Las Vegas, NV — The Los Angeles Rams delivered the type of performance their supporters expected when the season began, combining an explosive first half, a productive ground game and a milestone performance from quarterback Matthew Stafford to defeat the Las Vegas Raiders 35-21 on Sunday.
Stafford threw for 195 yards and three touchdowns, becoming the Rams’ all-time leader in touchdown passes. His performance helped Los Angeles build a commanding 28-6 halftime advantage and snap a two-game losing streak.
The victory improved the Rams to 3-4, keeping them in the conversation for a postseason berth despite a disappointing start and a series of injuries. Los Angeles still has work to do, but Sunday’s result offered encouraging evidence of what the team can accomplish when its offense operates efficiently.
Stafford now has 155 touchdown passes with the Rams, moving past former franchise quarterback Roman Gabriel. He also became the first player in NFL history to hold the career touchdown-pass record for two different franchises, having previously established Detroit’s record with 282 scoring passes.
“It’s nice feeling a little bit more comfortable in the fourth quarter, and that’s just a testament to how the guys played,” Stafford said. “Great team effort. I thought our coaches did a great job of giving us a plan that we felt great about coming in here to execute.”
The reigning NFL MVP praised his teammates and coaching staff for their preparation, emphasizing that the Rams must maintain the same standard moving forward.
Los Angeles head coach Sean McVay also welcomed the response from his team after a frustrating 18-16 loss to Arizona the previous week.
“This league is so humbling,” McVay said. “Humility is only a day away, but I was proud of the way the group prepared and, most importantly, celebrating each other’s success, having the right energy when you’re on the road and it’s just you versus the opponent and their fans.”
Stafford, Nacua lead the Rams’ passing attack
Stafford distributed the ball effectively, finding multiple targets as the Rams established control early. Wide receiver Puka Nacua played a key role despite entering the game listed as questionable with a calf injury.
The Las Vegas native finished with eight receptions for 68 yards and a touchdown. His availability remained uncertain until game day, making his contribution particularly important to the Rams’ offensive plans.
Nacua credited the team’s medical staff and coaching staff for helping him prepare to play.
“I’m super grateful for everybody in the training room and also the belief in coach (Sean McVay) and everybody for me to be able to go out there and still perform,” Nacua said.
He also highlighted the communication between himself and Stafford, particularly because he had missed some practice repetitions while dealing with the injury.
Tight end Davis Allen added two touchdown receptions, recording his first scoring catches of the season. The combination of Nacua’s reliability and Allen’s red-zone production gave Stafford several ways to attack the Raiders’ defense.
Los Angeles’ offense was particularly effective in the opening half, scoring four touchdowns and creating a deficit that proved difficult for Las Vegas to overcome.
Rams’ ground game adds another dimension
The passing attack received plenty of attention, but Los Angeles also dominated on the ground.
Running backs Kyren Williams and Blake Corum combined for 192 rushing yards and two touchdowns, helping the Rams control the pace and keep the Raiders’ defense under pressure.
Their production gave Los Angeles balance on offense and reduced the need for Stafford to carry the entire workload. The Rams repeatedly found opportunities to move the ball, while their early scoring advantage forced Las Vegas to play from behind.
McVay’s team maintained its 22-point halftime cushion through a scoreless third quarter, leaving the Raiders with limited time to mount a comeback.
The Rams also improved to 4-0 against Las Vegas under McVay, continuing their success against their cross-conference opponent.
Raiders rally but cannot complete comeback
Las Vegas attempted to make the contest competitive in the fourth quarter, scoring two touchdowns to cut the deficit to 28-18. However, the Raiders failed to convert either two-point attempt, leaving them unable to close the gap further.
The comeback effort also suffered from missed opportunities on fourth down. Las Vegas failed to convert two fourth-down attempts in Rams territory, ending possessions that could have helped change the game’s momentum.
Quarterback Kirk Cousins threw for 295 yards and two touchdowns, connecting with wide receiver Tre Tucker and running back Ashton Jeanty for scores. Tucker delivered a productive outing with five catches for 103 yards, while Jeanty caught eight passes for 61 yards.
Cousins entered the game leading the NFL with 16 touchdown passes, but the Raiders struggled to establish a consistent rushing attack. Jeanty and Mike Washington Jr. combined for just 42 rushing yards on 14 carries.
The loss dropped Las Vegas to 3-4 and extended its losing streak to four games. The Raiders also surrendered at least 30 points for the fourth consecutive week, placing further pressure on the team’s defense to improve.
Head coach Klint Kubiak acknowledged that the solution must come from within the organization.
“Well, no one’s coming to help us,” Kubiak said. “We’ve got to figure it out ourselves as a coaching staff, with the players, and we have to complement each other as well because we’ve got to start the game a lot faster offensively.”
The Raiders’ slow start proved costly. Their 22-point halftime deficit was their largest at home after two quarters since trailing Cincinnati 24-0 in 2015.
A much-needed response for Los Angeles
The Rams entered Sunday’s matchup searching for a reset after consecutive defeats. Instead of allowing the losing streak to continue, they delivered an authoritative first-half performance and held off Las Vegas when the Raiders attempted to rally.
Stafford’s record-setting afternoon, Nacua’s return to the lineup and the combined production of Williams and Corum gave Los Angeles several reasons for optimism.
Still, the Rams understand that one victory does not erase the challenges of a 3-4 start. Their ability to remain healthy and sustain this level of execution will be important as they pursue a playoff spot.
For the Raiders, the priority is finding a way to start games more effectively, improve their defensive consistency and turn promising offensive possessions into points.
Injury update
Rams: Cornerback Trent McDuffie missed his second consecutive game with a groin injury. Although he had been listed as questionable, he was inactive before kickoff.
What’s next
Los Angeles returns home next Sunday to face its city rival, the Los Angeles Chargers, in a matchup that will test whether the Rams can build on their performance in Las Vegas.
The Raiders will look to end their four-game slide when they travel to face the New York Jets next Sunday.
