Tag: Raiders vs. Broncos

Raiders PFF grades: 5 highest rated Week 12 vs. Broncos

The Raiders keep losing, and their streak has hit seven games. Which players had a good day despite the defeat in Las Vegas on Sunday?

The Raiders’ prolonged slide continued on Sunday at Allegiant Stadium when they lost their seventh consecutive game, this time to their AFC West rival, the Broncos.

Coach Antonio Pierce saw his team fight hard until the end, and even though it wasn’t enough for a win, some players had good days despite the defeat. Defensive end Maxx Crosby received the best grade on the team from Pro Football Focus this week, earning an “A” with his 90.1 score.

Crosby didn’t record a quarterback sack but had three tackles for loss, including two in a row late in the game. They set up a third-and-15 play the Broncos couldn’t convert, forcing a field goal attempt.

Curiously, the rest of the players on PFF’s list are offensive linemen, led by guard Jordan Meredith. The Raiders offensive line has struggled to create open lanes for running backs this season and Las Vegas had just 69 rushing yards.

But Raiders running backs had just 13 carries total compared to 53 pass attempts for Las Vegas. That’s a huge disparity, and the lack of balance makes it tougher to block overall. Despite five QB sacks surrendered vs. Denver, this group had perhaps its best game of the year.

Missing from this list is rookie tight end Brock Bowers. The Broncos slowed him significantly after he had a huge game the week before against the Dolphins. Look for him to rebound on Friday against the Chiefs, regardless of who plays quarterback for Las Vegas.

Raiders winners and losers in 29-19 defeat vs. Broncos

The Raiders took a lead into halftime but couldn’t hold off the Broncos. Which players and coaches stood out, for better or for worse?

The Raiders took a 13-9 lead into halftime but couldn’t hold off the Broncos (7-5) after the break, losing 29-19 at Allegiant Stadium on Sunday.

It was the Broncos’ first road win against the Raiders since 2015. Conversely, Las Vegas lost its seventh straight this season and fell to 2-9.

An interception from quarterback Gardner Minshew early in the third quarter started the Raiders’ downward slide. After the Raiders clawed back into the game and faced a 26-19 deficit, a fumble from QB Desmond Ridder—who was in for an injured Minshew—put the Broncos in Raiders territory and sealed the Raiders’ loss.

Here are the winners and losers after another disappointing week in Las Vegas.

Winner: RB Dylan Laube

The Raiders were down 3-0 early but received a shot of adrenaline thanks to rookie running back Dylan Laube. His 59-yard kickoff return gave Las Vegas great field position, and the drive ultimately resulted in a touchdown.

Laube was active due to injuries to running backs Zamir White and Alexander Mattison. He took advantage and helped everyone forget about his first carry in the NFL a few weeks ago, which resulted in a fumble.

Winner: RB Ameer Abdullah

Running back Ameer Abdullah caught a touchdown pass for the second week in a row. He was being covered by a linebacker when Minshew alertly threw it right into Abdullah’s arms for six points.

Abdullah’s touchdown finished what Laube started with his return and gave the Raiders a 7-3 lead.

Another reserve running back, first-year pro Sincere McCormick, is an honorable mention for the winner list. He got his first action in the NFL and actually led the Raiders in rushing with five carries for 33 yards. New offensive coordinator Scott Turner missed an opportunity to give McCormick the ball more; he looked fantastic running between the tackles and should get more carries next week.

Winner: P AJ Cole and LB Divine Deablo

The Raiders extended their lead to 10-6 in the second quarter, but not before a gutsy call on special teams paid off. Punter AJ Cole threw linebacker Divine Deablo, who was wide open for a 34-yard gain.

Kicker Daniel Carlson converted a field goal to end the drive. He hit all four of his field goal tries, including a 53-yarder.

