Zachary Engberg
2 min read • December 08, 2022
Posted in
This NFC West vs AFC West matchup could see Baker Mayfield active for the first time with his new team. The Super Bowl champion Rams have had an injury-filled season, while the Raiders have underperformed expectations.
The Rams, 3-9, seem to have cashed in all their luck last season and have now lost Matthew Stafford, Cooper Kupp, Aaron Donald, and Allen Robinson II – and we feared for a moment Sean McVay –to likely season-ending injuries.
The Rams brought in Baker Mayfield earlier this week and he reportedly could start on Thursday; if not Mayfield, Bryce Perkins would likely make his second start in three weeks.
Regardless of who is behind center, they will pilot a passing offense with a league-low SIC score of 47.1 and that has gone over 200 yards only once in their six-game losing streak.
Cam Akers, Van Jefferson, Tutu Atwell, and Ben Skowronek have all leaped into bigger roles.
Along with the losses of Kupp, Robinson II, and Darrell Henderson Jr., the offensive line has had 12 different lineup combinations in 12 games and has allowed 42 sacks, the second-most in the NFL.
Raiders’ pass-rushers Chandler Jones and Maxx Crosby have combined for 35 tackles, six TFL, 7.5 sacks, and 16 QB hits over the last four games, and the defense has held opponents to under 100 yards rushing in each of the last three games.
On defense, the absence of Donald looms large, and he is joined by four other defensive starters, including three defensive backs, and the Rams carry a 79.9 pass defense SIC score.
The Raiders’ surprising postseason push has begun in earnest as the Josh Jacobs-led unit has won three games in a row without two major pass-catchers.
Darren Waller and Hunter Renfrow both remain on IR but Davante Adams has carried the load, bringing in 41 of 67 targets for 664 yards and seven scores in the last five games while going over 125 yards with at least one touchdown four times.
Mack Hollins has seen six-or-more targets four times in the last six games and will likely face off a majority of the time with a backup Rams’ cornerback.
The Raiders’ defense is missing starting linebacker Jayon Brown, cornerback Rock Ya-Sin, and tackle Andrew Billings, but it has allowed under 400 total yards and under 100 rushing yards in each of the last three games and has held the offense to 20-or-fewer points twice.
Written by Zachary Engberg
