The last two weeks, the message was simple for the Rams: Win or Pack It In. Despite all the hype surrounding these two teams (mainly from fanbases with zero credibility), the Raiders and Rams lived up to its mediocrity in bunches but provided a great game, nonetheless. In the case of the Rams, they still look like hot garbage, but even without their prime receiver’s return, they got the win.
But it was their defense that answered the call to arms on this day.
Los Angeles’ defense forced four turnovers to make up for yet another lackluster performance by their offense as the Rams survived a visit from the Vegas Raiders 20-15 to snag their second win of the season. They were off to their worst start to any season under Sean McVay’s leadership (or lack thereof depending on how you would look at it). But the defense woke up enough to drop Gardner Minshew twice and pick him off three times after Aidan O’ Connell made his appearance.
As for the Rams offense, well, what part of lackluster did you not understand?
Matthew Stafford had another performance worth forgetting about as he finished with 154 yards on 14/23 passing but continued his reversion back to Detroit by finishing another game with a sack, a pick and zero touchdowns. No one is saying that Stafford is Ol’ Yeller, but maybe it’s time to start thinking of retiring or taking a step back from acting like Doc Holliday and just let Wyatt Earp (aka Jimmy G) finish the job. Kyren Williams, the only true saving grace for the Rams Offense this season, finished with 76 yards on 21 carries and a pair of touchdowns to lead this offense that has not gotten out the blocks since the injuries to Kupp and Nacua.
But enough of that bad news. Let’s get to what worked today for LA: Their defense.
Quentin Lake and Kamren Curl had themselves a drop party today in Inglewood as they had seven solo tackles each, and Curl got himself a Strip Six to add to the mix. The Raiders’ air assault was lagging more than my PS4 as Cobie Durant and Jaylen McCollough kept Vegas in check with a trifecta of interceptions, including McCollough’s game-sealing pick late in the fourth quarter. While McCollough controlled the skies, Durant and Michael Hoecht handled the ground as they both added a sack to the stat sheet.
With O’Conell suffering a hand injury, the Raiders were hoping that Minshew would be the Minshew of Old rather than the stunt double for Uncle Rico. The Rams kept Minshew in check as he finished with 154 yards on 15/34 passing and of course those three interceptions and pair of sacks. The Raiders did as many who were paying attention would have expected in this game. With the departure of Devante Adams earlier in the week, the new target for them is Brock Bowers who finished with 93 yards on ten catches.
Despite no Kupp in this game, the Rams found some solace in Tyler Johnson (57 yards on four catches) and Tutu Atwell (51 on six catches). While the Rams wide receiving corps is getting its answers, the front office did little to quell the rumors about putting their Triple Crown Winner Kupp on the trading block. Now if Kroenke is looking to turn it around, he better look more at other pieces of the offense that are not working well (like Stafford’s inconsistency this season) and less at the face that two of his prime targets are not out there.
And he’s got about four days to do it before the Rams see a Minnesota team coming off its first loss.