The Raiders faced the Bengals on Sunday in dire need of a win, but Las Vegas squandered an early opportunity to take control and let the game slip away, slowly but surely, eventually losing 32-13 at Allegiant Stadium.
Quarterback Derek Carr and the offense started their first drive of the game on the Bengals’ 9-yard line, thanks to a turnover from the Raiders defense, but they settled for a field goal, setting the tone for the lackluster performance.
Las Vegas has now lost three straight games and has a 5-5 record, putting its playoff chances in further jeopardy. But some players played well enough to provide optimism for the weeks ahead. Here are the Raiders winners and losers for the week after a disappointing loss.
Winners
Yannick Ngakoue
The day had an ideal start for the Raiders, thanks to defensive end Yannick Ngakoue. He sacked Bengals QB Joe Burrow and knocked the ball loose, allowing defensive back Dallin Leavitt to scoop the football up and run to Cincinnati’s 9-yard line.
Ball is out!@YannickNgakoue | #RaiderNation | CBS pic.twitter.com/WWsDCsRS7y
— Las Vegas Raiders (@Raiders) November 21, 2021
But the Raiders offense opted for a run up the middle by reserve running back Peyton Barber for one yard, followed by a pass to tight end Darren Waller that lost two yards and an incomplete pass to running back Josh Jacobs. Kicker Daniel Carlson converted a 26-yard field goal, and the day had an ominous vibe from the start for Las Vegas.
Darren Waller
Much of the talk surrounding the Raiders in the lead-up to this game involved the inconsistent usage of Waller, who is universally considered one of the top tight ends in a tight-end crazed league. Las Vegas went to him on their first set of failed plays, but Waller eventually found success to the tune of seven receptions for 116 yards.
Waller combined with TE Foster Moreau to help lead a brief Raiders comeback in the second half, with a three-play drive consisting of two big catches by Waller and a Moreau touchdown.
The Bengals scored on the ensuing drive, however, aided by a Raiders penalty for 12 players on the field. Las Vegas penalties kept Bengals’ drives alive all game long, unfortunately, wiping away multiple chances for the Raiders to stay competitive.
Denzel Perryman
Linebacker Denzel Perryman has been a revelation this season, leading the Raiders in tackles and hitting opponents hard, too. He set the defensive tone early with some nice hits, helping the defense play a quality first portion of the game as the Las Vegas offense struggled.
He ended the afternoon with 12 tackles (nine solos) with two tackles for loss and two passes defensed. The Raiders’ offseason signing of LB K.J. Wright was much splashier than their acquisition of Perryman, but Perryman has taken his career to new heights in Las Vegas and brings it every Sunday, no matter the circumstance.
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