Winner: DE Tyree Wilson

Defensive end Tyree Wilson made an impact in this game, notching a QB sack, two tackles for loss, and a QB hit. It was Wilson’s third sack of the season, all coming within the last four contests, including one last week.

This Raiders season has gone terribly, but if Wilson can start living up to his first-round draft status, that will be a big win for Las Vegas.

Winner: WR Jakobi Meyers

Wide receiver Jakobi Meyers continues to step up for the Raiders as their No. 1 wideout. He caught 10 of 15 targets for 121 yards, highlighted by tough fourth-quarter catches and a forced pass interference penalty.

Loser: QB Gardner Minshew

In a flashback to the Raiders’ first loss to the Broncos this season, Minshew turned the ball over just as it seemed Las Vegas was starting to take control.

It wasn’t as drastic last time when the Raiders seemed primed to go ahead 17-3 before a Minshew interception in the red zone, but it was close. Ahead 13-9 with the football after the Raiders defense stopped the Broncos’ first possession of the third quarter, Minshew sailed one over the head of Meyers.

 

Adding injury to insult, Minshew reportedly broke his collarbone later in the game and is out for the season.

Loser: CB Decamerion Richardson

The Raiders were without two starting cornerbacks in this game, leaving rookie Decamerion Richardson to pick up the slack. He struggled early and often, as the Broncos seemingly targeted the Raiders’ depth in the secondary.

The Raiders trailed just 19-16 when Richardson was beaten by Broncos wide receiver Cortland Sutton for a touchdown.

 

Chalk it up as a learning experience for Richardson, as he had a couple of good moments as well.

Loser: CB Jack Jones

Veteran Jack Jones also had his share of good moments, including a tackle for loss, a pass defensed, and seven total tackles. But he too fell victim to Sutton earlier in the game, when the Broncos took the lead for good in the third quarter after Minshew’s interception.

 

Jones clearly missed his normal running makes in the secondary, cornerbacks Nate Hobbs and Jakorian Bennett, who were both inactive due to injury.

Loser: TE Brock Bowers

One week after his best performance of the season, rookie tight end Brock Bowers was brought back down to earth by the Broncos defense. Bowers caught just four of his 10 targets for 38 yards.

The Raiders fought until the end but as injuries pile up, roster shortcomings will make life difficult for coach Pierce until the season mercifully ends. They’ll try to push the Chiefs to the limit next week, as the Raiders will travel to Kansas City to face their longtime rival the day after Thanksgiving in a nationally televised game.

Raiders winners and losers in 34-18 defeat vs. Broncos

The Raiders pulled ahead 10-0 but allowed the Broncos to score 34 unanswered points in this blowout loss. Which players stood out the most?

The Raiders started hot against Denver (3-2) on Sunday but allowed the Broncos to score 34 straight points on their way to a 34-18 beatdown of Las Vegas.

Momentum shifted on a 100-yard pick-6 interception by Broncos cornerback Patrick Surtain II. Tight end Brock Bowers appeared open for a touchdown on the play but Raiders quarterback Gardner Minshew missed the mark and tanked Las Vegas’ chances for a win.

Reserve QB Aidan O’Connell eventually replaced Minshew, but the offense still struggled. In fact, O’Connell was picked off by Surtain as well.

As for the Raiders defense, it was plagued by missed tackles all afternoon. It all contributed to an ugly performance for coach Antonio Pierce after a week of drama surrounding wide receiver Davante Adams.

Here are the Raiders winners and losers for the week after Las Vegas fell to 2-3.

Winner: TE Brock Bowers

Bowers scored his first career touchdown to give the Raiders an early 7-0 lead. Minshew dropped back on a play-action pass and hurled his throw in Bowers’ direction. Bowers displayed his supreme skill on the play, reaching high for the catch and racing by a defender before hitting paydirt.

Bowers had eight catches on 12 targets for 97 yards and one score. It’s clear that the Raiders got a special player when they selected Bowers in the first round this year. What’s not clear is whether Las Vegas can leverage his talent to win more games in 2024.

