The odds card has the Rams favored on the road despite their record, which says more about the talent than the standings. Stafford, Puka Nacua and Davante Adams against a Raiders secondary that started Darien Porter in place of Hezekiah Masses against Buffalo is the kind of matchup that makes the books shrug at a 2-4 record. Indoors at Allegiant, weather won't be part of it.
Buffalo is the common opponent, and both losses looked about the same. The Rams lost to the Bills 37-34 in overtime and the Raiders lost to them 30-33 at home. Neither team got blown out. Neither one finished. The difference is what came either side of that. The Rams beat the Eagles on the road and played Denver to 4 points. The Raiders' 2 wins came against the Chargers and Saints, with a 28-point beating from the Patriots in between.
The Rams' biggest worry this week is a strange one: the kicker. Blake Grupe hurt his knee making a tackle after his own 44-yard field goal against Arizona, was ruled out in the 4th quarter, and punter Ethan Evans kicked the extra point on the go-ahead touchdown. After 2 straight losses by 3 points or fewer, whoever lines up for field goals matters a lot. Myles Garrett (knee, injured reserve) and Trent McDuffie (groin) both missed the Arizona game, which leaves a defense short on its 2 best playmakers. Alaric Jackson's suspension for the Bills incident was reduced to 1 game, so the left side of the line could get its starter back.
Las Vegas is healthier where it counts. Brock Bowers (knee) and Ashton Jeanty (foot) both practiced fully this past week, and Jalen Nailor cleared his concussion. Dont'e Thornton Jr. is still on injured reserve with a hamstring, and the inactive list against Buffalo was heavy on defense: 2 safeties, a defensive tackle and an edge rusher. If Bowers and Jeanty are running the offense, the Raiders can shorten the game and keep Stafford on the sideline. If Cousins struggles early, the Mendoza question gets loud in a hurry.