It’ll be a new, post-Davante Adams world for the Raiders when they face the Rams in Los Angeles on Sunday. The superstar wide receiver was finally dealt to the Jets after requesting a trade, and coach Antonio Pierce has to turn his team around after losing his All-Pro playmaker.
However, relatively few NFL fans will be watching. The Raiders (2-4) will play the Rams (1-4) while the Chiefs battle the 49ers in a nationally televised Super Bowl rematch. The Raiders game is on CBS at 1:05 p.m. Pacific time and will be shown in the Las Vegas and Los Angeles areas, along with a few pockets of fans in the Pacific Northwest, the Midwest, and the South.
Raiders fans in LA will be happy whether they watch on television or attend the game in the silver and black’s former home city — especially if the Raiders earn a much-needed win. This week’s broadcast map provided by 506sports.com shows the Raiders vs. Rams broadcast areas shaded in green.
The Raiders are 1-2 in games without Adams thus far, but this week will have a different vibe. There are no illusions of Davante walking through that door to save the season or at least save the offense.
Rookie tight end Brock Bowers figures to see an increase in usage, and that should excite Raiders fans. Bowers already leads NFL tight ends in targets (46) and receptions (37) by a wide margin, but given the Raiders’ circumstance on offense, getting the ball to Bowers even more could be a good idea for offensive coordinator Luke Getsy.
Adams’ primary replacement at wide receiver, Jakobi Meyers, didn’t practice on Friday and is listed as doubtful. Meyers didn’t play last week, either, and Las Vegas receivers weren’t targeted until late in the first half of that blowout loss to the Steelers.
Perhaps getting the ball to Bowers early and often could help wideouts Tre Tucker and DJ Turner find more open spots in the defense. Wide receiver Kristian Wilkerson is a name to watch as well. He caught a touchdown against the Steelers; that should bolster the confidence of the inexperienced 6-foot-1 wideout, even though his touchdown was in garbage time.