Winner: DE Maxx Crosby

Fresh off missing the first game in his career, defensive end Maxx Crosby was in his comfort zone on Sunday terrorizing the Broncos. He had two QB sacks and both came in big moments. First, he sacked Denver quarterback Bo Nix to push Denver out of field goal range (the Broncos ended up with a field goal anyway to make the score 10-3).

Crosby’s second sack forced the Broncos to punt on their first possession of the second half, as they tried to score again after notching a field goal to end the first half. He ended up with three total tackles, two tackles for loss, and two QB hits to go with his QB sacks.

Winner: Raiders running game

The Raiders had 115 yards rushing, their second straight game with more than 100 yards on the ground. It didn’t help much on this Sunday, but it should be noted due to the Raiders’ awful rushing attack to start the season.

However, on a bad note: new starting RB Alexander Mattison had just 38 yards on 15 carries, good for a 2.5 yards per rush average. The Raiders leading rusher, Ameer Abdullah, gained all but two of his rushing yards on one play.

Loser: QB Gardner Minshew

Minshew started this game by completing his first nine pass attempts, leading the Raiders to 138 yards of offense on their first two drives and a 10-0 lead.

After a 40-yard run by Abdullah put the Raiders in business on their third drive of the game, Bowers caught a pass from Minshew to set up a goal-to-go situation. On 1st-and-goal, a lazy pass from Minshew missed Bowers badly and went right to Surtain, who finished the job for a touchdown. Suddenly, it was 10-10 after the Raiders were primed to take a 17-3 advantage.

Minshew threw another interception when the Raiders were trailing 20-10. One play before the pick, Minshew looked lost in the pocket before getting sacked. On the Raiders’ next drive, O’Connell entered for Minshew as the Raiders still trailed 20-10, but O’Connell led another three-and-out drive for Vegas. The Broncos scored on the ensuing possession for a commanding 27-10 lead.

Loser: DE Janarius Robinson

The Raiders committed 11 penalties for 79 yards in this game, a departure from their disciplined nature under coach Pierce. Perhaps no penalty hurt Las Vegas more than a flag on DE Janarius Robinson at the end of the first half.

The Broncos missed a 59-yard field goal as time expired, but Robinson jumped over the line of scrimmage, drawing the penalty. The Broncos moved up 15 yards and converted their next try for a 13-10 lead at the break.

Loser: HC Antonio Pierce

Surtain’s pick-6 changed momentum dramatically, but a curious decision by Pierce and his offense may have contributed to the Raiders’ sudden disbelief in their ability to win this ballgame.

After the Raiders defense forced a Broncos punt with the game knotted at 10-10, Las Vegas had phenomenal field position, starting their drive at midfield. On 3rd-and-5, the Raiders handed off to Mattison, setting up a 4th-and-2. Pierce opted to punt.

The run on third down makes the most sense if Pierce had already decided his team was in four-down territory. So the punt, and the entire sequence, was a head-scratcher.

The Raiders defense forced a punt on the ensuing possession, but if Pierce had shown a little more confidence and went for it — or had his offense dial up a better play on third down — the Raiders could have used their great field position to turn the game in their favor again. Instead, it was just more failure for the offense and more bad vibes as the game slipped away.

Loser: Aidan O’Connell

The Raiders made their QB switch late in the game, but O’Connell had a real opportunity to change momentum. The offense went three-and-out on his first drive — though the effort was ruined by a hold on offensive tackle DJ Glaze. O’Connell threw his interception on an off-target pass to Bowers on his next drive.

Loser: Defense

The Raiders are not far removed from Pierce’s “business decisions” comment after Las Vegas’ loss to the Panthers. On Sunday in Denver, Pierce’s defense missed a lot of tackles. And they were smacked a handful of times by the Broncos offense when they stuck their nose in there and tried to make a tough tackle. Overall, it was just a bad look, even though Denver had a pedestrian 289 yards of offense (109 rushing).

