The Rams beat the Raiders 35–21, and for the first time in a while, we saw some of the things we've been begging this coaching staff to do. They committed to the running game, got contributions from young defenders, and put together four consecutive touchdown drives after opening the game with a three-and-out.
But I'm not ready to declare this team fixed. The third-quarter offensive collapse, the defensive breakdowns, and the roster-construction decisions are still worth discussing.
Let's get into it.
How many times have we watched the Rams get into a rhythm running the ball, only for McVay to put Stafford in the shotgun for three consecutive passing plays? This time, we saw a more balanced approach, and the results speak for themselves.
Kyren Williams rushed 16 times for 99 yards and a touchdown. Blake Corum carried the ball 17 times for 93 yards and a touchdown. Combined, they produced 192 yards on 33 carries, averaging 5.8 yards per attempt. The Rams finished with 199 rushing yards on 38 team carries, averaging 5.2 yards per attempt. That's a legitimate ground game.
The Rams also used 13 personnel on approximately 34% of their offensive plays through Week 7, compared with a league average around 9%. That's not just a gimmick anymore; it's a significant part of their offensive identity. And the Rams have been productive in that grouping, ranking near the top of the league in total EPA from 13 personnel.
This is what makes the offense dangerous. Multiple tight ends can force defenses to choose between staying in base personnel and risking mismatches in coverage or substituting smaller defenders and exposing themselves to the run. When the Rams execute properly, they can dictate the matchup instead of letting the defense dictate it.
Now, the Raiders aren't exactly the measuring stick for an elite defense, so let's not get carried away. But this was a good example of McVay leaning into what his personnel can do.
My biggest criticism of McVay has always been that he can beat himself. When the offense finds something that works, he sometimes seems determined to move away from it rather than keep forcing the defense to prove it can stop him.
Tendencies are why McVay has a 3-6 record (including playoffs) against his old Offensive coordinators.
The larger point still stands. Familiarity with McVay's system can help opposing coaches anticipate tendencies, and that makes his willingness to adapt even more important.
The lesson from this game is simple: when the run is working, keep running the damn ball.
Las Vegas finished with only 48 rushing yards on 17 attempts, averaging 2.8 yards per carry. That's a significant win for the front seven, particularly with the Rams dealing with injuries along the defensive line.
But I still have questions about the coverage structure.
My read of the All-22 is that the Raiders found some of their bigger passing gains against zone looks. If that holds up on a full review, it's worth asking whether the Rams are disguising their zones well enough and whether their defenders are passing off routes correctly.
There's an important distinction here: a completion against zone doesn't automatically mean the coverage was wrong. A defense can call the right coverage and still lose because of a missed assignment, a bad angle, or a quarterback making a good throw. To determine whether the scheme was responsible, i'd need to chart the individual plays and identify the actual coverage call and assignment.
Still, I like the idea of giving the corners more opportunities to play aggressively when the matchup allows it. If your corners are winning their one-on-one assignments, you shouldn't be afraid to let them do their jobs.
That doesn't mean playing man coverage 75% of the time is automatically the answer. Quarterbacks can exploit predictable man coverage with bunch formations, picks, motion, and rub routes. Zone has a place, especially against offenses that use motion to create mismatches.
The goal should be to disguise the coverage and make the quarterback work for his answers — not to commit to a fixed man-zone percentage regardless of the opponent.
Shula showed some positive signs against the Raiders. But I want to see whether he can carry those adjustments into tougher matchups before I'm ready to say the defense has turned a corner.
Williams and Corum both have excellent vision and body control, but they bring different styles to the offense. They can attack the same defensive front in different ways, keep each other fresh, and prevent the offense from becoming dependent on one back.
Against Las Vegas:
Williams contributed in the passing game, too, catching two passes for 22 yards. He has value beyond simply carrying the football, and his pass protection is an important part of keeping Stafford upright.
Now, we can't ignore the fumble. Williams put the ball on the ground late in the third quarter, and Las Vegas recovered it at the Rams' 30-yard line. That was a potentially costly mistake, particularly with the offense coming off a scoreless quarter.
