On this episode of The Only Nation Podcast, we reflect on some of the news and notes from the past week, and then we get into the Las Vegas Raiders’ victory over the Los Angeles Rams.
News and Notes
The Raiders have announced that Allegiant Stadium will be the first in the league to have a mandatory Covid vaccination policy which will allow for fans to attend without wearing masks. After the Rams game, the Silver and Black made cuts to get down to an 85 man roster. These cuts included quarterback Case Cookus, kicker Dominik Eberly, running back Bo Scarbrough, long-snapper Liam McCullough, and wide receiver Caleb Scott. They also released cornerback De’Vante Bausby and defensive tackle, Ethan Westbrooks.
Suddenly, the Raiders are banged up with injuries. The linebacker position is particularly thin. Nicholas Morrow went down in practice the week before the game and Nick Kwiatkoski was also sidelined for the game. During the Rams game, Javin White went down with a knee injury and was carted off the field.
Injuries have not been limited to the linebacking corps. Quarterback Marcus Mariota, safety Karl Joseph and cornerback Damon Arnette were all held out of the game. A possible bigger concern is the calf injury to guard Richie Incognito as he comes off a season-ending injury from last year.
Defeating the Rams
Next, we go quarter-by-quarter of the Rams game. We look at the positives and negatives of how the Raiders played and the implications for the regular season. Reflecting the close score, the Raiders did not win the time of possession against the Rams. The Rams held the ball 35:21 to the Raiders’ 24:39. The Raiders again held the penalties under control with only four for 45 yards compared to the Rams’ 10 for 84 yards. The offensive line also struggled and gave up three sacks. While the Raiders still have a lot to improve upon, they pulled out the win 17-16.
Final wrap up
Finishing out the episode, we discuss more regarding the linebackers, receiving corps, and offensive line. One of the hosts makes a wild guess and gets the weekly quiz question correct. To wrap things up, we have our first on-field hero of the season.
*Join Heidi Stabbert, Raider Homer, and T3RaiderFax on their Las Vegas Raiders show The Only Nation Podcast. Available on podcast platforms everywhere.
*Top Photo: Chase Stevens/Las Vegas Review-Journal