The Raiders picked a bad time to lose their eight-game winning streak against the Broncos. Las Vegas entered the game with a 2-2 record — and also with a disgruntled star receiver who wants off the team in Davante Adams. This win would have gone a long way toward turning the page on the Adams fiasco.

Instead, the Raiders are left to wonder what went wrong, and perhaps see more clearly why Adams wants nothing to do with this team any longer.

But as we all know, the NFL is a week-to-week business, and the Raiders still have time to become a contender. Their next chance is a Week 6 matchup with the Steelers at Allegiant Stadium.

TV broadcast coverage map for Raiders vs. Broncos Week 5

Where you can catch the Raiders Week 5 game vs. Broncos

There’s been a lot happening in Raider land this week, from the Davante Adams drama to a wildly long injury report. However, coach Antonio Pierce and his players must remain focused on their game against the Denver Broncos on Sunday.

The game is broadcast on FOX and starts at 1:05 p.m. Pacific time. According to the weekly NFL broadcast map provided by 506sports.com, the game will be shown on local television in the Las Vegas area and a wide swath of Broncos country, extending from Denver to the United States border in the north and south. Fans to the east in Missouri and Arkansas can also watch, presumably so Chiefs fans keep tabs on this AFC West rivalry.

The broadcast area for the Raiders game is shaded in orange this week, and it also shows that small pockets of fans in Oregon and Idaho can watch the game on local TV as well.

Both the Raiders and Broncos are 2-2, so this is a huge matchup for each squad. Las Vegas will try to win consecutive games for the first time this season, and doing so against an AFC West rival would be extra sweet.

For the Broncos, they’ll be intent on breaking their eight-game losing streak to the Raiders. Incredibly, Denver has not won a game in this matchup since the silver and black moved to Sin City.

The Raiders will be without Adams again, just like last week. But after the superstar wideout’s trade request became public knowledge, playing without their best playmaker will have a different feel.

Adams is almost guaranteed to be traded, so the Raiders need to create a new identity on offense without him. Look for wide receiver Jakobi Meyers and tight end Brock Bowers to step up in the passing game and running back Alexander Mattison to get more carries after his impressive performance last week.

But considering the lengthy injury report, a host of Raiders will have to step up, just as they did in their victory against the Browns. We’ll all be watching to see how Pierce’s crew responds to another distraction-filled week in Las Vegas.

Raiders, Broncos Week 18 final injury report: Josh Jacobs, Michael Mayer both OUT

Josh Jacobs, Michael Mayer both OUT on Raiders final injury report

The final final injury report of the Raiders 2023 season is out. And so too are RB Josh Jacobs and TE Michael Mayer.

Jacobs was lost to a quad injury against the Vikings in Week 14 and hasn’t played since. Mayer was lost the following week against the Chargers to a toe injury and also hasn’t played since.

The Broncos ruled out two players — TE Chris Manhertz (illness) and T Mike McGlinchey (Ribs).

Raiders winners and losers in 17-16 victory vs. Broncos

Raiders winners and losers in 17-16 victory vs. Broncos

The Jimmy Garoppolo era in Las Vegas started with a win, as the Raiders beat the Broncos 17-16 to open the 2023 campaign. Garoppolo threw two touchdown passes and sealed the game late with a first-down run from the pocket.

Overall, the game wasn’t pretty; the teams combined for 20 penalties, and Garoppolo threw an interception in the end zone. But this opening win for the Raiders will boost their confidence as they look to surpass low expectations league-wide.

Despite the win, some players performed better than others. Here are this week’s winners and losers as the Raiders bask in their 1-0 record.

Winner: QB Jimmy Garoppolo

Garoppolo and the Raiders offense started hot, notching a touchdown on their first possession. Broncos coach Sean Payton tried an onside kick to start the game, but after a penalty on Denver gave the Raiders the ball, Garoppolo took advantage of the short field and found wide receiver Jakobi Meyers for a touchdown.

