The Raiders’ 2026 draft class shines amid a 35-21 loss to the Rams, with four rookies on the field. Second‑round pick Treydan Stukes logs all 72 defensive snaps, while fourth‑rounder Mike Washington, despite foot and back injuries, adds 27 yards on six carries, highlighted by a 21‑yard run. Other rookies see limited action: No. 1 pick Fernando Mendoza appears only in mop‑up, third‑round Trey Zuhn sees five offensive snaps, and sixth‑round Malik Benson records just three snaps and two punt returns. The preview also hints at how these youngsters might be used against the New York Jets.
The Los Angeles Chargers are in desperate need of a win. It's likely not going to come against the Rams in Week 8.
Blake Corum posted a season‑high 32 snaps and 93 yards with a touchdown in the Rams’ Week 7 win over the Raiders, but the Turf Show Times piece argues he’s not yet the team’s RB1. While Corum’s talent, blocking, and growing snap share (44%) look promising, consistency, health, and a full workload remain questions. Veteran Kyren Williams, a fifth‑round pick, still logged more snaps (37) and earned a solid PFF grade, despite a lingering fumble issue. The duo became the first Rams backfield since 2001 to each rush for 90+ yards in a game, echoing the Faulk‑McNeil era, but the article stresses Williams retains the top‑spot for now.
Former Panthers linebacker Luke Kuechly navigates his expanding broadcasting duties without slipping into bias. While still serving as the team's radio analyst, he now leads Netflix's NFL game coverage and calls regional CBS games, carefully avoiding saying “we” on national platforms. Kuechly cites a fortunate schedule—no Panthers matchups on Netflix or CBS—contrasting his experience with Jason Kelce’s on‑air slip. The ex‑defensive star, a seven‑time Pro Bowler and 2013 Defensive Player of the Year, debuted on Netflix with Noah Eagle for a 49ers‑Rams game in Melbourne and will appear on upcoming Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Week 18 games.
The Los Angeles Rams snapped a two‑game skid with a 35‑21 victory over the Las Vegas Raiders on Oct. 25, 2026, thanks to wide receiver Paka Nacua’s clutch performance. Nacua logged eight catches on ten targets for 68 yards and a touchdown, plus two rushes, despite lingering worries after a lower‑calf injury three days earlier. He explained how quarterback Matthew Stafford’s support helped him mentally manage reinjury fear. The win lifted the Rams to 3‑4 and moved Nacua into the franchise’s top‑10 for career receiving yards, while Stafford set the Rams’ record with his 155th TD pass.
Week 7 of the NFL sees the Cowboys rout the Eagles 38-21, while former Purdue Boilermakers shine. Tyrone Tracy Jr. scores a rushing TD for the Giants in a 27-21 win over the Texans, adding a reception and 53 kickoff return yards. Derrick Barnes records six tackles in Detroit’s 20-17 victory over Green Bay, and George Karlaftis notches a tackle‑for‑loss and two QB hits as the Chiefs fall 20-3 to Seattle. Baker Mayfield returns for Tampa Bay, which dominates Carolina 43-13, though Payne Durham remains unused. The 49ers lose 29-20 to Atlanta despite Jalen Graham’s solo tackle, and the Raiders are beaten 35-21 by the Rams.
Week 7 sees 11 Maryland alumni on NFL fields, highlighted by Raiders right tackle DJ Glaze, who posted his best blocking grade of the season (76.9% overall, 83.7% in pass protection) despite Las Vegas’ 35-21 loss to the Los Angeles Rams. Glaze allowed no pressures on 53 passing plays, marking his cleanest performance since Week 3. The Raiders fall to 3-4 and head to New York for a Sunday showdown with the Jets. The roundup also notes other Terp contributors, practice‑squad moves, and several bye‑week updates.
Quarterback Matthew Stafford credits former Lions teammate Calvin Johnson with sparking his signature no‑look throw. On The Pat McAfee Show, Stafford explained that trying to hide his target from defenses while still delivering the ball to Johnson inspired the move, which he now uses with the Los Angeles Rams. He highlighted a recent play where the trick helped score a touchdown, and noted the Rams’ 35‑21 win over the Las Vegas Raiders in Week 7, improving their record to 3‑4. The story blends the throw’s origin with the Rams’ latest victory.
