The Rams’ depleted defensive front held firm against the Raiders, with backups and regular contributors sharing the workload rather than relying on one player to replace injured starters. The performance reflected a team-wide “next man up” approach, with players describing their mindset as taking care of their brothers.

By the Numbers
  • Las Vegas managed 48 rushing yards.
  • The Raiders went 1-for-5 in the red zone, 3-for-14 on third down and 2-for-5 on fourth down.
  • Omar Speights recorded 5 tackles, including 2 for loss.
  • Aaron Donald posted a 76.5 pass-rush grade, ninth among defensive linemen, per PFF.
Yes, But

The group’s strong showing doesn’t erase the impact of missing key players, including Poona Ford for the season and Kobie Turner for multiple weeks. The Rams’ coaches stressed that no single player could replace them; the defense had to rotate players and share the responsibility. Donald also cautioned that the unit still has room to improve.

State of Play
  • Ty Hamilton and Larrell Murchison played their most snaps of the season against Las Vegas.
  • Young and Stewart have taken on larger roles with Myles Garrett on injured reserve.
  • Coaches credited contributions across the defensive line and linebacker corps, including Speights and Shaun Dolac.
Bottom Line

The Rams’ depth was tested, and the defense responded as a unit. Sustaining that shared effort will be crucial while key players remain sidelined.