But the fumble didn't define his afternoon. Williams continued to run effectively, and Corum gave the Rams another productive option. The Raiders ultimately failed to turn that turnover into points, and Los Angeles recovered enough to put the game away.
One strong game doesn't mean the Rams should stop evaluating ball security. Williams needs to protect the football, especially when he's carrying a heavy workload.
But if these two can stay healthy and keep producing into December, they're going to be a major part of any playoff push. The Rams don't need to reinvent the offense every week. Sometimes they just need to give their best players the ball and let them work.
According to the postgame PFF grades reported by PFF and Turf Show Times, Watson earned a 90.5 overall grade and a 91.2 coverage grade. He allowed just two catches on eight targets for 17 yards and broke up four passes.
That's an outstanding performance.
I also like what Watson brings technically. He doesn't appear to overcomplicate his assignment. When he has the speed to stay with a receiver, he can play with controlled aggression, maintain leverage, and keep his eyes in a position to make a play on the ball. That's particularly useful against receivers who rely on speed to create separation.
The encouraging part is that Watson wasn't the only defensive back contributing.
Josh Wallace allowed four catches on eight targets, but those receptions totaled only 22 yards. He continues to give the Rams useful snaps while other corners have dealt with injuries.
Emmanuel Forbes remains a player I struggle to evaluate consistently. He can look competent when he has room to play in space, but I worry about him against bigger receivers and tight ends. I'd like to see the Rams use him in roles that play to his strengths rather than repeatedly exposing him to unfavorable matchups.
Quentin Lake deserves credit for the improvement I've seen recently. He can be useful against bigger targets, although I still have questions about his ability to handle smaller, quicker players in space.
And Kam Curl and Kam Kinchens have generally given the Rams a steady presence at safety. Kinchens finished with five tackles against Las Vegas, while Curl recorded four tackles and a tackle for loss.
The secondary is starting to look like a strength rather than a liability. The next step is maintaining that level of play against better passing offenses.
When Trent McDuffie is healthy enough to return, Shula will have more options. I'd like to see the Rams continue using aggressive man coverage when the matchups support it, while retaining enough disguise and zone variation to keep quarterbacks guessing.
The talent is there. The question is whether the coaching staff can put everyone in the right positions.
With Nate Landman out, the Rams gave Shaun Dolac and Omar Speights opportunities, and both responded well. I'm not ready to declare a permanent starter based on one game, but I think Shula should seriously consider how these three linebackers can complement one another.
Let's look at the Raiders game.
Omar Speights recorded five tackles, including two tackles for loss. He earned a PFF grade in the low-to-mid 80s, depending on the postgame update. He was active around the football and showed the kind of instincts I want from an off-ball linebacker. He did miss two tackles, however, so the performance wasn't flawless.
Shaun Dolac played only 14 defensive snaps, but he recorded three tackles, missed none, and earned an 84.3 PFF grade. He also graded well in coverage, allowing one reception for four yards in the game. That's encouraging, but 14 snaps is a small sample. It tells us he made the most of his opportunities, not that he has already proven he should be an every-down starter.
Landman still has value. He's a physical player who can contribute against the run, but I worry about his range and his ability to diagnose plays quickly in space. There have been moments when he looks flat-footed or takes a poor angle, particularly when the offense gets him moving laterally.
That doesn't mean he should be benched outright. It means the Rams should stop treating the linebacker position as a one-size-fits-all job.
Could Landman be used more in obvious running situations? Could Speights handle more of the responsibilities that require diagnosing plays and covering ground? Could Dolac earn a larger role as he gains experience?
I think it's worth exploring.
And if Dolac continues to show that he can get lined up correctly, diagnose the play, and finish tackles, the Rams should reward that performance with more opportunities.
I'm not ready to call it a linebacker controversy. But I do think the Rams may have more useful options than they initially realized.
The organization invested premium draft capital in a quarterback of the future and a tight end, while also trading a first-round pick for Trent McDuffie. Those moves may make sense individually. But the cumulative effect is that the Rams have very little margin for error when injuries hit the receiver room.
We've seen opposing defenses crowd the middle of the field and play compact shells because they aren't afraid of getting beaten consistently over the top. That was a concern against Arizona, and it's something the Rams need to address.
