The Los Angeles Rams are anticipated to really feel like guests in their very own dwelling once more and for his or her sake, it won’t be a nasty factor.
The Las Vegas Raiders are headed again to the area they as soon as referred to as dwelling for 13 seasons once they face the Rams on Sunday at Inglewood, Calif.
Except for a recognition contest, Sunday’s recreation matches a pair of groups off to disappointing begins with offenses in dire want of consistency, amid evolving conditions at extensive receiver. The Raiders and Rams are two of 11 NFL groups with a mean of lower than 19 factors per recreation.
And the considerations are much more heightened on protection, the place the Raiders (2-4) are tied for fifth worst within the NFL at 27.2 factors allowed per recreation, whereas the Rams (1-4) are fourth worst at 27.8 per recreation.
The Raiders, who performed in Los Angeles from 1982-94, are anticipated to have way more followers within the stands than the house crew. However the Rams skilled an identical unbalance earlier this season and got here away with their solely win of the season once they turned a late rally right into a 27-24 dwelling victory over the San Francisco 49ers in Week 3.
The injury-plagued Rams have but to place their projected beginning offense on the sector this season. Huge receiver Puka Nacua (knee) has not performed since Week 1, whereas fellow wideout Cooper Kupp (ankle) final performed in Week 2 however practiced Wednesday in restricted vogue.
“(Kupp) is aware of what it appears prefer to have his physique in alignment with return to efficiency, not simply return to play, and so we do need to be good with that,” stated Rams head coach Sean McVay, whose crew is coming off its bye week however has to think about a recreation subsequent Thursday towards the Minnesota Vikings.
Los Angeles has been coping with accidents on the offensive line because the preseason, with Joe Noteboom (ankle) and Steve Avila (knee) nonetheless on the mend. Noteboom was restricted Wednesday, whereas Avila stays on injured reserve.
Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford has averaged 247.6 yards per recreation, eleventh greatest within the NFL, however has simply three landing passes in 5 video games and has been sacked 16 occasions behind a makeshift line.
The Raiders moved away from Gardner Minshew final week and went to Aidan O’Connell at quarterback towards the Pittsburgh Steelers. However Las Vegas had its second-lowest level whole of the season in a 32-13 dwelling loss.
O’Connell’s 227 yards passing towards the Steelers had been greater than Minshew had in every of the previous three weeks.
Tom Brady did be a part of the fold this week, however the seven-time Tremendous Bowl champion is on board with what’s believed to be a five-percent possession stake and to not get underneath heart.
O’Connell is about to start out once more this week to information an offense that has moved away from extensive receiver Davante Adams, after he was traded to the New York Jets for a third-round draft decide. Adams didn’t play the previous three weeks with a hamstring damage.
Adams had 18 receptions for 209 yards and one landing over the primary three video games. With out him the previous three video games, Brock Bowers had 19 receptions for 187 yards and one TD.
Jakobi Meyers, thought of the Raiders’ high wideout in Adams’ stead, didn’t play Sunday with an ankle damage and remained out of form Wednesday. Head coach Antonio Pierce is hopeful Meyers will play Sunday.
“I feel all of those guys who had a smaller function now perceive their function is larger,” Pierce stated Wednesday in regards to the impact of the Adams commerce. “… You by no means change an All-Professional receiver like Davonte however on the finish of the day, we’re not attempting to. We’re attempting to be the very best model of ourselves.”
Additionally lacking apply for Las Vegas on Wednesday had been defensive finish Maxx Crosby (ankle), linebackers Tommy Eichenberg (quad) and Kana’i Mauga (knee), sort out Kolton Miller (knee, shoulder), guard Dylan Parham (foot), defensive sort out John Jenkins (sickness) and cornerback Jack Jones (sickness).
–Subject Degree Media
