Tag: Raiders Winners and Losers

Ballers & Busters for Raiders Week 18 win over Broncos

Ballers & Busters for Raiders Week 18 win over Broncos

For the fourth straight season, the Raiders complete the sweep of the Broncos. That’s right, the Las Vegas Raiders have never lost to the Broncos.

Raiders winners and losers in 27-14 season-ending victory vs. Broncos

Raiders winners and losers in 27-14 season-ending victory vs. Broncos

The Raiders finished their season on a high note by beating the Broncos at Allegiant Stadium on Sunday, 27-14. It was Las Vegas’ eighth consecutive win against their longtime division rival.

A 98-yard touchdown drive near the end of the first half gave the Raiders a commanding 17-7 lead, and Las Vegas led 24-7 at the start of the fourth quarter. The Broncos responded with a touchdown to again pull within 10 points, but the Raiders bled the clock with another long drive, yielding a field goal and the game’s final 27-14 tally.

Here are the last winners and losers for the season, as the Raiders finished with an 8-9 record and five victories under the direction of interim coach Antonio Pierce.

Winner: WR Tre Tucker

The Raiders never trailed in this game, though it was tied early at 7-7. As the Raiders jumped ahead 10-7, neither team had wrestled momentum away from the other.

Wide receiver Tre Tucker changed that with a 47-yard reception on a deep pass from quarterback Aidan O’Connell. It was the key play in the Raiders’ 98-yard drive toward the end of the first half, setting Las Vegas up in the red zone.

Tucker led his team in receiving yards with 79 and tied for the team lead in receptions with five catches on five targets. It was a fine end to the season for the rookie who figures to see a lot more action next season.

Winner: WR Davante Adams

After Tucker’s big catch, WR Davante Adams had a sure touchdown go through his hands. Shortly after that, he redeemed himself with an impressive catch as he fought for position in the end zone with just seconds remaining on the clock.

Adams hit another season and career milestone, just as he did last week with his 1,000th receiving yard. He surpassed 100 receptions on the season, his fourth straight campaign with triple-digit catches.

Winner: WR Jakobi Meyers

Wide receiver Jakobi Meyers started the day’s scoring with an impressive improvised touchdown run. It appeared the play called for Meyers to pass the ball, but he reversed course and scored on a nifty scamper.

Meyers also had a 33-yard touchdown reception on the first play of the fourth quarter, giving the Raiders a 24-7 advantage.

Winner: QB Aidan O’Connell

O’Connell had great throws to Tucker, Adams, and Meyers but he impressed even more considering he briefly left the game with an injured right index finger in the third quarter.

He returned to connect with Meyers on his receiving touchdown, and as the Raiders took the ball with 10 minutes left in the game and a 24-14 lead, O’Connell made multiple big throws on a drive that bled the clock and ended in a field goal to close the day’s scoring.

O’Connell built on his solid performance last week to finish with 244 yards on 20-for-31 passing and two touchdowns, good for a 110.1 QB rating.

Winner: RB Zamir White

Running back Zamir White once again started in place of injured RB Josh Jacobs. White finished with 112 yards on 25 carries. He displayed power and big-play ability, with a 25-yard run mixed in with solid and reliable ground gains.

Winner: Offensive line

Offensive tackle Kolton Miller returned to the starting lineup and the offensive line closed the campaign strong, setting the table for their teammates on offense to do the same.

Though the Raiders’ previous regime made minimal investments into this position group, the Las Vegas line overachieved all season. The next Raiders regime could be just one piece away from an elite group up front.

Winner: DE Maxx Crosby

Defensive end Maxx Crosby notched another QB sack, running his tally to 14.5 for the season. He also crossed the 90-tackle plateau, becoming just the fifth NFL defensive lineman to cross that mark since 2000. Furthermore, he reached 23 tackles for loss on the season, matching a franchise mark set by ex-Raiders DE Khalil Mack.

Perhaps best of all for the Raiders, Crosby’s presence set his teammates up for big plays of their own. DE Tyree Wilson, defensive tackle Adam Butler, and Safety Isaiah Pola-Mao all had QB sacks as Crosby forced Broncos QB Jarrett Stidham into panic mode.

As a unit, the defense had five sacks, 11 QB hits, and eight tackles for loss.

Winner: Coach Antonio Pierce

The Raiders went 5-4 under interim coach Pierce. Considering how lost the franchise looked under the previous regime, Pierce’s effort was extremely impressive.

His players want him to return next season as head coach, but it’s unclear whether team owner Mark Davis feels the same way. Considering Davis has said he wants Pierce to earn the job, it seems likely that Davis will hand him the keys to the franchise, along with interim general manager Champ Kelly.

