Rams Beat Raiders 35-21 as Stafford Breaks Franchise Touchdown Record

The Los Angeles Rams beat the Las Vegas Raiders 35-21 at Allegiant Stadium on Sunday, in a Week 7 game that Matthew Stafford turned into a record afternoon. Stafford threw his 155th touchdown pass for the Rams, breaking the franchise record of 154 that Roman Gabriel built across his years with the team from 1962 to 1972.

Three touchdown passes before half time

Stafford did the damage early. His first touchdown pass went to tight end Davis Allen from 3 yards in the first quarter, and he found Allen again from 5 yards in the second quarter. The record pass followed in the same quarter, an 11 yard strike to Puka Nacua that was Stafford's third touchdown pass of the first half.

The Rams scored 7 points in the first quarter and 21 in the second, so they led 28-6 at half time. Las Vegas scored 3 points in the first quarter and 3 in the second. Neither team scored in the third quarter.

Stafford finished 23 of 29 passing for 195 yards, with 3 touchdowns and 1 interception. The yardage was modest, but the Rams did not need more. The early lead held for the rest of the afternoon, and the record was already his before the second half began.

First quarterback to hold the record for two teams

The record carries a wider place in league history. Stafford is the first quarterback to hold the career passing touchdown record for two current franchises. He also owns the Detroit Lions record, with 282 touchdown passes across 12 seasons there.

He reached the Rams mark much faster than the man he passed. Stafford set the record in 81 games for Los Angeles, while Gabriel needed 130 games to reach 154. Stafford is an 18 year veteran and stands sixth on the NFL career passing touchdown list, trailing only Aaron Rodgers of Pittsburgh among active players.

The pace is not new. Stafford threw 46 touchdown passes last season, a career best that led the league, and won his first MVP award. He joined the Rams in a trade from Detroit in 2021 and won Super Bowl LVI with the team.

Ground game finished the job

The Rams rushing attack supplied the rest of the scoring. Kyren Williams ran 16 times for 99 yards and a touchdown, and Blake Corum ran 17 times for 93 yards and a touchdown. Corum scored on a 4 yard run in the fourth quarter, a touchdown that made the score 35-18.

Las Vegas scored 15 points in the fourth quarter, after scoring none in the third. Quarterback Kirk Cousins finished 26 of 44 passing for 295 yards, with 2 touchdowns and no interceptions. Ashton Jeanty caught a 15 yard touchdown pass from Cousins in the fourth quarter.

The last score of the game was a 36 yard field goal by Matt Gay that made it 35-21, and the Rams ran out the clock from there. Los Angeles added 7 points in the fourth quarter to close out the 35-21 win, a result built in the first half and protected by the run game after the break.