Tutu Atwell remains an interesting case. I don't understand why he isn't consistently active when his speed can change how a defense aligns. A receiver doesn't need to catch a deep ball to have value. If a safety has to respect his speed, that can open up underneath and intermediate routes for everyone else.
We saw the value of stretching the field in previous games, including opportunities for the tight ends. Atwell can help create those opportunities even when he's not the primary target.
But let's also be honest about the other receivers. There may be a reason McVay and Stafford have been reluctant to give Konata Mumpfield, Jordan Whittington, or other depth options larger roles. Practice performance, route precision, blocking, and understanding coverages all matter. We don't see all of that from the broadcast.
A prime example is Mumpfield failing to adjust his route on a third-down go ball is the kind of mistake that can make a quarterback hesitate to trust a young receiver. If the quarterback throws based on leverage and the receiver doesn't recognize what the defense is doing, a potential explosive play becomes an incompletion.
That's an execution issue, not necessarily a talent issue. But at this level, execution is part of talent.
The Rams need more dependable options behind Puka Nacua and Davante Adams. Adams' availability is especially important, but we shouldn't assume a specific injury outcome without a confirmed update.
If the Rams decide to pursue another receiver, the question should be whether that player can make an immediate contribution — not simply whether he has a recognizable name.
The offense doesn't necessarily need another star. It needs receivers who can win their assignments, understand the quarterback, and keep defenses from sitting on the short and intermediate routes.
The Raiders managed only 48 rushing yards on 17 carries. Their passing game produced 302 net passing yards, so the Rams did a much better job against the run than they did consistently containing the passing attack. The front deserves credit for limiting Ashton Jeanty to 15 yards on eight carries.
Ty Hamilton was one of the bright spots. Filling in at nose tackle, he recorded two tackles and one pressure, and earned a PFF grade in the upper 70s. He looked stout at the point of attack and showed the ability to get quick penetration. It's a small sample, and the Raiders' offensive line isn't an elite unit, but Hamilton gave the Rams some encouraging snaps.
Tyler Davis finished with four tackles, including two solo stops. That's useful production.
Braden Fiske recorded a sack and a tackle for loss. Byron Young also had a sack, giving the Rams two sacks on the afternoon. That's solid, but the defense recorded only two sacks despite generating pressure on a number of plays. Still need to work on finishing tackles in the backfield.
My concern remains the depth. Larrell Murchison hasn't shown enough to make me comfortable relying on him for an extended rotation, and the Rams need to evaluate whether they have better options available.
Tim Keenan III is an intriguing candidate. He's a big-bodied defensive tackle who could potentially help replace some of the interior presence the team needs. But being a rookie doesn't automatically make him a better option than a veteran. The coaching staff has to see enough in practice to justify the snaps.
Still, with injuries affecting the defensive line, I'd like to see the Rams give their young interior players meaningful opportunities. They need to know what they have before the tougher part of the schedule arrives.
The Raiders game was a good step. It wasn't proof that the defensive line is fixed.
But that doesn't make it a long-term solution.
The Rams have had too many special-teams issues to treat them as isolated mistakes. Kick coverage, return production, personnel decisions, and the kicking situation have all been concerns. If the team is deliberately choosing safer kickoffs, that may reduce the risk of a disastrous return and momentum, but it also concedes field position.
And this is where I put more responsibility on McVay than on special-teams coordinator Bubba Ventrone alone.
The head coach has to make sure the roster has the right personnel and that the special-teams unit gets the attention it deserves. Coaching matters, but so does having players who can cover, tackle in space, and make good decisions.
Sometimes the problem isn't the X's and O's. It's the Jimmy and Joes.
If the Rams lack dependable gunners and coverage players, no scheme is going to magically fix that. But if the coaching staff isn't developing those players or giving them enough competition, that's an organizational problem.
The Rams need to figure out whether their special-teams failures are primarily personnel-related, coaching-related, or a combination of both. Blaming one person without understanding the root cause won't fix anything.
A team that wants to contend cannot keep treating special teams as an afterthought.