An interception in the end zone by Garoppolo late in the third quarter threatened to put him on the loser list. But the Raiders defense kept the damage to a minimum, holding Denver to a field goal and a 16-10 lead midway through the fourth quarter.

Garoppolo threw another touchdown to Meyers on the ensuing drive, giving the Raiders the lead for good at 17-16. His late scramble for a first down sealed the win for Las Vegas. It was a welcome sight for coach Josh McDaniels, especially considering Garoppolo briefly left the game after a big hit early. The oft-injured Garoppolo returned and earned the victory.

Winner: WR Jakobi Meyers

The Raiders’ new weapon on offense made a big splash in his first game for Las Vegas. Meyers caught both of Garoppolo’s touchdown throws and had 81 yards on nine receptions, leading his team in both categories.

He left the game late after a crushing hit on the Raiders’ game-sealing drive. The play drew a penalty on Denver and handed Las Vegas a first down. Meyers walked off the field on his own, a good sign for the Raiders, as he and Garoppolo displayed great chemistry out of the gate.

Winner: DE Maxx Crosby

Defensive end Maxx Crosby looked every bit of himself to start the season, notching five tackles, a QB sack, a tackle for loss, and two QB hits.

As the Raiders nursed a 10-6 lead in the second quarter, Crosby single-handedly ruined a promising Denver drive. He drew a holding call on the Broncos and followed that play up with a sack, forcing a 2nd-and-27 situation that led to an eventual punt.

Like Garoppolo’s performance, it wasn’t always pretty, but Crosby led a Raiders defense that got the job done in Week 1. The Broncos were just short of 100 yards rushing and tallied only 260 yards overall.

Loser: LB Luke Masterson

After Garoppolo’s interception, it appeared the Raiders stopped the Broncos when DE Jerry Tillery sacked Broncos QB Russell Wilson, forcing a punt. On 4th-and-14, linebacker Luke Masterson roughed the punter, handing Denver a first down.

The rest of the Raiders defense stepped up after Masterson’s mistake, holding the Broncos to a field goal and a 16-10 lead. But for a minute, it appeared the Raiders’ opening game would be ruined by a special teams blunder.

Loser: CB Jakorian Bennett

Rookie cornerback Jakorian Bennett had his moments in his debut as an NFL pro, notably his seven tackles. He also had a couple of learning moments.

He got beat on a big third-down conversion on the Broncos’ first drive of the game, which ended in a touchdown. Bennett also drew a pass interference flag on a 3rd-and-6 play late in the first half, another Denver touchdown drive.

Overall, Bennett kept battling and showed his potential. The Raiders will need him to keep learning and growing this season.

Loser: WR Hunter Renfrow

Wide receiver Hunter Renfrow seemed primed to bounce back from an unproductive, injury-riddled campaign in 2022. That notion is still on hold, as Renfrow went catchless on Sunday.

In fact, Renfrow wasn’t targeted a single time. Unlike Meyers, Renfrow wasn’t able to capitalize on the added attention paid to teammate Davante Adams. Perhaps Renfrow will still emerge this season as the offense matures under Garoppolo, but Renfrow appeared to be an afterthought on Sunday.

McDaniels gets an honorary mention on the winner list, mostly because he went for a key 4th-and-1 opportunity on the Raiders’ first drive. After Payton’s onside kick to start the game, it was important to make the Broncos pay with a touchdown and set the tone for the game.

Garoppolo hit Adams for 13 yards to convert on short yardage, and the Raiders were up 7-0 minutes later. Las Vegas played uneven football the rest of the way but won despite falling behind late. That’s a reversal of last season when McDaniels’ bunch blew plenty of late leads.

The Raiders will play the Bills in Buffalo next week, in an early-season test against an AFC contender. It’s still unclear how good this bunch is, but confidence should be sky-high as the Raiders travel to the East Coast with a 1-0 record.

