The Los Angeles Rams will take on the Las Vegas Raiders after an early bye in Week 6. The break appears to have come at the most opportune time, with LA potentially getting some of their weapons back from injury, including Super Bowl MVP Cooper Kupp. Here are my three bold predictions for Sunday’s matchup.

The Rams hold the Raiders under 100 yards rushing

This wouldn’t be such a bold prediction if LA didn’t have one of the worst rush defenses in the league. They are currently allowing 4.8 yards per rush, which currently ranks 26th and have yet to hold any of their opponents under 126 yards in five games. Many will be quick to blame a lackluster linebacker group with Christian Rozeboom and Troy Reader, who have opportunities to improve, to say the least, but everyone on the defensive line has a hand in their failures against the run.

Fortunately for LA, they will soon be facing one of the worst rushing teams in all of football. The Raiders are averaging 3.7 yards per carry and have already fumbled the ball four times this season. If the defensive line and linebacker units can hold their own against the run rookies, Braden Fiske and Jared Verse have a chance to finally pin their ears back and attack at will.

It also helps that Chris Shula and his unit are coming back from a much-needed early bye. Could we see a change at the linebackers on Sunday? If you ask me, it doesn’t matter who’s on the field – despite being one of the worst at stopping the run, LA’s defense will put in their best performance of the year and keep the Raiders within less than Hold 100 yards rushing on the day. .

Tutu Atwell scores a rushing and a receiving touchdown

Cooper Kupp could very well take the field on Sunday after recovering from a high ankle sprain suffered early in the season. Even if he does, you can bet Tutu Atwell will have one of his best performances of the season. The undersized and underutilized receiver has become one of LA’s most efficient receivers as the rapport between him and Matthew Stafford has grown in the wake of Kupp and Puka Nacua’s injuries.

If Kupp can make it on the field, the Raiders will have to give him a fair amount of attention to make sure he doesn’t blow the game. That should give Atwell his best chance of the season against softer coverage, and Kupp’s elite blocking ability could come in handy in a sneaky takedown of the former second-round draft pick.

If Kupp doesn’t see the field, Atwell will once again be the number one wide receiver and get plenty of opportunities to show off his skills. If Sean McVay can continue to find ways to get the speedy pass catcher open, the Raiders defense will have a hard time stopping LA’s secret weapon.

Atwell is starting to come into his own as of late and it should all pay off no matter who is on the field with a few touchdowns on Sunday.

Stafford and the offense score over 30 points

Could a quick break and a TV spot be exactly what Stafford needed to finally ignite one of the most lethal offenses in the league? Getting Kupp back could be enough. Their opponent is currently in the early stages of a rebuild after shipping off their best weapon in Davante Adams and have many question marks at the league’s most important position with Aidan O’Connell behind center. If all goes according to plan, LA’s defense should have one of its best performances of the season and give Stafford plenty of opportunities to lead the team down the field.

It might help that the Raiders defense has allowed more than 30 points in three of the six games played this season: 36 points to the Carolina Panthers in Week 3, 34 points to the Denver Broncos in Week 5 and most recently 32 points for the Pittsburgh. Steelers in Week 6. None of these offenses jump off the page as the league’s most elite.

A decisive win against a weaker opponent could be the answer to an early turnaround in the season. Expect Stafford and McVay to give it everything they’ve got to get their second W of the year – which is why LA will score more than 30 points on Sunday.