Rams force 4 turnovers and hold off Raiders 20-15 after QB Aidan O'Connell gets injured

INGLEWOOD, Calif. (AP) — The Los Angeles Rams' defense hasn't been good in its first season after Aaron Donald's retirement. Forcing turnovers has been a particular area of struggle.

A chance to play against the Raiders' subpar offense run by its backup quarterback was the perfect antidote.

Kam Curl returned a fumble 33 yards for a touchdown and Kyren Williams rushed for 76 yards and two scores in the Rams ' 20-15 victory over Las Vegas on Sunday.

Cobie Durant had an interception and later caused the fumble returned for a TD by Curl for the Rams (2-4), who forced Gardner Minshew to commit four turnovers — the same number harvested by Los Angeles in its first five games of the season combined.

“The emphasis on attacking the ball was at an all-time high today,” Durant said. “All week we emphasized it, and it displayed today. What a great day it is to attack the ball!”

The Raiders' backup QB was forced into action by an early hand injury for Aidan O'Connell, and the Rams pounced. Jaylen McCollough had two more interceptions for Los Angeles, including the game-clinching pick with 1:18 to play.

“I was just in the right place at the right time,” said McCollough, an undrafted rookie who played five seasons at Tennessee. “We're growing together as a defense. There's a lot more chemistry, a lot more accountability. We trust each other, and it's starting to fall into place.”

Matthew Stafford passed for 154 yards — his lowest total in four seasons with Los Angeles — as the Rams (2-4) snapped a two-game skid during their worst start to a season in coach Sean McVay's eight years in charge.

Minshew passed for 154 yards for the Raiders (2-5) after replacing O'Connell, who didn't return after a hand-to-hand collision with Curl during the Raiders' second offensive series.

O'Connell said his thumb “went numb, and it’s hurting.” The Raiders will know more after additional tests in Las Vegas.

In their first game since trading Davante Adams to the Jets, the Raiders were forced to settle for five field goals by Daniel Carlson after repeatedly giving the ball away or struggling in the red zone.

The Raiders fell behind 20-6 midway through the third quarter, but had two late drives with a chance to save their game.

After settling for a short field goal with 2:46 left after reaching the Los Angeles 4, Las Vegas got the ball back with 1:39 left — but McCollough picked off Minshew's final heave at the Vegas 34.

“We’ve got to be smart with the ball,” Raiders coach Antonio Pierce said. “At the end, you’re trying to (take) a shot. I get that one. The other ones, got to do a better job.”

Minshew was the Raiders' starter to begin the season before losing the job to O'Connell this month, but the journeyman QB only excelled at getting the ball to star rookie tight end Brock Bowers, who had 10 catches for 93 yards.

“To have a game where we lose by five points and have four turnovers, like, that’s critical, and it’s unfair to the rest of the team,” Minshew said. "So I’m going to go back, look at the film. Not gonna sulk, not gonna pout, but whatever we gotta do to fix ’em, I’m gonna do.”

Williams rushed 13 yards for a score in the second quarter, recording a rushing touchdown in his ninth consecutive game. The third-year pro has an NFL-best 24 touchdowns from scrimmage since the start of last season despite playing in only 18 of a possible 23 games.

Durant then forced a fumble while blitzing Minshew. Curl scooped it up and ran untouched for his first TD since a 76-yard interception return as a rookie with Washington in 2020.

“My first position was running back, so I'm kind of used to it (when) I get the ball in my hand,” Curl said with a grin.

Los Angeles' defense got its third takeaway when McCollough snared a pass deflected by the Raiders' DJ Turner, and Williams made his second TD run.

Nate Hobbs intercepted a deflected pass and returned it to the Rams 14 late in the third quarter, but Vegas couldn't cash in.

Rams rookie Joshua Karty missed a 35-yard field goal attempt with 10:11 to play and the Raiders drove to the Los Angeles 4 before rookie DJ Glaze false-started on fourth and goal, compelling the Raiders to kick again.

The Rams improved to 3-0 against the Raiders since they returned to the Los Angeles market, which these two franchises shared for 13 years from 1982-94. The Raiders have lost six straight at SoFi Stadium to the Rams and Chargers.

Raiders: TE Harrison Bryant went to the locker room in the third quarter with an elbow injury.

Rams: WR Cooper Kupp missed his fourth consecutive game after participating in practice all week. McVay said afterward that he expects the Super Bowl 56 MVP to play Thursday night.

Raiders: Host Kansas City on Sunday.

Rams: Host Minnesota on Thursday night.

AP NFL: https://apnews.com/NFL

Las Vegas Raiders defensive tackle Adam Butler (69), safeties Thomas Harper (34) and Tre'von Moehrig (7) tackle Los Angeles Rams running back Kyren Williams (23) during the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Oct. 20, 2024, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)

Los Angeles Rams running back Kyren Williams (23) runs for a touchdown as Las Vegas Raiders safety Isaiah Pola-Mao, bottom, attempts to tackle during the first half of an NFL football game against the Las Vegas Raiders, Sunday, Oct. 20, 2024, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun)

Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Aidan O'Connell (12) attempts to throw a pass as Los Angeles Rams safety Kamren Curl (3) jumps to defend during the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Oct. 20, 2024, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun)

Los Angeles Rams safety Kamren Curl (3) celebrates scoring a defensive touchdown during the first half of an NFL football game against the Las Vegas Raiders, Sunday, Oct. 20, 2024, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun)

Los Angeles Rams linebacker Byron Young (0) pressures Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Gardner Minshew (15) during the second half of an NFL football game Sunday, Oct. 20, 2024, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun)

Los Angeles Rams cornerback Cobie Durant (14) forces a fumble against Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Gardner Minshew (15) as Rams safety Kamren Curl (3) jumps to defend during the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Oct. 20, 2024, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun)

LAS VEGAS (AP) — J.T. Poston used a burst of birdies to build a comfortable lead in the morning and afternoon, first for a three-shot lead after 54 holes and then to give himself a big enough cushion to hold on for a 4-under 67 and a one-shot victory Sunday in the Shriners Children’s Open.