Myles Garrett remains sidelined for the Los Angeles Rams, with star edge rusher missing every game since Week 1. Coach Sean McVay says he won’t decide on Garrett’s return for the upcoming Chargers matchup until after a meeting with senior VP of sports medicine Reggie Scott. The same uncertainty applies to tight end Terrance Ferguson. The Rams sacrificed a first‑round pick, Jared Verse and more for Garrett, yet he has recorded no sacks or tackles this season, putting the team’s defensive firepower and playoff hopes in doubt.
The 49ers dissect their first loss to the Falcons, with LB Fred Warner, coach Kyle Shanahan and TE George Kittle blaming turnovers, penalties and sloppy play, while noting the team stays healthy heading into the bye. Meanwhile, the Rams bounce back from a 2‑4 start, blasting the Raiders 35‑21 after a dominant 28‑6 first half and emphasizing a revived ground game led by Blake Corum and Kyren Williams. Seahawks head coach Mike Macdonald reports positive early signs on WR Rashid Shaheed’s knee injury, awaits imaging on OT Charles Cross, and holds off on status updates for RB Jadarian Price and Zach Charbonnet. The piece offers a snapshot of NFC teams’ recent challenges and adjustments.
Quarterback Matthew Stafford, fresh off becoming the Rams' all‑time passing leader in a 35‑21 win over the Las Vegas Raiders, praised the versatility of his backfield duo on The Pat McAfee Show. He said he’s never seen a tandem like Kyren Williams and Blake Corum—both able to run, block and catch—so the Rams can build their entire offense around them. Together they posted 199 rushing yards, with Williams finishing one yard shy of 100 and scoring on a 17‑yard run, while former Michigan champion Corum gained 93 yards on 17 carries and added a late touchdown. Stafford even joked the backs look alike, highlighting their impact on the ground game.
The Rams’ 35-21 win over Las Vegas highlighted a worrying lack of depth at wide receiver beyond Puka Nacua. In the game, only two targets went to Konata Mumpfield, who caught a single 15‑yard pass, while other in‑house candidates—Tutu Atwell, Jordan Whittington, Alex Bachman and CJ Daniels—saw minimal snaps and catches. Across the season, the trio of potential WR2s accounted for just 10% of the team’s 879 pass attempts, underscoring the need for a reliable secondary threat to complement Nacua and keep the offense explosive. With Matthew Stafford operating an efficient short‑yard passing game, the Rams must develop another deep‑downfield weapon to stay playoff‑relevant.
Saquon Barkley is finally cleared to play in the Eagles’ Week 7 Monday Night Football showdown against the Dallas Cowboys, after missing the first six games with a hamstring injury. The 29‑year‑old running back, who has logged just 182 yards on 36 carries (45.5 ypg) this season, replaces Dameon Pierce on the depth chart, with Elijah Mitchell moving to third string. Eagles injuries have plagued the team, and Barkley’s return gives Philadelphia a chance to boost a struggling offense against a questionable Cowboys defense.
Veteran quarterback Matthew Stafford says the Rams’ backfield this season is the best of his career, thanks to the interchangeable duo of Kyren Williams and Blake Corum. The pair combined for 192 yards on 33 carries in the Rams’ 35‑21 win over the Las Vegas Raiders, with Corum logging a career‑high 17 carries for 93 yards and a touchdown. Stafford told Pat McAfee that both backs can run, block and catch without requiring separate packages, giving Sean McVay a versatile offense while missing Davante Adams. With Williams leading in carries (96) and receptions (32) and Corum adding volume running, the balanced attack helped L.A. post 199 rushing yards and 187 passing yards in Week 6, a key step toward a playoff push.
Los Angeles Rams head coach Sean McVay gives a vague status update on pass‑rusher Myles Garrett and tight end Terrance Ferguson, who are eligible to return from injured reserve but may not be cleared until later this week. Garrett’s knee injury and Ferguson’s high‑ankle sprain have sidelined them as the Rams sit 3‑4 and face a win‑or‑lose stretch, including a matchup with 0‑6 Chargers. While the team can afford to wait a week, both players are expected to be crucial for the Rams’ November‑December run against the Commanders, Cardinals, Packers, Chiefs and 49ers.
Raiders head coach Klint Kubiak quashes speculation that rookie Fernando Mendoza will replace struggling quarterback Kirk Cousins, declaring Cousins "our quarterback" and affirming his confidence after a 28-3 deficit against the Los Angeles Rams. Despite the loss, Cousins posted 295 yards, two TDs and two sacks, and Kubiak says the team remains "in the hunt" as they sit 3-4 heading into a road game against the New York Jets and former Raider Geno Smith. Kubiak also hints Mendoza will see playing time eventually, but no timeline is set.
