Bucky Brooks breaks down the Raiders' performance in a 20-15 loss to the Los Angeles Rams at SoFi Stadium.
BIG IMPRESSION
The Raiders did not walk out of SoFi Stadium with a win due to four turnovers and miscues. From the "scoop-and-score" fumble to the three interceptions, the turnovers kept the Raiders from winning a game despite solid performances from the offensive and defensive units.
KEYS TO VICTORY
It is hard to win games with a minus-three margin in the turnover battle. The extra possessions, short field and scoring chances created by the giveaways are hard to overcome, particularly for a team that entered Week 7 hoping to find consistency on each side of the ball. The Raiders' red zone failures also contributed to the loss with poor execution and costly penalties preventing the offense from putting "sevens" on the board in crucial moments. With the team also flagged for ten penalties for 80 yards, the Raiders gave away a game due to a series of self-inflicted mistakes that altered the game's momentum.
MINSHEW MANIA
The veteran struggled against the Rams, making a series of bad decisions and poor plays that resulted in four turnovers. The costly giveaways undermined the Raiders' chances by prematurely ending drives, thwarting scoring chances and gift-wrapping the Rams seven points on a fumble that turned into a "scoop-and-score" for the home team. Though Minshew displayed mental toughness and grit leading the Raiders offense up and down the field after his miscues, the veteran's poor performance off the bench kept his team from winning in Week 7.
UNSUNG HERO
Alexander Mattison sparked the offense with 123 scrimmage yards (92 rushing yards and 31 receiving yards) on 26 total touches. The sixth-year pro displayed versatility and explosiveness, making him an intriguing option on the market as a free agent. With Mattison giving the Raiders the physicality and toughness Antonio Pierce covets from the running game while giving the quarterbacks another playmaker to target on passes, the team might've found their RB1 in the veteran.
OFFENSIVELY SPEAKING
Offensive coordinator Luke Getsy finally cracked the code on the Raiders' running game by featuring Alexander Mattison as the lead back. The veteran nearly posted his first 100-yard game with the Silver and Black while adding a dimension to the passing game with his soft hands and superb receiving skills. As the offensive line settled down and started controlling the line of scrimmage, the Raiders could play smash-mouth football against the Rams. Despite the turnover woes that keep the Raiders from walking out of SoFi Stadium with a win, the offense might have found an identity that could help them chalk up a few more wins this season.
DEFENSIVELY SPEAKING
Patrick Graham and the defense bounced back with an outstanding effort against the Rams. The unit held the opponent to fewer than 300 total yards by disrupting Matthew Stafford's rhythm as a passer and containing the Rams' potent rushing attack. The air-tight coverage from the defensive backs and the gap discipline displayed by the frontline should serve as building blocks for the defense in the future as Graham works to find the right combination of personnel and tactics to help the Raiders defense re-emerge as a top unit this season.
View the best photos from the Raiders' Week 7 matchup against the Los Angeles Rams at SoFi Stadium.