The Los Angeles Rams walked away from Allegiant Stadium with a 35-21 win over the Las Vegas Raiders in Week 7, but let’s be real, the final score hides a whole lot of drama and some serious red flags for a team expected to be far more dominant this season. For stretches, the Rams looked absolutely unstoppable, yet they consistently shot themselves in the foot, making a game they should have iced an actual contest.
First Half Fireworks and a Familiar Smell
Man, did the Rams come out firing in the first half! Matthew Stafford was slinging it, throwing three passing touchdowns in just two quarters. Kyren Williams even added another score on the ground. By halftime, they had a commanding 28-6 lead. Sean McVay and Chris Shula definitely dialed up a great gameplan, and the players were executing like a well-oiled machine. It felt like they were finally going to put one of these games away, right? They set themselves up to take total control. But anyone who’s watched this team in 2026 knows the story doesn’t usually end there.
The Same Old Story: Self-Inflicted Wounds
The second half was a completely different beast, and honestly, it’s frustratingly familiar. The Rams struggled greatly in the third quarter and parts of the fourth, letting the Raiders hang around despite being down throughout the match. These self-inflicted wounds , the poor special teams, the turnovers, the penalties, the inability to put games away , they’ve been the recurring nightmare for the Rams all year, and every single one popped up again.
The Raiders converted a fake punt in the third quarter, keeping a drive alive because the Rams keep getting out-played in the third phase of the game. Then, Kyren Williams fumbled, gifting the Raiders a chance for points. While the defense held strong and forced a turnover on downs after that, the mistakes kept coming. Blake Corum broke a run for a score, only for it to be called back due to a facemask penalty on L.A. That’s just brutal. To top it off, in the fourth quarter, Stafford threw an interception when Colby Parkinson popped the intended pass in the air. The Rams had chance after chance to put this game away easily, and they failed, letting the Raiders keep the pressure on.
A Win’s a Win, But the Questions Linger
Credit where it’s due, the Rams did pull away in the end, with Corum capping off the offensive day with a rushing score of his own late in the game. They found a way to win, unlike previous weeks, but it was absolutely closer than it needed to be. This team continues to be far less dominant than expected going into 2026. They got the W in Week 7, but those same old mistakes , the penalties, the turnovers, the weak special teams play , were all on full display. It’s hard to celebrate too much when you see the same issues resurfacing week after week. They’ll try to clean up their act in Week 8 when they take on another struggling franchise, the Los Angeles Chargers. Let’s see if they can finally play a full four quarters without the dramatics.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Turf Show Times.
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