
Oct 23, 2026 · 1h 28m
Raiders must exploit Rams injuries and fix their protection
You Must Be Prepared For Rams
The matchup tests whether Las Vegas can turn organizational progress and close games into a complete win against a depleted Los Angeles team.
- 1The Raiders need sustained pressure on Matthew Stafford while protecting Kirk Cousins against a formidable Rams front.
- 2A credible running game could create play-action opportunities and prevent Los Angeles from crowding shallow defensive zones.
- 3Injuries weaken the Rams, but Las Vegas still must eliminate penalties, establish accountability, and finish the game.
Don't miss
Erin Coscarelli explains how the Rams’ injury crisis could weaken their normally strong pass defense and open opportunities for the Raiders.
The brief
JT the Brick opens from Topgolf with a matchup shaped by uncertainty: Puka Nacua’s calf injury, Los Angeles’ depleted defense, and the Raiders’ need to attack decisively.
The central football argument is straightforward but demanding: pressure Matthew Stafford, establish the run, protect Kirk Cousins, and sustain drives after halftime.
The Violator ties the tactical problems to accountability, arguing that close losses only matter if a young Raiders team learns to turn them into wins.
Erin Coscarelli details the Rams’ injury crisis, including missing defensive contributors and Nacua’s status, creating opportunities Las Vegas cannot afford to waste.
The episode’s sharpest tension is between optimism about improved organizational alignment and the unfinished work of winning a complete game now.
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