Poston never trailed since making a 20-foot birdie putt on the 14th hole when he returned to finish the third round. He had two more birdies for a 66 to build a three-shot lead.

He made three birdies in a four-hole stretch on the back nine of the final round and led by four shots with three holes to play. Poston still had to sweat it out to the very last putt.

Doug Ghim closed with a 65, making a 6-foot birdie putt on the final hole at the TPC Summerlin to close within one shot. Poston lagged his 45-foot birdie putt to 4 feet and calmly sank that for his third career PGA Tour title.

Poston finished at 22-under 262.

Matti Schmid tied for third and has gone from No. 125 to No. 77 in the FedEx Cup in the last three weeks. The top 125 keep cards for next season. Another big consolation prize went to Michael Kim, who closed with a 62 and tied for fifth, moving from No. 129 to No. 112.

PAJU, South Korea (AP) — Hannah Green of Australia shot a 1-under 71 to win the BMW Ladies Championship in South Korea, her sixth victory on the LPGA Tour and her third this season.

Green finished at 19-under 269 and led or shared the lead after all four rounds.

Celine Boutier of France finished one stroke behind Green after a 66. Chanettee Wannasaen of Thailand shot 68 and was two shots behind the winner. The South Korea duo of Hye-Jin Choi (67) and Yu Jin Sung (72) tied for fourth.

The field of the tournament was loaded with eight of the top 10 LPGA players facing off. The main absence was No. 1-ranked Nelly Korda, who withdrew before the event with a neck injury.

SAN ROQUE, Spain (AP) — Julien Guerrier made a 16-foot par putt for a 2-under 70 to force a playoff, then went nine extra holes to beat Jorge Campillo in the Andalucia Masters for his first European tour title.

Guerrier won it with an 8-foot par putt on the ninth playoff hole, which tied a European tour record for longest playoff. His first win came in his 230th start.

Campillo also closed with a 70 to join Guerrier at 21-under 267. The Spaniard had three bogeys on his last seven holes, including the 18th to give Guerrier a chance.

Dan Brown shot 69 to finish alone in third, two shots out of the playoff. Jon Rahm, playing in his third European tour event in the last four weeks, shot 67 and finished four shots back.

RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — Tim O’Neal made two birdies on the last three holes and closed with a 7-under 65 to win for the first time on the PGA Tour Champions, a two-shot victory over Ricardo Gonzalez in the Dominion Energy Charity Classic.

O’Neal had a one-shot lead for much of the back nine at The Country Club of Virginia until he delivered two of his best shots, a wedge into 6 feet on the par-5 16th and a wedge that landed next to the hole and spun back to 5 feet on the par-5 18th.

Gonzalez missed three birdie chances inside 10 feet down the stretch, forcing him to make eagle on the closing hole to get into a playoff. He missed the fairway to the left, hit a hook into the bunker and had to settle for par and a 69.

O'Neal, David Brandson and Paul Goydos all moved into the top 54 in the Charles Schwab Cup that sends them to the next postseason tournament. Chris DiMarco, Kirk Triplett and Angel Cabrera fell out.

Michael Maguire closed with a 7-under 65 and defeated John Catlin (66) on the second extra hole of an all-American playoff to win the Black Mountain Championship on the Asian Tour. Maguire, who played college golf at North Florida, won for the first time on a main tour. ... Conor Purcell won for the second time this year on the Challenge Tour when he closed with a 4-under 67 for a four-shot victory in the Hangzhou Open. ... Elvis Smylie shot a 2-under 69 and defeated Jak Carter in a playoff to win the Nexus Advisernet WA Open on the PGA Tour of Australasia. ... Robin Williams closed with a 5-under 67 for a three-shot victory over Daniel van Tonder in the Fortress Invitational on the Sunshine Tour. ... Min-Young Lee closed with a 1-under 71 to win the Nobuta Group Masters by one shot over Nasa Hataoka and Akie Iwai on the Japan LPGA. ... Bokyeom Park finished with a 6-under 66 for a one-shot victory over Suji Kim in the Sangsangin Hankyung TV Open on the Korea LPGA.

AP golf: https://apnews.com/hub/golf

Hannah Green of Australia holds the winning trophy during the awards ceremony after winning the LPGA Ladies Championship golf tournament at the Seowon Valley Country Club in Paju, South Korea, Sunday, Oct. 20, 2024. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man)

J.T. Poston hits off the tee on the fourth hole during the final round of the Shriners Children's Open golf tournament, Sunday, Oct. 20, 2024, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/Ian Maule)