The Rams’ defense and Baker Mayfield come from behind to beat the Raiders 17-16
Los Angeles Rams #17 Baker Mayfield (QB) is rolling out of the pocket to the left side of the field. Photo by CCN.
INGLEWOOD, CA - The Los Angeles Rams (4-9) defense kept them in the game while newly acquired quarterback Baker Mayfield completed 22 of his 35 passes for 230 yards and one touchdown to come from behind and beat the Las Vegas Raiders (5-8) at SoFi Stadium 17-16.
Derek Carr threw the football 20 times and completed 11 passes for 137 yards and two interceptions, and the NFL's leading rusher Josh Jacobs carried the ball 27 times for 99 yards and one touchdown.
Rams head coach Sean McVay would replace his starting quarterback John Wolford on the second offensive series for the Rams with Mayfield.
Las Vegas Raiders #28 Josh Jacobs ran for 99 yards and one touchdown against the Los Angeles Rams’ defense. Photo by CCN.
The Raiders led 7-0 to start the game in the first quarter with a 1-yard touchdown by Josh Jacobs. Daniel Carlson would kick a 52-yard field goal to push the Raiders' lead up to 10-0.
The Rams would trail at the end of the quarter 10-3 after Matt Gay kicked a 55-yard field goal.
Carlon would kick another field goal in the second quarter to give the Raiders a ten-point lead, 13-3. Mayfield had the Rams' offense on the move but had to punt the ball after the Raiders' defense held them on third down.
The drive would stall after Cam Akers fumbled the football at Las Vegas' 19-yard line, and the Raiders recovered it.
Los Angeles Rams #53 Ernest Jones (ILB) intercepted Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Derek Carr’s pass intended for #10 Mack Hollins in the endzone. Photo by CCN.
The Raiders threatened to score again, but the Rams' inside linebacker Ernest Jones intercepted Derek Carr's pass in the endzone to trail at halftime 13-3.
Los Angeles Rams #17 Baker Mayfield (QB) drove the Rams’ offense 98 yards and threw a game-winning 23-yard touchdown pass to his wide receiver Van Jefferson. Photo by CCN.
Las Vegas led 16-3 in the fourth quarter with a 36-field goal by Carlson, but the Rams made the game exciting after Mayfield drove the Rams' offense downfield, and Akers caught a pass to go out of bounds at the Raiders' 1-yard line.
Moments later, the Rams trailed 16-10 after Akers ran into the endzone for a 1-yard touchdown that had the Rams' fans going crazy.
The Raiders' defense had the Rams pinned deep on their 2-yard line and made several bone-head plays for penalties helping the Rams on offense and allowing them to keep their last drive going.
Mayfield found a streaking Ben Skowronek downfield and threw a 32-yard completion to put the Rams in a great scoring position at the Raiders' 23-yard line.
The Rams' offensive line gave Mayfield all the time needed to throw a 23-yard touchdown to Van Jefferson, and the extra point by Gay was good, now led 17-16 with 10 seconds left in the game.
"Didn't think it was going to play out like this," Mayfield said. "But I'm glad we went through the two-minute operation, my goodness."
The Rams would kill any chance of Las Vegas coming from behind and scoring with nine seconds left in the game after their strong safety Taylor Trapp intercepted Carr's pass with two seconds left in the game to end the Raiders’ playoff chances and secure the win, and end their six-game losing streak.