NFL

Las Vegas Raiders at Los Angeles Rams

· National Football League
2-5, 1-3 Away
Final
15 - 20
2-4, 2-1 Home

Rams force 4 turnovers and hold off Raiders 20-15 after QB Aidan O'Connell gets injured

Schefter tells McAfee he doesn't expect Maxx Crosby to get traded

A chance to play against the Raiders' subpar offense run by its backup quarterback was the perfect antidote.

Kam Curl returned a fumble 33 yards for a touchdown and Kyren Williams rushed for 76 yards and two scores in the Rams ' 20-15 victory over Las Vegas on Sunday.

Cobie Durant had an interception and later caused the fumble returned for a TD by Curl for the Rams (2-4), who forced Gardner Minshew to commit four turnovers — the same number harvested by Los Angeles in its first five games of the season combined.

“The emphasis on attacking the ball was at an all-time high today,” Durant said. “All week we emphasized it, and it displayed today. What a great day it is to attack the ball!”

The Raiders' backup QB was forced into action by Aidan O'Connell, and the Rams pounced. Jaylen McCollough had two more interceptions for Los Angeles, including the game-clinching pick with 1:18 to play.

“I was just in the right place at the right time,” said McCollough, an undrafted rookie who played five seasons at Tennessee. “We're growing together as a defense. There's a lot more chemistry, a lot more accountability. We trust each other, and it's starting to fall into place.”

Matthew Stafford passed for 154 yards — his lowest total in four seasons with Los Angeles — as the Rams (2-4) snapped a two-game skid during their worst start to a season in coach Sean McVay's eight years in charge.

Minshew passed for 154 yards for the Raiders (2-5) after replacing O'Connell, who didn't return after a hand-to-hand collision with Curl during the Raiders' second offensive series.

O'Connell said his thumb “went numb, and it’s hurting.” The Raiders will know more after additional tests in Las Vegas.

In their first game since Davante Adams to the Jets, the Raiders were forced to settle for five field goals by Daniel Carlson after repeatedly giving the ball away or struggling in the red zone.

The Raiders fell behind 20-6 midway through the third quarter, but had two late drives with a chance to save their game.

After settling for a short field goal with 2:46 left after reaching the Los Angeles 4, Las Vegas got the ball back with 1:39 left — but McCollough picked off Minshew's final heave at the Vegas 34.

“We’ve got to be smart with the ball,” Raiders coach Antonio Pierce said. “At the end, you’re trying to (take) a shot. I get that one. The other ones, got to do a better job.”

Minshew was the Raiders' starter to begin the season before losing the job to O'Connell this month, but the journeyman QB only excelled at getting the ball to star rookie tight end Brock Bowers, who had 10 catches for 93 yards.

“To have a game where we lose by five points and have four turnovers, like, that’s critical, and it’s unfair to the rest of the team,” Minshew said. "So I’m going to go back, look at the film. Not gonna sulk, not gonna pout, but whatever we gotta do to fix ’em, I’m gonna do.”

Williams rushed 13 yards for a score in the second quarter, recording a rushing touchdown in his ninth consecutive game. The third-year pro has an NFL-best 24 touchdowns from scrimmage since the start of last season despite playing in only 18 of a possible 23 games.

Durant then forced a fumble while blitzing Minshew. Curl scooped it up and ran untouched for his first TD since a 76-yard interception return as a rookie with Washington in 2020.

“My first position was running back, so I'm kind of used to it (when) I get the ball in my hand,” Curl said with a grin.

Los Angeles' defense got its third takeaway when McCollough snared a pass deflected by the Raiders' DJ Turner, and Williams made his second TD run.

Nate Hobbs intercepted a deflected pass and returned it to the Rams 14 late in the third quarter, but Vegas couldn't cash in.

Rams rookie Joshua Karty missed a 35-yard field goal attempt with 10:11 to play and the Raiders drove to the Los Angeles 4 before rookie DJ Glaze false-started on fourth and goal, compelling the Raiders to kick again.

Home team The Rams improved to 3-0 against the Raiders since they returned to the Los Angeles market, which these two franchises shared for 13 years from 1982-94. The Raiders have lost six straight at SoFi Stadium to the Rams and Chargers.

Injuries Raiders: TE Harrison Bryant went to the locker room in the third quarter with an elbow injury.

Rams: WR Cooper Kupp missed his fourth consecutive game after participating in practice all week. McVay said afterward that he expects the Super Bowl 56 MVP to play Thursday night.

