Los Angeles Has the Rams in Its Backyard, but the Raiders in Its Heart

With the N.F.L. regular season about to end, the verdict among football fans in Los Angeles looks clear: Raiders 1, Rams 0.

The Rams may be the team that returned to Los Angeles, but the Raiders fans are the ones who are celebrating, even if their team is in absentia — in Oakland, where it has spent most of its existence, except for a 13-year stay in Southern California. The Raiders’ 12 wins are their highest total since 2000, and with a potent offense and dynamic defense, the team seemed destined for a long playoff run until quarterback Derek Carr broke his leg last weekend…