Struggling offenses try to get on track as Raiders face Rams

The Los Angeles Rams are expected to feel like visitors in their own home again and for their sake, it might not be a bad thing.

The Las Vegas Raiders are headed back to the region they once called home for 13 seasons when they face the Rams on Sunday at Inglewood, Calif.

Aside from a popularity contest, Sunday’s game matches a pair of teams off to disappointing starts with offenses in dire need of consistency, amid evolving situations at wide receiver. The Raiders and Rams are two of 11 NFL teams with an average of less than 19 points per game.

And the concerns are even more heightened on defense, where the Raiders (2-4) are tied for fifth worst in the NFL at 27.2 points allowed per game, while the Rams (1-4) are fourth worst at 27.8 per game.

The Raiders, who played in Los Angeles from 1982-94, are expected to have far more fans in the stands than the home team. But the Rams experienced a similar unbalance earlier this season and came away with their only win of the season when they turned a late rally into a 27-24 home victory over the San Francisco 49ers in Week 3.

The injury-plagued Rams have yet to put their projected starting offense on the field this season. Wide receiver Puka Nacua (knee) has not played since Week 1, while fellow wideout Cooper Kupp (ankle) last played in Week 2 but practiced throughout the week in limited fashion.

Kupp is listed as questionable for the meeting with Las Vegas.

“(Kupp) knows what it looks like to have his body in alignment with return to performance, not just return to play, and so we do want to be smart with that,” said Rams head coach Sean McVay, whose team is coming off its bye week but has to take into consideration a game next Thursday against the Minnesota Vikings.

Los Angeles has been dealing with injuries on the offensive line since the preseason, with Joe Noteboom (ankle) and Steve Avila (knee) still on the mend. Noteboom was limited on Friday and is questionable for Sunday, while Avila remains on injured reserve.

Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford has averaged 247.6 yards per game, 11th best in the NFL, but has just three touchdown passes in five games and has been sacked 16 times behind a makeshift line.

The Raiders moved away from Gardner Minshew last week and went to Aidan O’Connell at quarterback against the Pittsburgh Steelers. But Las Vegas had its second-lowest point total of the season in a 32-13 home loss.

O’Connell’s 227 yards passing against the Steelers were more than Minshew had in each of the past three weeks.

Tom Brady did join the fold this week, but the seven-time Super Bowl champion is on board with what is believed to be a five-percent ownership stake and not to get under center.

O’Connell is set to start again this week to guide an offense that has moved away from wide receiver Davante Adams, after he was traded to the New York Jets for a third-round draft pick. Adams did not play the past three weeks with a hamstring injury.

Adams had 18 receptions for 209 yards and one touchdown over the first three games. Without him the past three games, Brock Bowers had 19 receptions for 187 yards and one TD.

Jakobi Meyers, considered the Raiders’ top wideout in Adams’ stead, did not play last Sunday due to an ankle injury and remained out of practice on Friday. He is listed as doubtful.

“I think all of these guys who had a smaller role now understand their role is bigger,” Las Vegas coach Antonio Pierce said Wednesday about the effect of the Adams trade. “You never replace an All-Pro receiver like Davante but at the end of the day, we’re not trying to. We’re trying to be the best version of ourselves.”

Guard Dylan Parham (foot) and linebackers Tommy Eichenberg (quad) and Kana’i Mauga (knee) will miss Sunday’s game for Las Vegas. Running back Zamir White is dealing with a groin issue and is among those questionable. Star defensive end Maxx Crosby (ankle) was limited during Friday’s practice.

Like Kupp, Rams wide receiver Jordan Whittington (shoulder) is questionable.

–Field Level Media

Surging Lions up next for unbeaten Vikings

The top spot in the NFC North will be on the line when the Minnesota Vikings tangle with the Detroit Lions on Sunday afternoon in Minneapolis.

Minnesota (5-0) is off to its best start since 2016 and will be well-rested coming off a bye last week. Detroit (4-1) has reeled off three straight wins, including a 47-9 thrashing of the Dallas Cowboys in Arlington, Texas, on Oct. 13.

Everyone understands the stakes as two hot teams prepare to go head-to-head.

“If we want to go to the places that we want to go, it starts with our division,” Vikings safety Josh Metellus said. “If we can handle our division, which is playing so well, we’re setting ourselves up nicely for the rest (of the season).”

Both teams are dealing with injuries to key players, both for this weekend and beyond.

The Lions lost one of their defensive leaders, pass rusher Aidan Hutchinson, late in the blowout over the Cowboys. Hutchinson broke his left leg and needed to be carted off the field as his teammates watched somberly.

Lions coach Dan Campbell said Hutchinson was expected to miss four to six months. That timeline leaves open the possibility of the 24-year-old returning for a postseason run, but nothing is guaranteed.

“It kind of brings it back to reality, like, ‘Hey man, that’s part of this game,’ and that’s hard,” Campbell said. “But I think they also understand that we are a team, and everybody is here for a reason, and it takes every one of us.

“That’s why we play with 11 on defense, 11 on offense, 11 on special teams. And we play together. If we need help in one area, we’ll get it from one of the other groups. That’s how we complement each other. They believe it’s next man up.”

Lions center Frank Ragnow (rest), offensive tackle Dan Skipper (ribs) and safety Brian Branch (knee) were full participants in practice on Friday and don’t have an injury designation.

Cornerback Carlton Davis (quadricep) was a full participant and is listed as questionable. Guard Kevin Zeitler (groin) did not practice and is also questionable. Offensive lineman Christian Mahogany (illness) is out despite being a full participant in practice all week.

The Vikings might be without starting running back Aaron Jones, who is questionable as he deals with a hamstring injury and returned to the practice field on a limited basis on Thursday. Ty Chandler could see more action if Jones is out, and the Vikings added depth in the backfield this week when they reacquired Cam Akers from the Houston Texans.

Akers appeared in six games with the Vikings last season and is familiar with the offensive playbook. He had 147 rushing yards and one touchdown in five games with the Texans this season.

Minnesota tight end T.J. Hockenson, who is trying to return from surgery after tearing both the ACL and MCL in his right knee last season, was limited in practice on Wednesday and Thursday and is also questionable for Sunday.

Linebackers Blake Cashman (toe) and cornerback Akayleb Evans (hip) have been ruled out. Defensive end Patrick Jones II (shoulder) and defensive tackle Harrison Phillips (shoulder) were full participants on Friday and are questionable, as is guard Dalton Risner (back), who was limited on Friday.

Sam Darnold aims to bounce back from his bumpiest performance of the season as Vikings quarterback. He has thrown for 1,111 yards, 11 touchdowns and four interceptions this season, but against the New York Jets in London on Oct. 6, he had a season-low 179 yards on 14 of 31 passing.

Darnold’s top target is Justin Jefferson, who has 26 catches for 450 yards and four touchdowns. Jalen Nailor ranks second on the team with three touchdown receptions.

The Lions are led by Jared Goff, who has passed for 1,330 yards and eight touchdowns with four interceptions. He has benefited from two talented receivers in Amon-Ra St. Brown (31 catches, 289 yards, three TDs) and Jameson Williams (16 catches, 365 yards, three TDs).

Detroit also features a one-two punch at running back. David Montgomery leads the team with 351 rushing yards and six touchdowns, and Jahmyr Gibbs has rushed for 348 yards and three scores.

This is the first of two regular-season meetings between the teams. The second encounter in Detroit will close out the regular season.

Detroit won both matchups last season, 30-24 in Minneapolis on Dec. 24 and 30-20 on its home field on Jan. 7.

–Field Level Media