This weekend, two struggling teams will meet in Inglewood. The Las Vegas Raiders (2-4; 2-4-0 ATS) are set to face the Los Angeles Rams (1-4; 1-4-0 ATS) at SoFi Stadium at 4:05 p.m. EST. These records reflect the challenges both teams have faced this season. The last encounter between these teams was in 2022, where the Rams secured a narrow victory, 17-16. Will this matchup provide a similar level of excitement?
Raiders’ New Direction After Adams Trade
In a surprising twist, the Raiders have traded star wide receiver Davante Adams to the New York Jets. This move, while not aimed at immediate success, adds to the struggles of an offense that ranks 27th in scoring and 28th in total yards per game. Without Adams, the Raiders have failed to score more than 20 points in three consecutive outings. They are also struggling on the ground, holding the 31st position in both rushing yards per game and yards per carry. This week, Aidan O’Connell will start at quarterback, facing challenges of his own as he has been sacked 18 times this season and averages only 6.7 yards per attempt (22nd). The Raiders lead the league in turnovers, with 12 giveaways. How will the absence of Adams impact the team’s morale and performance?
Defensively, the Raiders are not faring much better, ranking 28th in points allowed. Their struggles are often compounded by poor field position resulting from turnovers. The defense allows an average of 5.0 yards per carry, placing them 27th in that category. On the bright side, they have limited opposing quarterbacks to 6.9 yards per pass attempt (15th) and recorded 14 sacks. They will need to create more turnovers, having only two so far, which is tied for the fewest in the league. There is hope that this week, they can avoid allowing 30 or more points again.
Key Injuries – Zamir White (questionable); Jakobi Meyers (questionable); Dylan Parham (questionable); Maxx Crosby (questionable); John Jenkins (questionable); Tommy Eichenberg (questionable); Jack Jones (questionable)
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Rams Looking for Redemption After Bye
Coming off a bye week, the Rams aim to secure their second win of 2024. The time off could help rejuvenate their offense, which has struggled despite averaging 324.0 yards per game (16th). They sit at 25th in points scored per game and are one of six teams to average below 100 rushing yards. With only 4.0 yards per carry, the Rams’ ground game is underperforming. Matthew Stafford’s performance has also been average, with an average of 7.0 yards per attempt (16th) and 16 sacks in five games. The Rams have committed six turnovers this season and have not managed to score more than 20 points since their opening game. Will this trend change on Sunday?
While many expected the loss of Aaron Donald to significantly impact their defense, the results have not been promising. They rank 28th in total yards allowed and 29th in points allowed per game. Every opponent has managed to score at least 24 points against them. The Rams’ defense allows the most yards per play (6.2) and per pass attempt (9.0) in the league, and their run defense is also weak, giving up 4.8 yards per carry. With just nine sacks and four turnovers created, the Rams need to find solutions during this bye week.
Key Injuries – Puka Nacua (IR); Cooper Kupp (questionable); Jordan Whittington (questionable)
Analyzing Best Bets for Raiders vs. Rams
The Raiders may find themselves in a favorable position, as they will be going up against a Rams team that struggles to create turnovers. This could prevent the Raiders from having to defend against short fields. Given that Los Angeles’ ground game is weak, this plays to the Raiders’ defensive strengths. The Raiders’ pass rush and secondary have the potential to effectively contain a pass-heavy offense.
Furthermore, the Rams possess the league’s worst pass defense, which may provide the Raiders with opportunities, even if they fall behind. With the distraction of Adams now gone, the Raiders may find a boost in morale and benefit from a strong fan presence at SoFi Stadium. Both teams have had difficulty winning games, making it reasonable to consider backing the Raiders against the spread in this matchup.
