sit in the cellar of the NFC West before they drop out of playoff contention. They have a prime opportunity to right their season against a reeling Las Vegas Raiders team that just jettisoned former All-Pro wide receiver Devante Adams.
Since 1990, when the NFL went to its current twelve-game playoff format, the last team to start the season 1-4 and make the playoffs was the 2002 NY Jets.
The Rams anticipate some reprieve from the calvary as many of their starters inch towards a return. Wide receiver Cooper Kupp returned to practice in a limited capacity after a stint on the injured reserve list and is questionable to play against Las Vegas.
The Rams have been in a single-score game except for the tilt against the Arizona Cardinals. Sean McVay and his staff have managed the patchwork of talent due to injuries on both sides of the ball.
Who's better? Sunday's matchup is a battle of worst versus worst. Only two running backs are averaging under four yards per carry this season: Zamir White and Kyren Williams. Williams' lack of production can be attributed to running behind a depleted offensive line. Yet, he scored a touchdown in all five games this season and boasts seven touchdowns overall.
After six games, Las Vegas ranks 31st in rushing yards (477) and rushing yards per carry (3.7). According to Next Gen Stats, the Raiders are averaging a league-worst -.0.37 Expected Points Added per rush.
Playing against the Rams may be a salve for the floundering football team in the desert. Los Angeles has allowed at least 120 yards in every game this year, has surrendered a league-worst 788 yards in five games and has allowed 4.8 yards per carry.
Matchup to watch: This week, Rob Havenstein has the tall task of curtailing Maxx Crosby, who has aligned as the Raiders left edge on 80.3% of defensive snaps this season and is projected to match up against Rams right tackle.
Last week against the Steelers, Crosby generated his most pressures in a game (8), and accounted for 35.3% of the Raiders sacks in 2024 (4th-highest). Havenstein has allowed 13 pressures and 2.5 sacks on 141 pass blocks this season (9.2%), the 20th-lowest pressure rate among 38 right tackles (min. 75 pass blocks).
Conversely, rookie defensive end Jared Verse has aligned as the Rams' right edge on 78.0% of defensive snaps this season and is projected to match up against Raiders left tackle Kolton Miller.
Verse has generated the most pressures among rookies in 2024 (20), and his 21.3% pressure rate ranks 2nd-highest in the NFL (min. 75 pass rushes). Miller has allowed 27 pressures and 5 sacks on 237 pass blocks this season (11.4%), the 10th-highest pressure rate allowed among 34 left tackles (min. 75 pass blocks). Miller's 11.4% pressure permitted rate is the highest through the first six weeks of a season since his rookie year (15.5%).
Rams win if: Safety Quentin Lake may draw the assignment of covering Raiders rookie tight end Brock Bowers. The Raiders do a phenomenal job of utilizing Bowers' versatility and multiplicity. Without Devante Adams or any semblance of a rushing game, the Rams need only to limit Bowers in the passing game.
Raiders quarterback Aidan O'Connell has not attempted a single scramble rush on any of his 442 dropbacks since entering the NFL in 2023.
O'Connell is the only quarterback in the Next Gen Stats era to not record a single scramble rush attempt on any dropback (min. 150 dropbacks).
If the Rams can stop the run and smother Bowers, their sixth-ranked pressure rate can do enough to make life uncomfortable for O'Connell.