The Las Vegas Raiders lost another game that they were comfortably ahead in. This time they did it on Thursday Night Football against the Los Angeles Rams. It appeared to be a home game, but the Raiders were unable to triumph in front of their devoted Los Angeles fans. There weren’t many positives from this game, but the Raiders’ defensive line once again came to play. Let’s analyze how the Raiders’ defensive line performed against the Rams.
Observation No. 1: The Rams run game went nowhereÂ
Given that Baker Mayfield, the Rams’ new starting quarterback, had approximately two days to prepare for the Raiders, it appeared that the team would aim to establish the run game. The Raiders’ defensive line did not allow the Rams’ running backs to breathe; therefore, that strategy failed. Sean McVay even attempted to run a sweep at Crosby, but that failed since Crosby was able to read the play. Cam Akers struggled because a Raiders defensive lineman kept hitting him behind the line of scrimmage. While Chandler Jones and Chris Crosby were controlling the outside runs, Bilal Nichols and Jerry Tillery were stopping any inside runs.
Towards the end of the second quarter, Ackers attempted to elude Jones, but Jones forced and recovered a turnover. Overall, the Rams’ running game struggled, as they only managed 71 yards on 22 carries. The Raiders have now given up less than 100 rushing yards in four straight games. The Raiders’ defensive line showed up against the run and made the Rams one-dimensional.
Raiders Fail To Seize Bragging Rights In L.A. In Loss To Rams
Observation No. 2: The Raiders’ pass rush looked solid, once againÂ
The pass rush by the Raiders continued to impress. The Rams’ offensive line entered the game as one of the league’s worst pass-blocking units. This was a blatant mismatch, especially considering Crosby and Jones’ recent play. And it was evident, as according to ESPN, the Raiders tallied six quarterback hits and four sacks on Mayfield. Five quarterback hits and two sacks were provided by Jones and Crosby.
There will be others who make a complaint about the defensive line’s whereabouts during the Rams’ game-winning drive. During the last drive, Crosby sacked Mayfield, but a Tillery penalty nullified it. Additionally, Crosby was held on each play, which rendered the Raiders’ pass rush ineffective. Jones and Tillery simply appeared exhausted since they spent the most of the second half on the field as a result of their offense. It was a formula for disaster because they were exhausted, and Crosby was being harassed by the Rams’ right tackle.
*Top Photo: Darren Yamashita USA Today Sports