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Raiders winners and losers in 32-23 victory vs. Broncos

Raiders winners and losers in 32-23 victory vs. Broncos

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The Raiders almost let their first win of the season slip away on Sunday after the Broncos pulled within two points late, but a touchdown from running back Josh Jacobs closed the door on Denver, and Las Vegas won, 32-23.

After being a pass-happy squad for most of the season thus far, the Raiders featured a balanced attack on offense and had more rushing yards than passing yards. Star wide receiver Davante Adams had a good day anyway, racking up nine catches for 101 yards.

So which players made the largest impact? Here are the winners and losers this week for the Raiders.

Winner: RB Josh Jacobs

This column called for more touches for running back Josh Jacobs last week, and against the Broncos, Jacobs proved he’s up to the task. He finished with a career-high 144 yards rushing on 28 carries and two touchdowns. He also added five catches for 31 yards.

He busted loose for a sensational 43-yard run in the second half, proving to coach Josh McDaniels that run plays can become big plays with Jacobs in the backfield, so he doesn’t always have to pass to be aggressive.

Here’s Jacobs’ late touchdown that put an end to the Broncos’ hopes. Time will tell if McDaniels continues to balance his play-calling, but it made all the difference in getting his first win as Raiders coach.

Winner: QB Derek Carr

Quarterback Derek Carr had some rough moments against the Broncos, and didn’t throw a touchdown or even surpass 200 yards through the air. In fact, he earned heavy consideration for the loser list this week.

But after the Broncos easily marched downfield late in the fourth quarter to make the score 25-23, Carr scrambled from the pocket and converted a key third-down on the ensuing drive.

Carr broke from the pocket several times and ended with 40 rushing yards. It’s the type of play Carr didn’t make in the first three weeks of the season, and perhaps he’ll be willing to scramble more in the future when needed.

Winner: Maxx Crosby

Defensive end Maxx Crosby continues to be a beast on the edge for the Raiders. He had two sacks, two tackles for loss, and two quarterback hits on the day, including a no-contest takedown of Broncos QB Russell Wilson.

Crosby got a little more help from his fellow edge rusher Chander Jones, as Jones forced a holding penalty and was more noticeable on the field. If Crosby can get more help form his fellow defensive ends, he could he in line for a career year.

Winner: Amik Robertson

Cornerback Amik Robertson had a rough start to his day, falling down on a long completion to WR Jerry Jeudy. But he recovered in a big way, mostly by scooping up a fumble caused by safety Duron Harmon and taking it to the house for six points.

Jeudy appeared to mock Robertson’s height after his early catch, but Robertson didn’t back down and made perhaps the largest impact for the Raiders on a day they were without starting CB Rock Ya-Sin.

Loser: G Dylan Parham

The Raiders rotating offensive line continues to be a story. This week, rookie lineman Dylan Parham started at right guard. In the first half, he allowed a sack on a stunt from the defensive line that pinned the Raiders back on their own 2-yard line.

Parham is a promising rookie, and his place on the loser list this week is partially credited to coach McDaniels and general manager Dave Ziegler for neglecting the offensive line in the offseason.

Loser: OL Jermaine Eluemunor

Before Parham allowed his sack, offensive tackle Jermaine Eluemunor (who has also played guard), committed a false start, backing the Raiders up in their own territory.

After the ensuing sack, the Raiders punted and the Broncos had a nice return to set up an easy touchdown to go ahead 7-3. Once again, the rotating line continues to be an issue and McDaniels would do well to choose one combination so they can settle in and grow as a group.

McDaniels is still an honorable mention for the winner list, as he earned his first victory as Raiders coach. But he has a lot of work to do, as does the entire team.

Perhaps they found something against the Broncos though, especially with their balanced offense. The Raiders’ next chance for victory is Monday night, Week 5 against the Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium.

