Three straight close calls have left the Raiders searching for the final play that can turn a hard-fought Sunday into a win. Las Vegas fell 33-30 to Buffalo last week after tying the game late, and now the 3-3 Raiders welcome a Rams team with its own urgent mission. Los Angeles is 2-4, yet its last two losses came by only three and two points. On Sunday at Allegiant Stadium, both teams will chase the same prize: proof that their season can still swing upward.

The Raiders want to build that turnaround around rookie quarterback Fernando Mendoza. The No. 1 pick has played only one game, so this is a huge moment in his early NFL story. He has a powerful helper in Ashton Jeanty, who can slam through tacklers as a runner and slip into open space as a pass catcher. Jeanty already has 564 yards from scrimmage, meaning yards gained by running and catching. He gives Las Vegas a useful way to slow down the game and keep the Rams defense working.

Brock Bowers can make that plan even tougher to stop if his hamstring and calf allow him to play. The tight end, who lines up close to the offensive line, has caught 28 passes in just four games. He attacks the middle of the field with quick turns and strong hands. Last week, he helped spark the Raiders’ late comeback push against Buffalo. Las Vegas also needs its rebuilt line to create room for Jeanty and keep Mendoza from facing too much pressure.

That job will be difficult against a Rams team that has allowed only 294 yards per game. Los Angeles has been sturdy on defense, but injuries have thinned its front. Defensive end Kobie Turner and defensive tackle Poona Ford are out, while linebacker Nate Landman is questionable. The Raiders can use Jeanty’s tough running to see whether those missing pieces open lanes.

When the Rams have the ball, Matthew Stafford brings a very different kind of challenge. The veteran quarterback leads an offense that gains more than 400 yards per game, one of the largest totals in the league. Puka Nacua is his speedy, sure-handed target, with 37 catches in four games. Kyren Williams supplies the muscle and patience underneath, already piling up 393 rushing yards and four rushing touchdowns. He can make defenders crowd the line, then give Stafford space to find Nacua.

Los Angeles must adjust without wide receiver Davante Adams, who is out with a hamstring injury. That puts even more attention on Nacua and Williams. It may also create chances for other Rams receivers to find open grass. The Raiders allow more than 370 yards per game, so their defense must pressure Stafford before his passing game gets rolling. Maxx Crosby is the leader who can wreck a drive with one fast burst past a blocker.

The Raiders have home-field energy and a young offense ready for a breakthrough. Still, the Rams have shown they can move the ball against strong opponents, and their recent narrow losses show a team close to finding its finish. Prediction: the Rams win behind Stafford, Nacua, and Williams.

Rams Bring a Big-Pass Attack to Las Vegas