Loser: QB Jimmy Garoppolo

Quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo played one drive in place of an injured O’Connell and looked ill-prepared on a three-and-out effort. Adding insult to injury, he was booed by the home crowd. It was likely Garoppolo’s last moments as a Raider, as the next GM will look to move on from the previous regime’s chosen QB.

Loser: Big play defense

For the second straight week, the Raiders defense allowed more than its share of big plays through the air.

After Crosby’s sack, Broncos WR Jerry Jeudy broke multiple tackles on a 24-yard catch-and-run touchdown. Earlier in the same drive, WR Brandon Johnson recorded a 36-yard reception. Jeudy also hauled in a 47-yard grab to set up the Broncos’ final score of the afternoon.

Loser: RB Josh Jacobs

For the fourth straight week, Jacobs sat out due to injury. White responded with 397 rushing yards during his time as the starting tailback. The Raiders could easily opt to move on from Jacobs, who is without a contract for next season.

If Jacobs and Las Vegas attempt to strike a deal, Jacobs’ negotiation leverage will be significantly weakened due to White’s strong showing.

Considering how low this Raiders season got at times, an 8-9 record is a very decent accomplishment. It won’t earn them a parade on the Las Vegas Strip, but it proves there are some very solid pieces on the roster.

Will the Raiders go for continuity and retain Pierce? Or will Davis look for another big name to fill the role as he has in the past? The clock starts ticking now, as the Raiders’ 2023 campaign is officially in the books.

Ballers & Busters for Raiders Week 17 loss to Colts

Raiders went out swinging, but went out just the same.

After a big win at Arrowhead over the defending champion Chiefs in Week 16, a trip to Indianapolis to face Gardner Minshew and the Colts seemed like a very winnable game for the Raiders.

It isn’t really that simple, though. The Raiders beat the Chiefs thanks to a couple of defensive TD’s. They can’t rely on that every week.

By half time, the Colts had scored off two big catches and the Raiders offense managed just a field goal. The Colts didn’t need to score a touchdown in the second half and still pulled out the win.[anyclip-media thumbnail=”undefined” playlistId=”undefined” content=”dW5kZWZpbmVk”][/anyclip-media]

Ballers & Busters for Raiders Week 16 win over Chiefs

Ballers & Busters for Raiders Week 16 win over Chiefs

A month ago the Chiefs boat raced the Raiders in Las Vegas to go 8-3 on the season take a commanding lead in the AFC Playoff race. At that time, it seemed you could chalk up another win for the Chiefs when the Raiders came to Arrowhead on Christmas Day.

Since then things have taken a turn for both teams. The Chiefs have been very beatable and the Raiders defense has been extremely stingy and opportunistic.

These teams collided on that same trajectory and the result was a stunner with the Raiders defense almost singlehandedly taking down Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs 20-14.

Ballers & Busters for Raiders Week 15 rout of Chargers

Ballers & Busters for Raiders Week 14 route of Chargers

What an insane game this was. Four days earlier, the Raiders were shut out 3-0 by the Vikings. Then they come out in this one and not only score a touchdown on their opening drive, not only score 21 points in the first quarter, not only go up 42-0 in the first half, not only scored 49 points before the Chargers scored for the first time, but scored a franchise record 63 points in a 63-21 trouncing of the Chargers.

That was one heck of a run-on sentence.

So, you might just see a heavy dose of Ballers this week. I wasn’t even sure there’d be a Buster, but in the end I found one. But just one.

Ballers & Busters for Raiders Week 14 loss to Vikings

Ballers & Busters for Raiders Week 14 loss to Vikings

A barn burner it was not. This game made the wrong kind of history. It was the first game in Raiders history that was scoreless in the fourth quarter. In fact, the first score didn’t happen until 1:57 left in the game. That was a Vikings field goal and it proved to be the game winner.

Both teams had moved into scoring range earlier in the game, but the Vikings missed a field goal attempt and the Raiders fumbled it away inside the 20.

The result was a 0-0 tie for the first 58 minutes and a final of 3-0.

Raiders winners and losers in 31-17 defeat vs. Chiefs

Raiders winners and losers in 31-17 defeat vs. Chiefs

The Raiders started red hot against the Chiefs but slowly lost control of the game, eventually succumbing to their AFC West rival in a 31-17 loss at Allegiant Stadium on Sunday.

Las Vegas outgained Kansas City 144 yards to 11 in the first quarter and had a 14-0 lead after a 63-yard gallop by running back Josh Jacobs early in the second. The Chiefs responded with 21 unanswered points to take the lead in the third quarter and never looked back.

Here are the winners and losers for the week as the Raiders fall to 5-7.

Winner: RB Josh Jacobs

Jacobs ran for a 7-yard gain on the Raiders’ first snap from scrimmage, which set the tone for Las Vegas’ hot start. His 63-yard run (with great blocks from tight end Michael Mayer and offensive tackle Kolton Miller) surely had many Raiders fans believing a win against the first-place Chiefs was in the cards.

