Retour
Week 9 was another Sunday when the Las Vegas Raiders started slowly and hinged their hopes on mounting a second-half comeback. The only problem is that Las Vegas turned the ball over three times in the second half. One of those turnovers was an interception returned for a touchdown.
As expected, Las Vegas was set to face a rested San Francisco 49ers team that was coming off its bye week. Things got out of hand early for the Raiders, much like they did against the New England Patriots earlier this season. The Raiders' struggles started early and often on Sunday.
Kirk Cousins continues to rank near the top of the league in several statistical categories.
Grade: B-
Las Vegas has a solid player in Connor Heyward, but fullbacks are only impactful on offenses that are productive.
Grade: B
The Raiders only rushed the ball for 24 yards. Brock Bowers had two of those yards. However, Ashton Jeanty averaged over four yards per carry. Las Vegas likely would have been able to run the ball more had they not had an interception returned for a touchdown in the third quarter.
Teams cannot run the ball when they are down by nearly three touchdowns early in the second half. Until Las Vegas starts games faster and fixes its issues along the offensive line, its ground game will continue to struggle, as it did in each of the past three seasons.
Grade: C+
Brock Bowers and Michael Mayer kept the Raiders' offense afloat for another week. Together, they accounted for 148 of the team's 216 receiving yards. However, both players also fumbled the ball on Sunday, which essentially ended Las Vegas' chances of mounting another comeback.
Grade: C
Tre Tucker, Jack Bech, and Jalen Nailor did not have much of an impact on Sunday's game, as the Raiders again leaned heavily on their tight ends.
Grade: C+
The Raiders need help at offensive guard. Any progress they've made by starting Trey Zuhn appears marginal, at best. After holding an offensive guard competition during the offseason, the position will be the offense's downfall for the remainder of the year.
After entering Week 9 having allowed among the fewest sacks in the league, the unit did not allow any sacks on Sunday.
Grade: C-
The Raiders once again struggled to stop the run in the first half, allowing the 49ers to rush for 125 yards. However, the unit also held the 49ers to only 65 rushing yards in the second half. They did so even though the 49ers ran the ball nearly 20 times in the second half.
Las Vegas needs help along its interior defensive line, just like it needs help along the interior of its offensive line. Games, especially against the league's best, are won and lost in the trenches. Deep in the trenches, which is exactly where the Raiders need the most help.
The Raiders will keep falling short against the league's best until they fix the interior of both of their lines. This offseason, Las Vegas must make a major addition to the interior of its defensive line.
Grade: C
The Raiders' linebackers will continue to struggle if the defensive line cannot get off blocks and the defensive backfield cannot contain receivers.
Grade: C+
Sunday was another rough outing for the group. However, this is what the development of young players at critical positions looks like, especially against the league's elite. The best thing the Raiders can do now is keep developing the young group.
The best development is what they are getting on Sundays. The unit's struggles are not unique to them. Several former young cornerbacks the Raiders have tried struggled early in their careers but may have succeeded under a better coaching staff and roster.
Cornerback is one of the most challenging positions on the field.
Grade: D+
Rookie safety Treydan Stukes' second-half interception set the Raiders' offense up to score. Stukes continues to improve week to week, while also showing areas that need improvement. Overall, Stukes is a valuable part of the defense.
Grade: C+
Dylan Laube continues to make an impact for the Raiders weekly. After registering the league's first kickoff return for a touchdown last week, Laube added another solid return in Week 9.
Kicker Matt Gay made a 50-yard field goal, giving the Raiders a puncher's chance in the second quarter.
Retour
Top
| Politique de confidentialité Conditions d'utilisation Contact |
Actualiser
|
All the best breaking news stories from Apex Football Lite. Optimised for feature phones and low end Android devices, Apex Football Lite helps users with legacy devices and poor network connectivity access the latest football news and live scores. Particularly relevant for breaking football news in Nigeria, Kenya and South Africa.