Gameday: The Raiders are running out of time to turn the season around

The Raiders desperately need a turnaround after coming off their worst six-week start since moving to Las Vegas in 2020.

They were even 3-3 at this point last year before a subsequent two-game losing streak led to the firing of then-coach Josh McDaniels and the promotion of then-interim and now permanent coach Antonio Pierce. Las Vegas was also 2-4 in the 2022 season, but that was the result of a series of close losses; it still had a point differential of +22. This year’s point differential is -54, third-worst in the AFC behind the New England Patriots (-60) and Jacksonville Jaguars (-65).

The Raiders are on a two-game losing streak and trail the Pittsburgh Steelers and Denver Broncos by a combined 35 points. That makes it hard to imagine Pierce’s goal of a playoff spot becoming a reality. They’re also running out of roster space as injuries continue to mount – guard Dylan Parham is expected to become the eighth offensive starter from Week 1 to miss a game on Sunday – and the team’s most proven star, receiver Davante Adams, has been transferred to the team New York Jets will be selected in the third round on Tuesday.

Favorable matchup: Slot cornerback Nate Hobbs versus returning receiver Cooper Kupp

To be fair, no one can really compete well with the winner of the 2021 NFL Offensive Player of the Year award. Given the situation and Hobbs’ presence, the Raiders may be in a better position than most teams to slow down Kupp. Kupp, 31, hasn’t played a full game since the Rams’ Week 1 loss to the Lions, in which he had 14 catches for 110 yards and a touchdown, but is expected to return from an ankle injury against the Raiders. Kupp competes primarily on the field where Hobbs was stationed almost exclusively during his four-year professional career. He has developed into one of the NFL’s safest nickelbacks during this time and had one of his best games in last week’s 32-13 loss to the Steelers. Hobbs allowed three completions on six goals with ten tackles and one pass defended, but it was the advanced numbers where his impact was most noticeable. According to Pro Football Focus, he ranked fifth in the NFL with a lockdown rate (a measure of how much space a defensive back allows a receiver) of 81.82%. If Hobbs can allow this little separation for a second straight week, the Rams’ offense may never really come to life.

Problematic matchup: The Rams’ young edge-rushing tandem vs. the Raiders’ offensive line

Los Angeles began the season searching for a new defensive identity following the retirement of three-time Defensive Player of the Year Aaron Donald and may have found it. Rookie first-round pick Jared Verse is the betting favorite to win Defensive Rookie of the Year after starting the season strong with 20 pressures. It’s a similar impact to the starter on the other side of the line, Byron Young, who was a third-round rookie pick last year. Young has slowed down a bit this season (15 pressures so far), but remains, along with Verse, one of the top young pass rushers in the NFL. Add second-year third-round defensive tackle Kobie Turner, and the Rams have more than enough to challenge a mediocre, makeshift Raiders offensive line. Las Vegas has played better up front in recent weeks, but is still No. 25 in the league according to PFF and is 20th in adjusted sack rate. Jordan Meredith, a former Ram practice squad member and third-year Raider, will will likely be tasked with replacing Parham and solidifying the line. The Raiders should also bring back Thayer Munford, who has missed the last three games with a knee injury, but are more likely to use him as a replacement for rookie DJ Glaze.

Game breaker: Running back Alexander Mattison

Mattison led the Raiders to an opening touchdown against the Steelers with seven touches in the 10-play drive, then was substituted and only got one more touchdown in the first half just before halftime. The odd usage was controversial, and Pierce has spoken openly about wanting to give the sixth-year pro, former Minnesota Viking, the ball more often when he clicks. Expect that to happen this week, even as fellow running back Zamir White returns to the lineup after a groin injury that sidelined him the past two weeks. Las Vegas trusts Mattison more at this point, and his running style seems to be a better fit for its new zone-blocking scheme than the power running that served White so well at the end of last season. Despite making slight improvements to its running game over the last three weeks, Las Vegas still ranks 31st in the league with 477 rushing yards and 3.7 yards per carry. However, this could be an opportunity to get back on track as the Rams defensive line hasn’t been as efficient at stopping runs as they have been at rushing the passer. According to DVOA ratings, Los Angeles’ defense ranks 30th in the NFL at defending the run.

Large number: 0

The Raiders have never won in five games at SoFi Stadium with fans in the building. Their only win at the $5 billion facility on the site of the old Hollywood Park Racetrack came on their first visit, a 31-26 victory over the Chargers on November 8, 2020, during the season in which strict COVID restrictions were imposed. 19 precautions were in effect. Since then, they have lost four straight times to the Chargers, including 22-10 in Week 1 this season, and lost to the Rams 17-16 on December 8, 2022 at SoFi Stadium. It’s been made for many dejected Raiders fans over the years, as the silver and black usually overtake the 70,000-seat stadium. This game could be even more heavily tilted towards the Raiders if the predictions are to be believed. Vivid Seats’ fan forecast – which accurately warned last week at Allegiant Stadium that Pittsburgh fans would outnumber Las Vegas fans – predicts a 61 percent split in favor of the Raiders in Week 7. The Rams are not a traditional one Rival the Raiders, but there is a bad blood between the two franchises after the NFL pushed the former to return to Los Angeles and prevented the latter from doing so a decade ago.

Best bet (5-1): Matthew Stafford for 230.5 yards

The selection of prop bets is slim this week as the high number of injuries to skill players means that sportsbooks are treading cautiously and not releasing as many offers. So let’s stick with quarterbacks for the third week in a row. As long as the Raiders can keep the score close, the Rams should have a pass-heavy game plan to give Stafford every opportunity to exceed that number. So far this season, he’s only passed for more than 230.5 yards twice this season, but that’s because he’s stuck with a badly injured receiving corps. Los Angeles should be at least a little healthier after a week of release, with Kupp’s comeback the obvious headliner. Kupp’s underfield style should open the door for young, improving downfield threats like Tutu Atwell and Jordan Whittington. Stafford hasn’t played against the Silver and Black since 2019, when he was with the Detroit Lions, but he managed 409 yards on 26-for-41 passing in that game in a 31-24 Raiders win .