The Rams’ defense is still having a hard time stopping teams. Even a Raiders offense that was missing starting quarterback Aidan O’Connell and recently traded receiver Davante Adams was able to move the ball easily against Los Angeles.
The Rams won 20-15 on Sunday mainly because they forced four turnovers from backup QB Gardner Minshew, not because they showed improvement in their overall defensive play. The Raiders outgained the Rams significantly, racking up 317 yards while only punting twice in the last three quarters.
This might not be a good sign for the future of coordinator Chris Shula’s defense, but the win could help boost their confidence before the Minnesota Vikings come to town on Thursday night.
“I thought they took command and they took control of that game,” Rams coach Sean McVay said about his defense on Monday. “It’s a great opportunity to be able to build on that momentum, but every week you have to be able to earn it.”
The Rams showed they can make big plays against the Raiders. Jaylen McCollough and Cobie Durant combined for three interceptions, and Kam Curl made seven tackles and returned a fumble caused by Durant for a touchdown just before halftime.
However, Los Angeles’ defense knows it can’t depend on making big plays to fix its ongoing struggles week after week.
The offense faces similar issues.
Matthew Stafford’s 154 passing yards were the lowest he has had in his four seasons with the Rams, including games he didn’t finish due to injury. The Rams had only two completions longer than 13 yards and didn’t make any notable downfield plays to challenge the defense.
The Rams’ offensive situation could change if receiver Cooper Kupp returns from injured reserve as expected on Thursday night. The Super Bowl 56 MVP has missed four games due to an ankle injury but practiced last week.
