Box Score numbers to know from Rams vs Raiders...

Box Score Breakdown: Numbers to know from Rams vs. Raiders

Andrew Ortenberg

[theramswire.usatoday.com]

Each week, we’ll be diving into the Los Angeles Rams’ box score from the previous game and highlighting several interesting and under-the-radar numbers. Here’s what we found from the Monday Night Football opener against the Raiders.

1. The Rams were out-gained

It might not seem like it from the final score, but the Rams were out-gained both in terms of yards per play (6.2 to 6.1) and total yardage (395 to 365). The edge for Oakland was slight, but not at all what you’d expect in a game that was decided by 20 points. It wasn’t a garbage time racking up of yards, either. The Raiders were out-gaining the Rams late in the third quarter when it was still a tie game and all the way through to the end.


What does it all mean? Nothing necessarily, but it means the game probably should’ve been a lot closer than the final score. Derek Carr’s bizarre floating, gift-wrapped interception to Cory Littleton isn’t going to happen every week, and the Rams shouldn’t be too quick to pat themselves on the back after this not-so-resounding victory. Fortunately for fans, it sounded like the Rams players acknowledged right away that they had a ton to clean up, and weren’t at all satisfied with this win.

2. Raiders receivers had five catches for 43 yards


Marcus Peters and Aqib Talib played about as clean a game on the outside as a cornerback duo possibly could. Carr didn’t even bother targeting his wideouts, with only five of his 29 completions going to receivers. He instead relied almost solely on tight ends and running backs, with backup tight end Derek Carrier doubling Amari Cooper’s yardage. This was surely part of the Raiders’ game plan to target Rams linebackers, but there’s no way they planned it to that extent. Cooper and Jordy Nelson simply weren’t open, and if Monday night was any indication, the Rams will be shutting down opposing receivers all season long.

Inversely, Rams linebackers and safeties need to do a better job covering the running backs and tight ends. The defense only limited the Raiders to 13 points because three of Carr’s 11 incompletions were interceptions, something that simply isn’t sustainable.

3. Jared Goff completed just 18 of 33 passes


Goff completed 18 of his 33 attempts, good for a 54.5 percent completion rate, and finished with 233 yards. On the surface, it isn’t that bad – average, even. But to put it into perspective, Goff had just two games all of last season where his completion percentage was below 55 percent. One of those games was on the road in Jacksonville against the league’s best pass defense and the other was against an at the time, still very solid Seahawks secondary. Monday night, however, was against a Raiders defense that on paper isn’t supposed to be very good.

It’s not time to sound the alarms yet, but Goff definitely wasn’t his sharpest. Some rust would certainly be understandable, as Goff didn’t play at all this preseason. It’ll be interesting to watch how he rebounds at home in a much more friendly environment this Sunday against the Cardinals. It’ll also be interesting to see how this Raiders defense does in the coming weeks, to gauge just how bad of a performance it was.

Regardless of how strong the defense was, Sean McVay’s offense had receivers schemed open more or less at will on Monday night, and Goff just simply didn’t hit all of them. Alex Smith rattled off 13 straight completions at one point against this Cardinals defense last week, so it will be a major disappointment if Goff can’t up that completion percentage significantly.