The Las Vegas Raiders have slid from a 3-0 start to 3-4, sparking debate over a major roster shake‑up. CBS Sports’ Pete Prisco urges the front office to trade star pass rusher Maxx Crosby before the trade deadline, arguing that his high value could fetch draft picks to aid a rebuild around young quarterback Fernando Mendoza and assets like running back Ashton Jeanty, tight ends Brock Bowers and Michael Mayer. Critics note Crosby’s recent poor performance against the Rams, while the team also struggles on the offensive line. A Crosby move could provide the draft capital needed to address the Raiders’ defensive and offensive woes.
Questions need to be asked about Las Vegas Raiders defensive coordinator Rob Leonard after another D- showing in Week 7 against the Los Angeles Rams.
Jalen Hurts is out for the season after a superficial calf clot turned into deep‑vein thrombosis and bilateral pulmonary emboli, a condition that began with a cleat injury against the Rams. Though the NFL cleared the Philadelphia Eagles' initial treatment, league officials are "furious" over the team's poor messaging and lack of transparency, prompting the NFLPA to consider an independent probe. Eagles quarterback, now 2‑4, faces a bleak outlook as the controversy deepens.
The Green Bay Packers’ rookie kicker Trey Smack hurt the team’s 20‑17 loss to the Detroit Lions on Oct. 25, missing a 26‑yard field goal and having a 35‑yard attempt blocked. Drafted in the 216th spot, Smack is 11‑of‑16 (68.8%) this season, well below the league’s 84.2% average, and all five of his misses are from under 49 yards. He ranks among the few kickers under 70% accuracy, joining former Rams rookie Harrison Mevis, who was released after costly misses. While Smack’s 13‑of‑15 PATs show some reliability, his early performance is far from inspiring for a team already struggling with kicking woes.
The Jacksonville Jaguars may trade first‑round WR Brian Thomas Jr., and the Los Angeles Rams appear poised to win the bidding war over the San Francisco 49ers. Rams GM ties to former Jaguars scout James Gladstone give them a front‑office edge, while the 49ers have returning receivers and established targets like Mike Evans and George Kittle. Crucially, Los Angeles can likely offer a higher draft package—projected 14th overall and a No. 45 second‑round pick versus the 49ers’ No. 62 second‑rounder—making the trade more attractive to Jacksonville.
The Raiders’ Week 7 loss to the Rams (35‑21) highlights mounting defensive woes, especially in coverage. Free‑agent linebacker Quay Walker allows six catches on six targets for 51 yards and a touchdown—the third straight game with a perfect completion rate against him—while also drawing a penalty. Defensive tackle Tonka Hemingway’s first sack comes from a stunt, and his overall pressure numbers remain low, contributing to a sub‑40 PFF run‑defense grade. Conversely, kick‑returner Dylan Laube shines with 78 yards on two returns, maintaining a 31.1‑yard average league‑wide. The article also critiques guard play, noting Caleb Rogers’ underwhelming blocking and Klint Kubiak’s questionable coaching decisions.
The Los Angeles Rams dismantled the Las Vegas Raiders' defense with a dominant 13‑personnel attack, running 38 rushes for 199 yards and scoring two touchdowns. Raiders coach Rob Leonard could muster only one sack and four QB hits on Matt Stafford, who set a franchise record with 155 career TD passes. The Rams tallied 35 points, 99 yards rushing from Kyren Williams and 93 from Blake Corum, while the Raiders managed two late‑game turnovers but couldn’t stop the onslaught. The loss marks the fourth consecutive 30‑plus‑point defeat for the Raiders as they head into a road clash with the New York Jets.
Corum and Williams combine for feat not seen since 2001.
After slipping from an early 3‑0 start to a 3‑4 record, the Las Vegas Raiders face mounting pressure to start rookie quarterback Fernando Mendoza. The No. 1 overall pick has seen only one game, completing 6‑of‑8 passes for 48 yards and three first‑downs, but analysts like CBS’s Pete Prisco argue the team should give him a look as veteran Kirk Cousins, who led the recent 35‑21 loss to the Rams with 295 yards and two TDs, is not a long‑term solution. With four straight defeats, the Raiders must decide whether to stick with the 38‑year‑old or accelerate Mendoza’s development.