Beating the Jaguars is a W just like any other. But the Jags may just be the worst team in football. And Mac Jones is not a starting QB. Hell, he may not be an NFL QB. And yet the Raiders still just managed a come-from-behind win while failing to hit 20 points.
Busters
LT Kolton Miller
The second Raiders possession lasted just four plays. On third-and-14 Miller didn’t switch on the stunt to give up the sack.
In the second quarter, the Raiders moved into scoring range at the 24, at which point Miller gave up a tackle for loss. Two plays later, they settled for a field goal. The next drive, they were in third-and-six and Miller was flagged for a false start. They would end up punting.
A holding penalty on Miller would kill a drive in the third quarter.
RG Dylan Parham
The Raiders got a big play on their first play of the day with the 32-yard catch and run by Brock Bowers. But the drive would back up from there. First with Parham flagged for holding. Then with him giving up a six-yard sack on the next play. They didn’t even try to pick up the third-and-26, choosing to run for a few yards and then punt.
Early in the second quarter, the Raiders got their first touchdown. Alexander Mattison ran it in from one yard out. But it was harder than it had to be because Parham was slow on the pull block and ended up just getting in Mattison’s way. First with him running into Parham’s back, and then trying not to trip over him rolling on the turf in front of him.
In the third quarter, he gave up a batted ball at the line on third down to force a punt.
He gets credit for laying the key block on the Raiders’ second TD run, but on the two-point conversion attempt, he gave up the pressure causing Aidan O’Connell to have to throw the ball away.
He would give up a tackle for loss on a drive in the fourth quarter to lead out the final series with a punt.
CB Jack Jones
Twice in this game, the Jaguars had the lead. Both times it was on a catch given up by Jones. The first touchdown drive, Jones gave up 16-yard catch on third and nine to keep the drive alive and set them up at the 12-yard-line. They would get the touchdown to take a 7-0 lead.
Late in the third quarter, with the Raiders clinging to a 13-7 lead, Jaguars rookie phenom receiver Brian Thomas got wide open on the left side. He got so wide open because Jack Jones blew the coverage, staying with the short receiver despite Tre’von Moehrig already there. Thomas went 62 yards and literally walked in for the score to give the Jags as 14-13 lead heading into the fourth quarter.
He also gave up a 20-yard catch on the Jaguars final drive which was their final first down of the game.