Through seven games, Los Angeles has averaged roughly 400 yards of offense per game, putting it among the league's most productive offenses. Its success rate has also been strong. The problem has been turning that production into consistent wins, with turnovers and self-inflicted mistakes contributing to the team's 3–4 record.
Against the Raiders, the Rams produced 386 total yards and 28 first downs. They went 5-for-10 on third down, averaged 5.7 yards per play, and scored four touchdowns before halftime. Those are signs of an offense that can be difficult to stop when it executes.
But there were still mistakes.
Williams fumbled. Stafford threw an interception after a pass intended for Colby Parkinson was tipped in the air, Parkinson has to make that catch. The Rams also had penalties that extended drives or put the offense behind schedule. They were fortunate that the fumble didn't cost them points and that the Raiders failed to capitalize on other opportunities.
You can't expect a team to play a perfect game every week. Turnovers happen, penalties happen, and sometimes the opponent makes a great play.
The issue is how often the Rams compound those mistakes. A turnover is bad enough. A turnover followed by a defensive breakdown is worse. A penalty that turns third-and-manageable into third-and-long can undo a productive drive.
The good news is that many of these problems are fixable. The running game is working. The secondary has shown improvement. Young defenders are making plays, and the offense has enough talent to put up points.
If the Rams can reduce the self-inflicted mistakes, they can beat good teams. But they have to prove they can do it consistently.
The injuries at defensive tackle and receiver have complicated the job for the coaching staff. Losing key players forces you to adjust your personnel and scheme, and no team has unlimited depth.
But this is where I think McVay needs to be better.
We've seen him make excellent adjustments in the past. Last season's Jacksonville game is a good example of how using 13 personnel could create favorable matchups and help the offense function even when the usual receiving options weren't all available. That is the kind of flexibility I want to see more consistently.
The Rams have now made 13 personnel a major part of their offense, using it on roughly one-third of their plays. The results suggest it can be more than a short-term adjustment. It can be a foundation for how the offense creates mismatches.
The problem is that defenses adjust, too. The Rams can't assume the same three calls will keep working just because they were successful in the first half.
Take the opening drive of the third quarter against Las Vegas. The Rams went three-and-out after a one-yard loss on a Corum run, a one-yard loss on a Higbee reception, and an incomplete deep ball to Nacua on third-and-12. The Raiders had clearly made life difficult for the offense after halftime.
That doesn't mean McVay should abandon the run after one unsuccessful series. Far from it. It means the offense needs answers when the defense starts attacking the same tendencies. Different formations, motion, play-action, and varied route concepts can help keep the defense from getting comfortable.
I'm glad the Rams won. I'm glad the running game looked good, and I'm encouraged by what we're seeing from Watson, Speights, Dolac, and Hamilton.
But I'm not ready to declare the team a legitimate contender based on one win over the Raiders. Las Vegas allowed the Rams to build a huge lead, and the Rams still had a scoreless third quarter, a lost fumble, and a passing-game interception.
The next step is proving they can stack wins and maintain their identity against better opponents.
McVay is one of the league's best coaches, but being a great coach doesn't mean every decision is right. His ability to adapt is one of his greatest strengths. He needs to show that adaptability week in and week out.
But I'm not ready to declare this team fixed. The third-quarter offensive collapse, the defensive breakdowns, and the roster-construction decisions are still worth discussing.
Let's get into it.
1. McVay makes some adjustments — and actually sticks with them!
I'll tip my hat to McVay here. He came into this game with the right mindset: pound the rock, control the game, and make the defense respect the running attack. More importantly, he actually stuck with it.How many times have we watched the Rams get into a rhythm running the ball, only for McVay to put Stafford in the shotgun for three consecutive passing plays? This time, we saw a more balanced approach, and the results speak for themselves.
Kyren Williams rushed 16 times for 99 yards and a touchdown. Blake Corum carried the ball 17 times for 93 yards and a touchdown. Combined, they produced 192 yards on 33 carries, averaging 5.8 yards per attempt. The Rams finished with 199 rushing yards on 38 team carries, averaging 5.2 yards per attempt. That's a legitimate ground game.
