INGLEWOOD — Rams coach Sean McVay said he was leaning toward having new quarterback Baker Mayfield be active Thursday night against the Las Vegas Raiders, two days after the Rams claimed the former No. 1 overall draft pick on waivers from the Carolina Panthers.

As it turned out, McVay was also leaning toward starting Mayfield, but he needed one more reason because a six-game losing streak and several injuries to key players weren’t enough to make the unprecedented move.

But then the Rams quickly fell behind by double digits at SoFi Stadium. McVay pulled quarterback John Wolford after one drive and went with Mayfield the rest of the way to give the prime-time matchup an intriguing storyline.

Sometimes impulsive moves pay off and it did for the Rams. Mayfield connected with wide receiver Van Jefferson for the game-winning touchdown pass with 10 seconds left to give the Rams a comeback victory, 17-16, against the Raiders. The 23-yard toss down the sideline capped an eight-play, 98-yard drive that took 1:35.

The Mayfield experience provided entertainment, but similar to his shaky five-year career, there were highs and lows for 2018’s top draft pick. McVay gave the people what they wanted and Mayfield did the rest to snap – completing 15 of his 20 passes in the fourth quarter and flawlessly directing his new teammates downfield for the two scores to end the Rams’ six-game losing streak.

After a few sluggish quarters, the Rams made their late push. They reached the red zone for the first time with 5½ minutes to play, and Cam Akers’ 1-yard rushing touchdown capped a 75-yard drive that trimmed the Raiders’ lead to 16-10 with 3:19 left. Akers moved the chains on the previous play after the Rams went for it on fourth-and-1 from the 2-yard line.

The Mayfield experience nearly got out of hand in the first half, but Rams linebacker Ernest Jones intercepted a pass from Derek Carr in the end zone to keep the Rams within 13-3 at halftime. The Raiders had 109 rushing yards compared to the Rams’ 30 after the first half. Michael Hoecht, who switched from interior defensive lineman to outside linebacker, struggled to set the edge against the Raiders’ outside runs.

Mayfield entered the game for the Rams’ second drive and quickly made an impact by completing a 21-yard pass to wide receiver Jefferson. The Heisman Trophy winner dropped back after faking a hand-off and found an open Jefferson in the middle of the field. The Rams ended Mayfield’s first drive with a 55-yard field goal from Matt Gay to trim the Raiders’ lead to 10-3 with six seconds left in the opening quarter.

Each of Mayfield’s first three completions covered at least 20 yards and went to three different receivers, including Tutu Atwell and Ben Skowronek. Mayfield had the Rams at the Raiders’ 23-yard line, but Akers fumbled the ball to the Raiders.

Mayfield spent most of the first quarter pacing on the sideline and playing catch with Perkins. Wolford went three-and-out for his lone drive and didn’t attempt a pass.

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The Rams often don’t have cornerback Jalen Ramsey shadow the opposing No. 1 receiver because he plays various roles on the field, but they altered their defensive scheme Thursday night and had Ramsey follow star receiver Davante Adams in coverage.

But Adams got the best of Ramsey early after completing an acrobatic one-handed catch for 32 yards, which ignited the Raiders’ opening drive. Running back Josh Jacobs closed the drive with a 1-yard touchdown run to give the Raiders a 7-0 advantage with 7:03 in the first quarter.

Adams beat Ramsey a second time when he hauled in a 35-yard catch near the left sideline to put the Raiders in the red zone. But the Raiders failed to score after Carr’s interception late in the second quarter.

Jacobs rushed for 99 yards and the only touchdown for the Raiders (5-8), whose three-game winning streak ended in humiliating fashion. Less than four weeks after Las Vegas lost in former ESPN analyst Jeff Saturday’s NFL coaching debut with Indianapolis, the Raiders lost to a quarterback who joined his new team less than 48 hours before the game.

Carr passed for 137 yards with no TDs and two interceptions, including a game-icing pick at midfield.

More to come on this story.

OMG. TOUCHDOWN RAMS!#LVvsLAR on Prime Video
Also available on NFL+ https://t.co/m65o43ZLpv pic.twitter.com/lpAk8bVIJ6

— NFL (@NFL) December 9, 2022

Down six with 1:41 to go backed up your own two-yard line? @bakermayfield was feeling dangerous. pic.twitter.com/gDuUL1QsZH

— NFL (@NFL) December 9, 2022

a literal Ram pic.twitter.com/obqzFMxYb1

— NFL (@NFL) December 9, 2022