Raiders grades: Ugly game all around in 4th consecutive loss

The Las Vegas Raiders dropped their fourth consecutive game Sunday, falling 35-21 to the Los Angeles Rams at Allegiant Stadium. The loss dropped the Raiders to 2-6 on the season; they have yet to defeat a team with a winning record.

The offense continued to struggle on the ground, unable to establish a consistent running game. While quarterback Kirk Cousins posted solid passing numbers, the review noted many yards came in empty situations. The interior offensive line drew particular scrutiny: Caleb Rogers replaced Jackson Powers-Johnson at right guard in what appears to be an ongoing competition, while left guard Spencer Burford has been wildly inconsistent. The unit was signed to protect new center Tyler Linderbaum, but the group failed to generate push in the run game or consistent protection in the first half.

Defensively, the Raiders offered little resistance over the first 30 minutes as the Rams raced to a 27-point halftime lead, tying a franchise record for the fifth straight game allowing at least 27 points. Los Angeles finished with 199 rushing yards after kneeldowns reduced the total from over 200. The defense stiffened in the second half, forcing turnovers to give the Raiders a chance, but the Rams answered with a methodical clock-killing drive in the fourth quarter to seal the win.

Special teams provided the few bright spots. Returner Dylan Laube recorded two long kickoff returns and nearly scored. Punter AJ Cole executed a designed fake punt early in the third quarter, hitting Connor Heyward up the middle to extend a drive. Kicker Matt Gay missed his second field goal of the season but otherwise handled kickoffs well, including a touchback at the 20-yard line.

A microcosm of the team's recent sloppiness arrived immediately after the fake punt: the offense took too long to return to the field, forcing the Raiders to burn a timeout to avoid a delay-of-game penalty. Head coach Klint Kubiak's aggressive call backfired operationally, underscoring a stretch where the Raiders, once winning by doing the little things right, are now losing because they don't.

Sources: Las Vegas Review-Journal