The Rams also used 13 personnel on approximately 34% of their offensive plays through Week 7, compared with a league average around 9%. That's not just a gimmick anymore; it's a significant part of their offensive identity. And the Rams have been productive in that grouping, ranking near the top of the league in total EPA from 13 personnel.
This is what makes the offense dangerous. Multiple tight ends can force defenses to choose between staying in base personnel and risking mismatches in coverage or substituting smaller defenders and exposing themselves to the run. When the Rams execute properly, they can dictate the matchup instead of letting the defense dictate it.
Now, the Raiders aren't exactly the measuring stick for an elite defense, so let's not get carried away. But this was a good example of McVay leaning into what his personnel can do.
My biggest criticism of McVay has always been that he can beat himself. When the offense finds something that works, he sometimes seems determined to move away from it rather than keep forcing the defense to prove it can stop him.
Tendencies are why McVay has a 3-6 record (including playoffs) against his old Offensive coordinators.
| Matt LaFleur | 0–5 |
| Kevin O’Connell | 2–0 |
| Liam Coen | 1–0 |
| Mike LaFleur | 0–1 |
| Combined | 3–6 |
The larger point still stands. Familiarity with McVay's system can help opposing coaches anticipate tendencies, and that makes his willingness to adapt even more important.
The lesson from this game is simple: when the run is working, keep running the damn ball.
2. Shula makes some adjustments — but I still have concerns
I'll give Chris Shula credit for mixing things up against Las Vegas. The coverage approach looked more varied, and the Rams did a good job limiting the Raiders' running game.Las Vegas finished with only 48 rushing yards on 17 attempts, averaging 2.8 yards per carry. That's a significant win for the front seven, particularly with the Rams dealing with injuries along the defensive line.
But I still have questions about the coverage structure.
My read of the All-22 is that the Raiders found some of their bigger passing gains against zone looks. If that holds up on a full review, it's worth asking whether the Rams are disguising their zones well enough and whether their defenders are passing off routes correctly.
There's an important distinction here: a completion against zone doesn't automatically mean the coverage was wrong. A defense can call the right coverage and still lose because of a missed assignment, a bad angle, or a quarterback making a good throw. To determine whether the scheme was responsible, i'd need to chart the individual plays and identify the actual coverage call and assignment.
Still, I like the idea of giving the corners more opportunities to play aggressively when the matchup allows it. If your corners are winning their one-on-one assignments, you shouldn't be afraid to let them do their jobs.
That doesn't mean playing man coverage 75% of the time is automatically the answer. Quarterbacks can exploit predictable man coverage with bunch formations, picks, motion, and rub routes. Zone has a place, especially against offenses that use motion to create mismatches.
The goal should be to disguise the coverage and make the quarterback work for his answers — not to commit to a fixed man-zone percentage regardless of the opponent.
Shula showed some positive signs against the Raiders. But I want to see whether he can carry those adjustments into tougher matchups before I'm ready to say the defense has turned a corner.
3. Williams and Corum: This is the running-back combination we need
We're lucky to have two quality running backs who complement each other so well.Williams and Corum both have excellent vision and body control, but they bring different styles to the offense. They can attack the same defensive front in different ways, keep each other fresh, and prevent the offense from becoming dependent on one back.
Against Las Vegas:
- Kyren Williams: 16 carries, 99 yards, one touchdown; 6.2 yards per carry.
- Blake Corum: 17 carries, 93 yards, one touchdown; 5.5 yards per carry.
- Combined: 33 carries, 192 yards, two touchdowns; 5.8 yards per carry.
Williams contributed in the passing game, too, catching two passes for 22 yards. He has value beyond simply carrying the football, and his pass protection is an important part of keeping Stafford upright.
Now, we can't ignore the fumble. Williams put the ball on the ground late in the third quarter, and Las Vegas recovered it at the Rams' 30-yard line. That was a potentially costly mistake, particularly with the offense coming off a scoreless quarter.
But the fumble didn't define his afternoon. Williams continued to run effectively, and Corum gave the Rams another productive option. The Raiders ultimately failed to turn that turnover into points, and Los Angeles recovered enough to put the game away.