Jacobs’ performance epitomized the entire team’s day, however. After 94 rushing yards in the first half, he slowed considerably and ended the day with 110 on 20 carries.

Winner: WR Jakobi Meyers

Wide receiver Jakobi Meyers got the scoring started for the Raiders with an 18-yard touchdown on Las Vegas’ first drive of the game. Meyers also converted multiple third-down opportunities, including an exceptional grab on a 3rd-and-4 play in the third quarter. The catch led to a Raiders field goal and tightened the score to 21-17.

On the day, Meyers had 79 yards on six receptions, leading the Raiders in both categories.

Winner: QB Aidan O’Connell

Quarterback Aidan O’Connell bounced back from a rough ending to the Raiders’ loss to the Dolphins last week, when he threw two interceptions late in the game and three picks overall.

He threw for 248 yards on 23-for-33 passing, good for a QB rating of 101.6. Raiders interim coach Antonio Pierce turned to a rookie to lead the way on offense, and it appears that he made the right call. Though O’Connell has to do a better job of getting superstar WR Davante Adams the ball, even when he’s double-covered. Adams started hot along with his teammates but had very little impact as the game wore on.

Winner: DE Maxx Crosby

Defensive end Maxx Crosby didn’t practice all week due to injury and illness, but he still notched a QB sack, bringing him to 10.5 on the season.

Crosby (and DE Malcolm Koonce, who initiated the pressure) broke through when the Raiders needed a play to regain momentum in the third quarter. Las Vegas notched a field goal on the ensuing possession to pull with four points of Kansas City.

Loser: CB Marcus Peters

Cornerback Marcus Peters was slated for an appearance on the loser list after he missed an open-field tackle near the goal line while the Raiders still held a 14-0 advantage. He became a shoo-in after he was benched in favor of CB Jack Jones.

Peters has drawn the ire of many Raiders observers and fans this season for his lackadaisical tackling, even as the Las Vegas defense has played better as a whole. Peters’ latest whiff was too much for the coaching staff to take, apparently, especially with the recently acquired Jones on deck.

Loser: DE Tyree Wilson

With Crosby missing practice all week, this game presented a great opportunity for rookie DE Tyree Wilson to step up. Not only did he presumably get extra reps in practice, but Crosby’s playing time was limited against the Chiefs.

Wilson underwhelmed. He recorded just one tackle and lost some playing time to seldom-used DE Malik Reed.

Loser: CB Nate Hobbs

Cornerback Nate Hobbs had his share of good moments against the Chiefs, posting eight tackles (seven solo) and a tackle for loss. But one bad, unsightly play lands him on the loser list.

He misjudged a route by Chiefs WR Rashee Rice at the start of the fourth quarter, just after the Raiders tightened the score to 21-17. Rice ran 39 yards to paydirt as Hobbs followed him from a distance, which is just a terrible look for any secondary defender.

Loser: Coach Antonio Pierce

Raiders fell to 2-2 under interim coach Pierce after the team’s second straight defeat. Each loss was against first-place teams, but following some questionable decisions against the Dolphins last week (his conservative approach to end the first half), Pierce again had a notable head-scratcher.

As the Raiders burst out the gates for their fast start, Pierce opted to try a first-quarter field goal rather than go for a 4th-and-1 attempt. Las Vegas was already up 7-0 and the offense was gaining chunks of yardage seemingly at will. Making matters worse, kicker Daniel Carlson uncharacteristically missed the short 30-yard kick.

Pierce’s decision rose to the forefront later in the game when the Raiders were compelled to go for a 4th-and-1 try from their own 19-yard line late in the game, trailing 28-17. The fourth-down try early in the game was from a position of strength and favored the Raiders, as opposed to the fourth-down try late, which was an act of desperation.

Ideally for Las Vegas, Pierce is starting to gain a firmer grasp of when to go for it and when to kick, especially against a high-powered opponent. Otherwise, Pierce appears to have potential as a head coach. His team played hard against a tough team, as they have every week on his watch. But he takes the personal “L” this week, along with the Raiders team loss.

After the last two games against tough opponents, the Raiders schedule eases up a bit, but not by a lot. Can Pierce finish his tenure as interim coach on a positive note, much as tenure began? We’ll know more soon, as the team’s next test is against the Vikings at Allegiant Stadium in Week 14.

Ballers & Busters for Raiders Week 11 loss to Dolphins

Ballers & Busters for Raiders Week 11 loss to Dolphins

There were more than a few people who were surprised at how the Raiders hung around with the Dolphins the entire game in Miami. Many thought the Raiders would get their doors blown off and that isn’t so much disrespect for the Raiders as much as it is respect for the Dolphins.

But Antonio Pierce has the Raiders playing inspired football. Even if, at times, it isn’t great football — at least not on the offensive side of the ball — it’s inspired. And that’s all you can really hope for if you hope to get the most out of the talent you have available.