Up next Raiders: Host Kansas City on Sunday.

Rams: Host Minnesota on Thursday night.

How can I watch Raiders vs. Rams?

  • TV Channel: Raiders at Rams 2021-22 NFL, week 7 is broadcasted nationally on CBS and NFL Sunday Ticket - Paramount+ NFL on CBS 2021 - Try it FREE!.
  • Online streaming: Sign up for Fubo.
    In Canada, viewers can watch Raiders vs. Rams on DAZN.

Matchup Prediction

Rams: 63.1%
Raiders: 36.7%
*According to ESPN's Football Power Index

Scoring Summary

LV FG 2nd Period 14:04 Daniel Carlson 38 Yd Field Goal
LAR TD 2nd Period 3:00 Kyren Williams 13 Yd Run (Joshua Karty Kick)
LAR TD 2nd Period 1:14 Kamren Curl 33 Yd Fumble Return (Joshua Karty Kick)
LV FG 2nd Period 0:00 Daniel Carlson 47 Yd Field Goal
LAR TD 3rd Period 7:30 Kyren Williams 2 Yd Run (Joshua Karty PAT failed)
LV FG 3rd Period 2:25 Daniel Carlson 38 Yd Field Goal
LV FG 4th Period 14:52 Daniel Carlson 27 Yd Field Goal
LV FG 4th Period 2:46 Daniel Carlson 27 Yd Field Goal

Statistics

https://a.espncdn.com/combiner/i?img=/i/teamlogos/nfl/500/lv.png&h=100&scale=crop&w=100&location=originLV https://a.espncdn.com/combiner/i?img=/i/teamlogos/nfl/500/lar.png&h=100&scale=crop&w=100&location=originLAR
20 1st Downs 15
12 Passing 1st downs 6
7 Rushing 1st downs 7
1 1st downs from penalties 2
3-15 3rd down efficiency 2-10
1-1 4th down efficiency 0-1
75 Total Plays 52
317 Total Yards 259
4.2 Yards per Play 5.0
13 Total Drives 12
195 Passing 144
21/44 Comp/Att 14/23
4.2 Yards per pass 6.0
3 Interceptions thrown 1
2-11 Sacks-Yards Lost 1-10
122 Rushing 115
29 Rushing Attempts 28
4.2 Yards per rush 4.1
0-2 Red Zone (Made-Att) 2-3
10-80 Penalties 3-28
4 Turnovers 1
1 Fumbles lost 0
3 Interceptions thrown 1
0 Defensive / Special Teams TDs 1
33:48 Possession 26:12

Game Information

SoFi Stadium

Location: Inglewood, CA
Attendance: 73,267 · Capacity:

2024 AFC West Standings

TEAM W L PCT T PF PA
Kansas City 14 1 .933 0 356 278
Los Angeles 9 6 .600 0 328 274
Denver 9 6 .600 0 363 281
Las Vegas 3 12 .200 0 264 390

2024 NFC West Standings

TEAM W L PCT T PF PA
Los Angeles 9 6 .600 0 329 347
Seattle 8 7 .533 0 339 340
Arizona 7 8 .467 0 344 342
San Francisco 6 9 .400 0 331 349
Full Standings

NFL News

Steelers' Russell Wilson scores on 1-yard run

Steelers' Russell Wilson scores on 1-yard run

After being picked off in the end zone, the Steelers quarterback redeemed himself with a 1-yard touchdown run that cut the Chiefs' lead to 13-7.

Chiefs' Patrick Mahomes throws 2 TD passes early

Chiefs' Patrick Mahomes throws 2 TD passes early

Xavier Worthy's unsportsmanlike conduct penalty on the first TD resulted in a longer PAT try, which Harrison Butker missed.

Seahawks look to boost fading playoff hopes against struggling Bears

Seahawks look to boost fading playoff hopes against struggling Bears

Seattle (8-7) at Chicago (4-11)

2024 NFL Christmas games: Picks, schedule, predictions, odds

2024 NFL Christmas games: Picks, schedule, predictions, odds

We have top storylines, bold predictions, game-plan keys and fantasy X factors for the Christmas games and Week 17's Thursday night matchup.

NFL Week 17 uniforms: Texans rock H-Town blue for Christmas

NFL Week 17 uniforms: Texans rock H-Town blue for Christmas

The Christmas week is bringing out notable uniforms on the field during NFL's Week 17.