Versus: Brock Bowers, emerging as Raiders' top offensive weapon, up against a fellow on-the-rise rookie

Oct 16, 2024 at 03:46 PM

Levi Edwards

Digital Team Reporter

The Las Vegas Raiders are moving full speed ahead toward their matchup with the Los Angeles Rams this Sunday.

This could be a moment of redemption for the Silver and Black in several ways. They're coming off a tough loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers, 32-12, with a 1-4 Rams team on the horizon. Nevertheless, you can't count Los Angeles out considering their Pro Bowl quarterback, competitive game outcomes this season and the Raiders' track record inside the Rams' home stadium.

Here are three key matchups to look out for in Week 7.

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Brock Bowers vs. Jared Verse

With the 13th pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, the Raiders selected Brock Bowers, who's emerged into a top weapon on his team.

The same can be said for outside linebacker Jared Verse, who was selected by the Los Angeles Rams six picks later.

The rookies have gotten off to fast starts in their NFL careers. Bowers leads not only the Raiders, but all tight ends in receiving yards (384), receptions (37) and targets (46). What's equally impressive are his 206 yards after catch – the only rookie to rank in the top 10 in that statistic.

"I don't think it's a surprise," Antonio Pierce said of Bowers' early success. "Everything you saw on film, it's now in the National Football League, and it's for the Raiders. ... I mean, the things that we're able to do with him, it makes tough matchups. You can see now teams are trying to change up ways that they're defending him."

"I think with Brock though, what I love first and foremost, if you just watch the running game, just watch him finish guys down the field and out of bounds," Pierce added. "There's a clip with him and T.J. Watt and the way he finished that. I mean, that's what makes him unique because we know how special he is in the passing game, but to then go out there and have that effort in the run game. That's legit."

As for Verse, he has big shoes to fill for a Rams defense that lost future Hall of Famer Aaron Donald this offseason. Nevertheless, Verse has provided more than enough production on his path to becoming his team's top defender. He leads the Rams in quarterback hits (four) and is tied for the team lead in tackles for loss (five). He was named NFL Defensive Rookie of the Month in September after producing the sixth-highest pressure rate in the NFL (18 percent) through his first four games, according to NFL Next Gen Stats.

While these two players won't necessarily have a head to head matchup against each other, each of their performances will equally factor into the success of their team. It's also not impossible to imagine Bowers coming in to block Verse on a run play or two.

Maxx Crosby vs. Matthew Stafford

This will be the first time since his rookie season that Maxx Crosby is across the line of scrimmage from Matthew Stafford, both in completely different situations compared to their last encounter.

Crosby was still getting his feet wet in the NFL in 2019, turning some eyes with a 10-sack rookie campaign. Six seasons later, Crosby is now deemed an elite pass rusher in the league and the face of the Raiders organization that drafted him. He's tied for first in the league in tackles for loss (nine) despite missing the Raiders' Week 4 victory. Last Sunday against the Pittsburgh Steelers, Crosby accounted for his most pressures in a game this season (eight), according to NFL Next Gen Stats.

Stafford's tenure is Los Angeles has been successful, with a Super Bowl ring and two playoff berths to show for it. While Stafford hasn't had his top two receivers, Cooper Kupp and Puka Nacua, due to injuries for most of the season, he's still been accurate with the football, notching a 67.4 completion percentage.

"He could throw the ball from anywhere, everywhere, every angle, accurate, sees it, no look passes," Pierce said of Stafford. "I mean, we go against Patrick Mahomes twice a year, and if you've got a good warm up for Patrick coming up in a couple weeks, it's good to go up against a Matthew Stafford."

This could be a great opportunity for the Raiders edge rusher to rattle the veteran quarterback, as Crosby is likely lining up against tackle Rob Havenstein who's allowed 13 pressures and 2.5 sacks on 141 pass blocks this season, according to NFL Next Gen Stats. It will also be a memorable game for the Michigan native who grew up admiring Stafford, who spent 12 seasons as a Detroit Lion.

The Las Vegas Raiders vs. SoFi Stadium

For whatever reason, the Raiders have had a peculiar case of bad juju at SoFi Stadium.

Their first game ever played in the Inglewood, California, stadium was in Week 9 of the 2020 season, coming out victorious over the Los Angeles Chargers. But since that matchup, the Silver and Black haven't won a game there.

The last time they played the Los Angeles Rams in SoFi Stadium, the Raiders dropped a 17-16 loss in Week 14 of the 2022 season. They've also already suffered a loss there in Week 1 against their divisional rival Los Angeles Chargers.

While at the Rams' home stadium, the Raiders will still be able to count on a lot of Raider Nation to come out and support. Los Angeles still rings true as a hub for the fanbase due to the team's time playing at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum from 1982-1994. With enough support from Raider Nation and a efficient gameplan against the Rams, they could be in a good spot to leave SoFi Stadium victorious and leave the five-game losing streak in the past.

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Intermountain Children's Health patient Jerry takes a look at an Allegiant Stadium model at Intermountain Health Performance Center.