LOS ANGELES -- Another week into the NFL season saw some great games as well as dominant wins, as was the case for the Los Angeles Rams, who beat the New Orleans Saints 34-10, and the Los Angeles Chargers, who beat the Tennessee Titans 27-20 in a close win. The Las Vegas Raiders, on the other hand, lost a heartbreaker to the Jacksonville Jaguars 30-29 in overtime.
On Sunday afternoon, the Raiders played one of their best offensive games of the season, especially Geno Smith, who threw for four touchdowns, 274 net yards, but did still have one interception. Smith was also sacked twice on Sunday. The run game still struggled with 19 carries for 57 yards and averaged 3.0 yards per carry. Ashton Jeanty is still getting hit behind the line of scrimmage and needs to break multiple tackles for just a three-yard gain. Brock Bowers also returned to his elite play with 12 catches for 127 yards and three touchdowns.
The defense for Las Vegas struggled in the run game, where they allowed 42 carries for 151 yards and three scores, in addition to 3.6 yards per carry. In the pass game, the Raiders played it a bit better, allowing 216 net yards, picking off Trevor Lawrence one time, sacking him one time, and getting an additional four QB hits. In tight games, not stopping the run well and running the ball well make all the difference, especially when the red zone comes into play.
For their upcoming opponent, the Denver Broncos, they are coming off a tight win and improving to 7-2. Offensively, the Broncos had some issues getting the pass game going, but ended up getting two scores from Bo Nix, 171 net yards, and one interception. Denver also ran the ball well with 23 carries for 100 yards on 4.3 yards per carry.
Defensively, the Broncos benefited from Texans QB CJ Stroud getting hurt and playing against Davis Mills for most of Sunday. However, they were able to limit the Texans to 191 net yards passing and sacked the Houston QBs four total times. The Texans also could not run the ball at all, with 28 carries for 77 yards on 2.8 yards per attempt. With no big plays, Houston struggled on offense and ended up kicking five field goals, and were forced to kick three in the red zone.
Going into Thursday night, one key will be how the Broncos are able to defend Bowers. On the season, Denver allows 13.4 yards per game against tight ends, ranking fifth. Bowers has the game-breaking ability as showcased on Sunday, so being able to shut him down will be essential. Smith finally had a great game on Sunday, but if the Broncos can eliminate Bowers from the game plan, a lack of run game and other elite offensive weapons outside of Jeanty may doom Las Vegas.
In the trenches, the Raiders' struggling offensive line, which has allowed 21 sacks, which ranks seventh most, will be going against a top-tier pass rush. Denver's pass rush is the first with 40 sacks, and ranks third with a 43.2 pressure rate. This game will come down to the team that wins these matchups, and Denver is in a position to put a strong lead in the AFC West if they are able to dominate in the trenches and have great coverage on Bowers.
The LA Rams are coming off one of their better wins this season, where the passing game continued to dominate. Matthew Stafford had 267 net yards, with four touchdowns, and played a clean game with no turnovers. The Los Angeles run game also got going with 171 yards coming from 43 carries, a 4.0-yard average, and one touchdown. One negative was the kicking game once again struggled, leaving points on the board with a missed field goal and an extra point.
On defense, the Rams played very well, forcing two turnovers, one fumble from Alvin Kamara and an interception from Tyler Shough. They also held the Saints to 57 yards rushing, 167 net passing yards, sacked Shough once, and hit him another four times. This defense showed up once again, and it is clear that LA is a clear contender.
The San Francisco 49ers are coming off a 34-24 win over the New York Giants. Mac Jones again played well with 221 net yards, two touchdowns, with one fumble. The rushing attack showed out, especially Brian Robinson Jr. and Christian McCaffrey, who both went over 50 yards and punched one into the endzone.
Defensively, the 49ers struggled to stop the run, where they allowed 117 yards on 5.6 yards per carry. In the air, the 49ers did hold New York to 179 net yards and sacked Jaxson Dart twice.
