Los Angeles Rams 3, Oakland Raiders 14: Pre-seasoned

Well. Not good.

The Los Angeles Rams were completely handled by the Oakland Raiders tonight, 3-14.

Before anyone puts too much into either the performance or the result, bear in mind that the 2018 Rams started their preseason by losing to the Baltimore Ravens, 7-33, and ended up making it to the Super Bowl.

So perhaps don’t read too much into tonight’s game!

The first half was a bit of a combination of poor work up front by the offensive line and the inability to rush the passer. The former, combined with some underwhelming action from QB3 Brandon Allen, saw the Rams unable to sustain drives. After the first possession of the game, the Rams’ next ten drives included 4, 3, 3, 4, 5, 1 (to end the half), 3, 3, 3 and 3 plays. On defense, things weren’t much better. While Raiders QB Mike Glennon was relatively awful (and his interception to S Steven Parker may be the worst throw we’ll see this year), it was a 50-yard scramble from Raiders QB Nathan Peterman on a 3rd and 4 that really showed how the lack of a pass rush left the Raiders’ offense to simply pick at the Rams’ D.

There were bright spots.

S Taylor Rapp looked a plus early. EDGE Landis Durham impressed later. And in short work, QB John Wolford impressed more than Allen.

But overall even given how bland things were structured by Head Coach Sean McVay, it wasn’t the Rams best work.

Thankfully, it might be the least important work session of the year.