Raiders winners and losers in home victory vs. Broncos

Raiders winners and losers in home victory vs. Broncos

The Raiders and Broncos battled for AFC relevancy on Sunday, and Las Vegas came out on top, overcoming turnovers and a near injury to quarterback Derek Carr to win, 17-13.

After a fumble from running back Josh Jacobs and an interception from Carr led to 10 Denver points just before halftime, the Broncos took a 13-7 lead into the locker room. But the Las Vegas defense didn’t allow any more points and the Raiders run game came alive.

Now, their record sits at 8-7, and Las Vegas is still in playoff contention after its second straight win. Here are the winners and losers from this big home victory for the Raiders.

Winners

Josh Jacobs

Jacobs recovered from his silly second-quarter fumble in a big way. At the end of the day, he tied his career-high in rushing with 129 yards on 27 carries.

His fumble was inexcusable — he carried the football with just one hand as he ran in the open field after a desperation shovel pass from Carr was successful. But after the Raiders fell behind at halftime, they turned to Jacobs on the first drive of the second half and the run game delivered, leading to a red-zone rushing TD from RB Peyton Barber.

But it was Jacobs’ day. It was his first 100-yard rushing performance of the season. Plus, he helped run the clock out late, putting an exclamation point on his performance.

Hunter Renfrow

Wide receiver Hunter Renfrow had an incredible touchdown to start the day’s scoring for the Raiders, and he also made some franchise history.

First, here’s the touchdown, with the chemistry between Carr and Renfrow on full display.

That was a sensational grab. Plus, Renfrow crossed the 90-reception mark. He joins Hall of Fame wide receivers Tim Brown and Jerry Rice as the only wideouts to have 90 or more catches in a season for the Raiders. Not a bad day of work for Las Vegas’ most reliable pass-catcher down the stretch.

Maxx Crosby

Defensive end Maxx Crosby hadn’t notched a QB sack since Week 6. That changed on Sunday with this takedown of Broncos QB Drew Lock.

Crosby led a defense that only allowed eight first downs and 158 total yards on the day, including just 18 rushing yards. Defensive tackle Quinton Jefferson also tallied a QB sack, and linebacker Denzel Perryman returned from injury and made a positive impact for Las Vegas, as he has in every game he’s played his season.

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Raiders winners and losers in monumental Week 6 win vs. Broncos

Raiders winners and losers in monumental Week 6 win vs. Broncos

In a sudden shift of fortune, all appears very, very well with the Las Vegas Raiders.

After a week of turmoil due to the surprise resignation of coach Jon Gruden, the Raiders traveled to Denver and beat the Broncos soundly, 34-24. The offense gained yardage in large chunks early and often, and the Las Vegas defense produced a pass rush that kept the Broncos on edge all afternoon, resulting in four turnovers along the way.

Interim coach Rich Bisaccia clearly prepared Las Vegas well, with every player on the Raiders seeming to distill their emotions into turbo fuel for the football field.

As always, some players fared better than others. But looking at the various performances from the Raiders this week, there are no losers (well, almost none) to choose from. Here are this week’s standout players, divided into offense and defense, with due respect to the Bisaccia’s special teams.

Winners on offense

Derek Carr/Greg Olson

The Raiders offense used to be Gruden’s baby. Now, quarterback Derek Carr is fully behind the wheel. His co-piot? Offensive coordinator, Greg Olson. Together, they produced 34 points, Las Vegas’ highest point total this season, including its two overtime wins.

It started early, when the Raiders broke their streak of scoreless first drives, cashing in on a 48-yard touchdown toss from Carr to wide receiver Henry Ruggs III to take a 7-0 lead. And the offense kept churning out big plays and steady gains all game long, ending up with 426 yards on an incredible 8.2 yards per play.