One strong game doesn't mean the Rams should stop evaluating ball security. Williams needs to protect the football, especially when he's carrying a heavy workload.
But if these two can stay healthy and keep producing into December, they're going to be a major part of any playoff push. The Rams don't need to reinvent the offense every week. Sometimes they just need to give their best players the ball and let them work.
4. Jaylen Watson and the secondary: Snead may have found another one in Wallace
My goodness, Jaylen Watson had a hell of a game.According to the postgame PFF grades reported by PFF and Turf Show Times, Watson earned a 90.5 overall grade and a 91.2 coverage grade. He allowed just two catches on eight targets for 17 yards and broke up four passes.
That's an outstanding performance.
I also like what Watson brings technically. He doesn't appear to overcomplicate his assignment. When he has the speed to stay with a receiver, he can play with controlled aggression, maintain leverage, and keep his eyes in a position to make a play on the ball. That's particularly useful against receivers who rely on speed to create separation.
The encouraging part is that Watson wasn't the only defensive back contributing.
Josh Wallace allowed four catches on eight targets, but those receptions totaled only 22 yards. He continues to give the Rams useful snaps while other corners have dealt with injuries.
Emmanuel Forbes remains a player I struggle to evaluate consistently. He can look competent when he has room to play in space, but I worry about him against bigger receivers and tight ends. I'd like to see the Rams use him in roles that play to his strengths rather than repeatedly exposing him to unfavorable matchups.
Quentin Lake deserves credit for the improvement I've seen recently. He can be useful against bigger targets, although I still have questions about his ability to handle smaller, quicker players in space.
And Kam Curl and Kam Kinchens have generally given the Rams a steady presence at safety. Kinchens finished with five tackles against Las Vegas, while Curl recorded four tackles and a tackle for loss.
The secondary is starting to look like a strength rather than a liability. The next step is maintaining that level of play against better passing offenses.
When Trent McDuffie is healthy enough to return, Shula will have more options. I'd like to see the Rams continue using aggressive man coverage when the matchups support it, while retaining enough disguise and zone variation to keep quarterbacks guessing.
The talent is there. The question is whether the coaching staff can put everyone in the right positions.
5. Linebacker: Is Speights a better fit than Nate Landman?
This is one of the more interesting developments on the defense.With Nate Landman out, the Rams gave Shaun Dolac and Omar Speights opportunities, and both responded well. I'm not ready to declare a permanent starter based on one game, but I think Shula should seriously consider how these three linebackers can complement one another.
Let's look at the Raiders game.
Omar Speights recorded five tackles, including two tackles for loss. He earned a PFF grade in the low-to-mid 80s, depending on the postgame update. He was active around the football and showed the kind of instincts I want from an off-ball linebacker. He did miss two tackles, however, so the performance wasn't flawless.
Shaun Dolac played only 14 defensive snaps, but he recorded three tackles, missed none, and earned an 84.3 PFF grade. He also graded well in coverage, allowing one reception for four yards in the game. That's encouraging, but 14 snaps is a small sample. It tells us he made the most of his opportunities, not that he has already proven he should be an every-down starter.
Landman still has value. He's a physical player who can contribute against the run, but I worry about his range and his ability to diagnose plays quickly in space. There have been moments when he looks flat-footed or takes a poor angle, particularly when the offense gets him moving laterally.
That doesn't mean he should be benched outright. It means the Rams should stop treating the linebacker position as a one-size-fits-all job.
Could Landman be used more in obvious running situations? Could Speights handle more of the responsibilities that require diagnosing plays and covering ground? Could Dolac earn a larger role as he gains experience?
I think it's worth exploring.
And if Dolac continues to show that he can get lined up correctly, diagnose the play, and finish tackles, the Rams should reward that performance with more opportunities.
I'm not ready to call it a linebacker controversy. But I do think the Rams may have more useful options than they initially realized.
6. The wide receivers: There's a reason the Rams don't trust the depth chart
I've been critical of the Rams' approach to the third and fourth receiver spots, and I still have concerns.The organization invested premium draft capital in a quarterback of the future and a tight end, while also trading a first-round pick for Trent McDuffie. Those moves may make sense individually. But the cumulative effect is that the Rams have very little margin for error when injuries hit the receiver room.
