NFL Week 7 live updates: Patriots-Jaguars from Wembley, Haason Reddick holdout ends, league schedule, predictions, odds
A hard-fought 20-15 win for the Los Angeles Rams over the Las Vegas Raiders gave fans a defensive battle to behold Sunday, as the two floundering clubs locked horns for a Week 7 showdown in Los Angeles.
Led by another hard-nosed effort from running back Kyren Williams, the Rams held on with timely plays on offense and a standout showing by its defense to grind out a much-needed victory at home. Williams tallied 21 carries for 76 yards and a touchdown for his ninth consecutive game with a TD — the longest active streak in the NFL.
Williams’s two scores bolstered an exceptional performance from the Rams (2-4) defense, which capitalized on an early-game injury to Raiders quarterback Aidan O’Connell (thumb). O’Connell’s exit reopened the door for backup Gardner Minshew, who threw three interceptions, took two sacks and lost one fumble for a Rams scoop-and-score.
Despite another week of poor offense, the Raiders (2-5) defense stepped up in the second half following a 14-6 halftime deficit. The unit held the Rams to 259 total yards while logging an interception and a sack.
Las Vegas offense still looking for answers
The quarterback situation has been a mess, but part of that the last two weeks has been the lack of proven receivers for the Raiders. With Davante Adams now traded and Jakobi Meyers still out with a sore ankle, the Raiders were short on talent again out wide for the second straight week.
Only two receivers caught passes against the Rams — Tre Tucker with three catches for 36 yards and DJ Turner with two for 13. Both O’Connell (before his thumb injury) and Minshew were locked in on tight ends Brock Bowers (10 catches on 14 targets for 94 yards) and Harrison Bryant (two for 19 before leaving with an injury in the third quarter).
Meyers seemed like he was closer to playing last week than he was Sunday against the Rams. He is a skilled catch maker but his presence would also make life easier matchup-wise for the speedy Tucker. — Vic Tafur, Raiders senior writer
Loss overshadows impressive effort defensive effort
The Raiders squandered what was a pretty solid performance from their defense. They limited the Rams to just 258 total yards, held them to two-for-10 on third down and only gave up two scoring drives.
Defensive coordinator Patrick Graham’s unit gave its offense plenty of opportunities to capitalize on, but they consistently failed to do so as they scored just 15 points and committed four turnovers.
After nickelback Nate Hobbs stuffed Williams on 4th-and-1 in the second quarter, the Raiders took over at Los Angeles’ 49-yard line. The Raiders’ offenses proceeded to go three-and-out and punt the ball right back to the Rams. Hobbs picked off Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford and returned it to Los Angeles’ 14-yard line. Trailing 20-9, the Raiders offense settled for a field goal. Then, with the Raiders trailing 20-12 in the fourth quarter, the defense forced another stop.
The offense drove all the way down to the Rams’ 4-yard line, but ultimately settled for a field goal. The defense proceeded to get the Rams off the field again and forced a punt that gave the Raiders’ offense the ball back with 1:39 to play in regulation. They couldn’t even muster a first down as Minshew threw a game-sealing pick.
The defense has been a disappointment this season, but this loss wasn’t on them. — Tashan Reed, Raiders senior writer
Required reading
- In-season WR trades usually flop. Here’s why Davante Adams, Amari Cooper could be different
- With Davante Adams gone, Tre Tucker aiming to step into bigger role with Raiders
- Raiders ready to move on, grateful for closure following Davante Adams’ trade to Jets
- Rams sticking with changes in secondary with more potential adjustments on both sides
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