It may be time to stop labeling these Raiders losses as collapses. Because that would suggest they had things together and lost it. But Sunday they were still in the third quarter when they had already turned the ball over three times with the Rams scoring touchdowns off of each one.
With five minutes left in the second quarter, the Raiders held a 3-0 lead. Aidan O’Connell had left with an injured thumb and it was Gardner Minshew who led them to their first score.
It was Minshew’s third drive when he threw for Brock Bowers over the middle and it was picked off at the Vegas 47. Four plays later, the Rams were in the end zone to go up 7-3.
Next drive last five plays. Minshew was sacked as he was looking to throw, fumbled the ball and it was returned by Kam Curl for a touchdown to make it a 14-3 game.
So, in a matter of four minutes time, the game went from 3-0 Raiders to 14-3 Rams.
The Raiders managed to add a field goal to make it a 14-6 game at the half. But the third quarter, we were back to the norm. From a three-and-out, to a three-play possession in which Minshew threw behind DJ Turner and was intercepted.
They set up at the Vegas 31 after the interception and drove for another touchdown. The point after was missed so the score was 20-6.
For just the second time in the game, the Raiders mounted a drive for a score, adding a field goal to make it a 20-9 game.
The Raiders got one back late in the third quarter when Robert Spillane got a hand on a ball and Nate Hobbs picked it off and returned it to the LA 14-yard line. They added a field goal to make it a 20-12 game. In other words, a one score game.
On the ensuing drive, Matt Stafford found Tyler Johnson for a 37-yard catch and run to put the Rams in scoring position, but the Raiders defense held up and kicker Josh Karty missed the 35-yard attempt. That plus his missed PAT is the only reason this game was still at one score.
Seemingly out of nowhere, the Raiders mounted a long drive. Routinely finding Brock Bowers for receptions and getting good yards up the gut from Alexander Mattison.
A Tre Tucker end around put them in first and goal at the four-yard-line. They would get no closer. A ditched pass, near interception, and no gain on a pass to Brock Bowers brought up fourth and goal. They were ready to go for it, but DJ Glaze was flagged for a false start and they opted for a field goal instead to make it a 20-15 game with 2:46 left and all of their timeouts.
A 14-yard run by Kyren Williams on the Rams next possession would take the Rams to the 44 and the clock to the two-minute warning.
From there the Rams would get nine yards on three plays, but stayed in bounds, causing the Raiders to take all three of their timeouts.
Off the punt, the Raiders got the ball back at their own 11-yard-line with 1:39 left. They would need to go 89 yards to win it.
They would get zero.
Two passes for Tre Tucker were knocked down and then Gardner Minshew overthrew DJ Turner and was intercepted for the fourth time.
That was the fourth turnover for the Raiders in the game. With the Hobbs interception, that brings their turnover differential to -13 which ties a franchise record. The worst kind.
#Raiders are now -12 in turnover margin. Their worst mark thru 7 games is -13 in 1961. (Also -12 in 2004) https://t.co/65hmLdPTBq
— Josh Dubow (@JoshDubowAP) October 20, 2024
They have also turned the ball over at least three times in three straight games and for the fourth time this season.
The Raiders fall to 2-5 on the season. The Rams improve to 2-4.