So, in an NFC West rematch, this game will come down to the run game on both sides. This season, San Francisco has struggled to run the ball, averaging 97.1 yards per game, and the Rams have been a great rushing defense, allowing 99.8 yards per game. In the first matchup, the Rams won the rushing battle, but turnovers hurt the Rams as well as struggles in the red zone and kicking game. In the red zone, LA is elite at preventing touchdowns with a 39.13 rate ranking second, and the 49ers have a 53.57 rate ranking eighth.
This game will come down to who can run the ball more effectively and who scores more effectively in the red zone. The Rams won both categories last time; however, their fumbles in the red zone did ultimately cost them, as well as two misses from their kicker, Joshua Karty. If the Rams want to even the season series, they must play cleaner and be efficient in the red zone again, make kicks, which have been a struggle, and stop the run to put the game on the shoulders of Jones, which can allow their defensive line to get after him.
The Chargers are coming off a gritty win, which was also costly with left tackle Joe Alt getting carted off the field with a season-ending ankle injury. The Chargers again were able to get back to their identity by running the football for 30 carries, 131 yards, and one touchdown. LA was also able to throw it well with 212 net yards, for two touchdowns, and one interception, which Tennessee took back for six. Quentin Johnston was able to bounce back, but the absence of Alt was felt. Justin Herbert was sacked six times.
The Chargers were able to play the pass well, holding the Titans to 118 net yards and sacking Cam Ward four times. Additionally, in the run game, as far as yards go, the Chargers did well, but the yards per carry were 5.6, which is a bit high for a team looking to make a deep playoff run.
The Pittsburgh Steelers, who will be coming into town, are coming off a great win against the Indianapolis Colts, who many think are the best team in the NFL. The main takeaway from this game was the Steelers' defense being able to force six turnovers against a team that doesn't turn it over very much. Offensively, they did not do much at all on the ground, only having 38 rushing yards, but punched two in for scores. Through the air, Aaron Rodgers played a clean game with no interceptions and threw one touchdown, and was sacked three times.
The defense, as mentioned, forced six turnovers, picking off Daniel Jones three times and forcing four fumbles, ultimately recovering three. Pittsburgh shut Jonathan Taylor down, holding the NFL leader to 45 yards on 14 carries for a 3.2-yard average. Michael Pittman and Alec Pierce both exceeded 100 yards through the air of Jones' total 313 net yards. The pass rush also got 5 times for sacks on Jones, making him uncomfortable all day long.
Clearly, this game will come down to how the Chargers' offensive tackles are able to block the Steelers' edge rushers, with Alt being sidelined for the season. New addition from the trade deadline, Trevor Penning, will make his first start with LA at left tackle, in addition to Trey Pipkins III, who will likely start at right tackle.
PFF this season has graded Penning at a 50.4 overall grade with a 53.6 grade against the pass as a guard primarily. Penning is very versatile and has a history of playing tackle when needed. PFF has also graded Pipkins III with a subpar grade at 44.5 overall grade and a 55.4 pass blocking grade among tackles. These tackles need to step their game up in a huge way if they want to keep Justin Herbert upright as well as keep pace with the Denver Broncos for the AFC West title.
On the other side, Rodgers and the Steelers are looking to continue their rhythm in an effort to keep their lead in the division. To do that, they need more from the ground game, which currently ranks 30th, averaging 87.3 yards per game.
LA's run defense is not great either, as it allows 109.7 yards per game, putting them at 17th. To help Rodgers, this run game needs to get going so the down and distance is third and manageable and allows for the playbook to open up. If not, the Chargers' pass rush will get after Rodgers, and it will be a long day for Pittsburgh.
This next week of football will go a long way for divisional standings, playoff seeding, and finding out who the true contenders are. Sit back, relax, and enjoy Week 10 of the NFL Season.