Rams beat Raiders 35-21 as Matthew Stafford breaks franchise record

The Los Angeles Rams defeated the Las Vegas Raiders 35-21 at Allegiant Stadium on Sunday, snapping a two-game losing skid to improve to 3-4 behind Matthew Stafford’s historic three-touchdown performance.

Early Dominance at Allegiant Stadium

Los Angeles built a commanding 28-6 halftime lead by scoring on four consecutive offensive possessions following an initial three-and-out. Stafford distributed the ball efficiently, completing 17 of 19 passes for 148 yards and three touchdowns before the break. The surge included a 3-yard scoring pass to tight end Davis Allen, a second touchdown connection to Allen, an 11-yard strike to Puka Nacua, and a 17-yard rushing touchdown by running back Kyren Williams. The Raiders countered only with a pair of first-half field goals, while missing an earlier 51-yard attempt wide left.

Stafford’s touchdown pass to Nacua marked his 155th career scoring throw in a Rams uniform, surpassing Roman Gabriel’s franchise record of 154.

Rams HC Sean McVay Reacts to Bounce-Back Win Over Raiders, Matthew Stafford Talks Breaking TD Record

Rams Dominate Rushing Attack to Beat Raiders

The defining tactical advantage for the Rams was their dominance along the line of scrimmage. Los Angeles finished the afternoon with 192 yards on the ground compared to just 48 yards for Las Vegas. Running backs Kyren Williams and Blake Corum combined for 192 rushing yards and two touchdowns on 33 carries, averaging 5.8 yards per carry. Sean McVay utilized play action and rapid passes to establish an effective game and limit the effectiveness of the Raiders’ pass rush. Stafford was sacked only once all afternoon, finishing 23 of 29 for 195 yards, three touchdowns, and one interception.

Conversely, the Raiders struggled to establish any offensive balance before the break. Quarterback Kirk Cousins finished with 295 yards and two touchdowns, but required 44 pass attempts as Las Vegas fell behind early. Running back Ashton Jeanty was bottled up for just 15 yards on eight carries, though he contributed eight receptions for 61 yards and a late 15-yard receiving touchdown.

Los Angeles Rams defeat Raiders 35-21 in Las Vegas — Photo: therams.com

Turnovers and Penalties Allow Las Vegas to Close Gap

Despite their first-half cushion, the Rams stalled offensively after halftime, generating zero points in the third quarter across four consecutive possessions that ended with two punts and two turnovers. Corum had a 43-yard touchdown run nullified by a penalty, Williams lost a fumble, and a pass from Stafford bounced off tight end Colby Parkinson’s hands into an interception caught by Nakobe Dean. Those mistakes allowed Las Vegas to claw back within ten points at 28-18 early in the fourth quarter following a 37-yard touchdown reception by Tre Tucker and Jeanty’s scoring grab.

Defensively, Chris Shula’s unit leaned on its early work, limiting the Raiders to 2.8 yards per rushing carry and a 3-of-14 conversion rate on third downs. When the game tightened in the fourth quarter, Los Angeles responded with a methodical 12-play, 70-yard drive that consumed 6 minutes and 38 seconds, culminating in a 4-yard touchdown run by Corum for the 35-18 score.