We've seen opposing defenses crowd the middle of the field and play compact shells because they aren't afraid of getting beaten consistently over the top. That was a concern against Arizona, and it's something the Rams need to address.
Tutu Atwell remains an interesting case. I don't understand why he isn't consistently active when his speed can change how a defense aligns. A receiver doesn't need to catch a deep ball to have value. If a safety has to respect his speed, that can open up underneath and intermediate routes for everyone else.
We saw the value of stretching the field in previous games, including opportunities for the tight ends. Atwell can help create those opportunities even when he's not the primary target.
But let's also be honest about the other receivers. There may be a reason McVay and Stafford have been reluctant to give Konata Mumpfield, Jordan Whittington, or other depth options larger roles. Practice performance, route precision, blocking, and understanding coverages all matter. We don't see all of that from the broadcast.
A prime example is Mumpfield failing to adjust his route on a third-down go ball is the kind of mistake that can make a quarterback hesitate to trust a young receiver. If the quarterback throws based on leverage and the receiver doesn't recognize what the defense is doing, a potential explosive play becomes an incompletion.
That's an execution issue, not necessarily a talent issue. But at this level, execution is part of talent.
The Rams need more dependable options behind Puka Nacua and Davante Adams. Adams' availability is especially important, but we shouldn't assume a specific injury outcome without a confirmed update.
If the Rams decide to pursue another receiver, the question should be whether that player can make an immediate contribution — not simply whether he has a recognizable name.
The offense doesn't necessarily need another star. It needs receivers who can win their assignments, understand the quarterback, and keep defenses from sitting on the short and intermediate routes.
7. The defensive line: I'm encouraged, but still not convinced
The defensive line played well against Las Vegas, and I want to give credit where it's due. But I'm not ready to assume the issues are solved.The Raiders managed only 48 rushing yards on 17 carries. Their passing game produced 302 net passing yards, so the Rams did a much better job against the run than they did consistently containing the passing attack. The front deserves credit for limiting Ashton Jeanty to 15 yards on eight carries.
Ty Hamilton was one of the bright spots. Filling in at nose tackle, he recorded two tackles and one pressure, and earned a PFF grade in the upper 70s. He looked stout at the point of attack and showed the ability to get quick penetration. It's a small sample, and the Raiders' offensive line isn't an elite unit, but Hamilton gave the Rams some encouraging snaps.
Tyler Davis finished with four tackles, including two solo stops. That's useful production.
Braden Fiske recorded a sack and a tackle for loss. Byron Young also had a sack, giving the Rams two sacks on the afternoon. That's solid, but the defense recorded only two sacks despite generating pressure on a number of plays. Still need to work on finishing tackles in the backfield.
My concern remains the depth. Larrell Murchison hasn't shown enough to make me comfortable relying on him for an extended rotation, and the Rams need to evaluate whether they have better options available.
Tim Keenan III is an intriguing candidate. He's a big-bodied defensive tackle who could potentially help replace some of the interior presence the team needs. But being a rookie doesn't automatically make him a better option than a veteran. The coaching staff has to see enough in practice to justify the snaps.
Still, with injuries affecting the defensive line, I'd like to see the Rams give their young interior players meaningful opportunities. They need to know what they have before the tougher part of the schedule arrives.
The Raiders game was a good step. It wasn't proof that the defensive line is fixed.
8. Special teams: At this point, I hate talking about it
I understand why McVay might prefer to kick the ball deep and eliminate the risk of a long return. If your coverage unit is struggling, a touchback can be a sensible way to remove one variable from the game.But that doesn't make it a long-term solution.
The Rams have had too many special-teams issues to treat them as isolated mistakes. Kick coverage, return production, personnel decisions, and the kicking situation have all been concerns. If the team is deliberately choosing safer kickoffs, that may reduce the risk of a disastrous return and momentum, but it also concedes field position.
And this is where I put more responsibility on McVay than on special-teams coordinator Bubba Ventrone alone.