Carr had 341 yards through the air with two touchdowns, earning a 134.4 QB rating. He spread the ball around nicely and apparently didn’t miss Gruden one bit. He even threw a touchdown to one player that was an afterthought heading into Sunday’s game.

Kenyan Drake

Running back Kenyan Drake was supposed to be one of Gruden’s new weapons this season. Instead, Drake waited until Gruden’s departure to put on a show.

After receiving very few touches during the Raiders’ previous two games, Drake scored two touchdowns Sunday, one on a skillful 31-yard connection with Carr near the end of the first half. The play gave the Raiders a 17-7 edge at the break.

He also had an 18-yard run in the second half that handed Las Vegas a 24-7 edge.

Drake’s second score was set up by a nice catch and run by RB Josh Jacobs, and the two finally formed a formidable pair, just as Gruden envisioned. All it took, ironically, was Gruden’s resignation.

Henry Ruggs III

Ruggs’ 48-yard touchdown grab to start the game set the tone. But he didn’t stop there. He also hauled in a 40-yard catch in the second half — on a crucial third-down, with Carr facing intense pressure in the pocket — that set up a Jacobs rushing TD, giving the Raiders a 31-10 lead. On the day, Ruggs had three catches for 97 yards and his one touchdown.

Ruggs’ fellow young starter at WR, Bryan Edwards, also gets a nod this week. He had his own 51-yard catch (with one hand) late in the fourth quarter, leading to a Daniel Carlson field goal and a 34-17 Raiders advantage.

But this was one of Ruggs’ finest games. He is the playmaker that general manager Mike Mayock — and Gruden, of course — said he was.

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Raiders coach Jon Gruden: LB Nicholas Morrow had his ‘best game as a Raider’ in win vs. Broncos

Raiders linebacker Nicholas Morrow got the start in place of LB Cory Littleton and caused havoc against Denver.

The Raiders rode the strength of their defense and its five forced turnovers in beating the Broncos, 37-12 on Sunday, moving to 6-3 on the campaign, and there’s plenty of credit to go around.

Safety Jeff Heath got the party started with the first of his two interceptions, and cornerback Nevin Lawson forced a fumble and recovered the football on the same play. Incredibly, defensive end Carl Nassib also picked off Broncos quarterback Drew Lock, as did linebacker Nick Kwiatkoski.

And though LB Nicholas Morrow didn’t notch a turnover, he was impossible to miss as he started in place of LB Cory Littleton, who is on the Reserve/COVID-19 list.  Morrow made his presence felt, most notably when he sacked Lock and forced a fumble, which Denver recovered, and on a vicious pass break up in the second half.

In total, he had five tackles, a quarterback sack, two passes defensed, two QB hits and his forced fumble. Morrow’s performance prompted coach Jon Gruden to say that it was the linebackers’s best game as a pro, though he wasn’t surprised by what he saw.

“He’s the same Nicholas Morrow he was last year. He’s a really good player,” Gruden said to reporters after the game. “At this point in his career, I think his experience in the system shows. I think his confidence in himself is showing. And I thought he cut it loose today and really had his best game as a Raider. I can’t wait to see this film.

“He’s such a great kid, coming from a real small school. Quite a transition for him, changing coaches, changing systems. I think he’s going to be a really good linebacker in this league for a while.”

Since defensive coordinator Paul Guenter’s defense has a notoriously long learning curve, it benefits the Raiders to have a backup that has soaked up the scheme for the last two-plus years, as Gruden hit on. Morrow, who was undrafted out of Greenville University, could cut it loose and rely on his instinct, resulting in perhaps his best game when the Raiders needed him to step up.

The ability to cut it loose, or lack thereof, could be part of Littleton’s problem. He’s struggled in his first year with Guenther and the Raiders. With today’s performance and the postgame praise from Gruden, playing time at LB next to Kwiatkoski is something to keep an eye on. In any event, the Raiders are lucky to have Morrow, who will look to make an impact as Las Vegas attempts to make the playoffs.

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