The head coach has to make sure the roster has the right personnel and that the special-teams unit gets the attention it deserves. Coaching matters, but so does having players who can cover, tackle in space, and make good decisions.
Sometimes the problem isn't the X's and O's. It's the Jimmy and Joes.
If the Rams lack dependable gunners and coverage players, no scheme is going to magically fix that. But if the coaching staff isn't developing those players or giving them enough competition, that's an organizational problem.
The Rams need to figure out whether their special-teams failures are primarily personnel-related, coaching-related, or a combination of both. Blaming one person without understanding the root cause won't fix anything.
A team that wants to contend cannot keep treating special teams as an afterthought.
9. We're still a good team — but we're flawed
The Rams' dominating win over Las Vegas was encouraging, and the underlying numbers suggest this team has the ability to compete.Through seven games, Los Angeles has averaged roughly 400 yards of offense per game, putting it among the league's most productive offenses. Its success rate has also been strong. The problem has been turning that production into consistent wins, with turnovers and self-inflicted mistakes contributing to the team's 3–4 record.
Against the Raiders, the Rams produced 386 total yards and 28 first downs. They went 5-for-10 on third down, averaged 5.7 yards per play, and scored four touchdowns before halftime. Those are signs of an offense that can be difficult to stop when it executes.
But there were still mistakes.
Williams fumbled. Stafford threw an interception after a pass intended for Colby Parkinson was tipped in the air, Parkinson has to make that catch. The Rams also had penalties that extended drives or put the offense behind schedule. They were fortunate that the fumble didn't cost them points and that the Raiders failed to capitalize on other opportunities.
You can't expect a team to play a perfect game every week. Turnovers happen, penalties happen, and sometimes the opponent makes a great play.
The issue is how often the Rams compound those mistakes. A turnover is bad enough. A turnover followed by a defensive breakdown is worse. A penalty that turns third-and-manageable into third-and-long can undo a productive drive.
The good news is that many of these problems are fixable. The running game is working. The secondary has shown improvement. Young defenders are making plays, and the offense has enough talent to put up points.
If the Rams can reduce the self-inflicted mistakes, they can beat good teams. But they have to prove they can do it consistently.
10. Keeping things in perspective
We're seven games into the season, and we have a better idea of what the Rams are: a talented team with legitimate strengths, but also enough flaws to make every game more stressful than it needs to be.The injuries at defensive tackle and receiver have complicated the job for the coaching staff. Losing key players forces you to adjust your personnel and scheme, and no team has unlimited depth.
But this is where I think McVay needs to be better.
We've seen him make excellent adjustments in the past. Last season's Jacksonville game is a good example of how using 13 personnel could create favorable matchups and help the offense function even when the usual receiving options weren't all available. That is the kind of flexibility I want to see more consistently.
The Rams have now made 13 personnel a major part of their offense, using it on roughly one-third of their plays. The results suggest it can be more than a short-term adjustment. It can be a foundation for how the offense creates mismatches.
The problem is that defenses adjust, too. The Rams can't assume the same three calls will keep working just because they were successful in the first half.
Take the opening drive of the third quarter against Las Vegas. The Rams went three-and-out after a one-yard loss on a Corum run, a one-yard loss on a Higbee reception, and an incomplete deep ball to Nacua on third-and-12. The Raiders had clearly made life difficult for the offense after halftime.
That doesn't mean McVay should abandon the run after one unsuccessful series. Far from it. It means the offense needs answers when the defense starts attacking the same tendencies. Different formations, motion, play-action, and varied route concepts can help keep the defense from getting comfortable.
I'm glad the Rams won. I'm glad the running game looked good, and I'm encouraged by what we're seeing from Watson, Speights, Dolac, and Hamilton.
But I'm not ready to declare the team a legitimate contender based on one win over the Raiders. Las Vegas allowed the Rams to build a huge lead, and the Rams still had a scoreless third quarter, a lost fumble, and a passing-game interception.
The next step is proving they can stack wins and maintain their identity against better opponents.
McVay is one of the league's best coaches, but being a great coach doesn't mean every decision is right. His ability to adapt is one of his greatest strengths. He needs to show that adaptability week in and week out.