Hence the reason this game was never more than a one-score difference for either team and went down to the wire before the Dolphins won it 20-13.

Ballers

DE Maxx Crosby, DE Malcolm Koonce

In a game of defensive heroics, Maxx was still the heroic-est. But this time he got a little help from the other side of the line.

We pick things up in the third quarter. That’s when the Raiders stopped letting the Dolphins get to the end zone. Crosby stopped their second drive almost single-handedly. They moved to first down at the Vegas 36. Then Crosy got in the backfield to make the stop on run stuff for one yard. Next play he helped make a tackle on a two-yard catch. And on third down, got pressure to force a bad throw. The Dolphins attempted a 50-yard field goal and missed.

The next drive ended when Koonce got pressure up the middle on a stunt to force an incompletion, leading to another field goal attempt. This one connected from 41 yards out. Koonce would get pressure to help end the next drive as well with the Dolphins again settling for a field goal.

The fourth quarter saw three possessions by the Dolphins for a total of 19 yards of offense. The first had Koonce made a run stuff, then ended with a vicious tackle by Crosby to make the stop well shy of the sticks. The second was upended with Koonce forcing a holding penalty that the Dolphins couldn’t overcome. The final possession, they got their only first down on the fourth quarter, but it still ended three plays later with Crosby getting a pressure to force an incompletion. That defensive stand gave the Raiders offense one more shot with just under two minutes remaining.

CB Nate Hobbs, S Isaiah Pola-Mao

After the Raiders went up 10-7 in the first quarter, the Dolphins led out the second quarter looking like they might respond with a touchdown to retake the lead. Hobbs saw to it that didn’t happen. Once they got to the 30-yard-line, Hobbs made two tackles on short catches. The Dolphins would still drive to inside the five-yard-line. They would go for it on fourth-and-one from the three-yard-line and it was Hobbs who came up to make the initial hit behind the line and Pola-Mao finished it off for the turnover on downs.

In the final seconds of the second quarter, the Dolphins were up 14-10 and driving. That was until Hobbs punched the ball out to force a fumble and give the Raiders the ball at the Miami 32-yard-line. The ensuing field goal made it a one-point game at the half.

First play of the third quarter, Pola-Mao picked off a deep Tua Tagovailoa pass. He later teamed up on a stop on third down.

Hobbs and Pola-Mao finished third and fourth on the team in tackles respectively. And they combined for two of the Raiders’ three takeaways in the game.

P AJ Cole

Cole was launching some punts into orbit in this game. His first punt went 50 yards with an illegal blindside block at the end of it to start the Dolphins’ drive at the 14-yard-line.

He added a 53-yard punt in the second quarter that was fair caught. And later in the quarter broke off a beauty that traveled 61 yards and bounced out of bounds at the 12-yard-line.

Then in the third quarter he booted a 51-yard punt the was fair caught at the 15. And, finally, he kicked another 53-yarder with an illegal block on the return that started the Dolphins possession at their own 10.

A couple weeks ago against the Giants, Cole had four punts of 63 yards or more, which set a record. But this game was better in some regards, because of those big punts, only one was stopped inside the 20-yard-line. And two of them went for touchbacks. In fact, in Sunday’s game in Miami, on six punts, Cole had zero touchbacks and the Dolphins started their drive inside the 20 four times. That usually means better hang time and better placement. Which is preferable to just simple punt distance.

LB Robert Spillane

It might not surprise you to learn that Spillane led the Raiders in tackles (13). He also had a tackle for loss and a pass breakup that was very nearly an interception. Because of course he did. He’s become quite the ball hawk this season.

His first tackle of the game went for a loss. Then on the Dolphins’ first drive of the second quarter, he had three run stops, including a stop on third and ten just short of the sticks. The Dolphins went for it on fourth-and-one from the three and couldn’t convert.

Spillane was a big factor in stopping the Dolphins on their final two drives, thus giving the Raiders offense two more shots at tying the game late. He was in on the tackle on third-and-15 to force the first punt. Then he was in on the run stop on their second to last play as well.

Honorable Mention

WR Davante Adams — Got open a lot in this game. It wasn’t his fault Aidan O’Connell only connected with him on one deep shot. But it was the Raiders’ one TD in the game.

LB Luke Masterson — Forced the fumble on the Dolphins’ first drive to start the Raiders second possession already in scoring range.

DC Patrick Graham — While Antonio Pierce gets credit for this team playing inspired football, Graham should get some love for his work as well.

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Raiders winners and losers in 20-13 defeat vs. Dolphins

Raiders winners and losers in 20-13 defeat vs. Dolphins

The Raiders went toe-to-toe against a tough Dolphins squad for four quarters on Sunday but came up short, losing 20-13 in Miami.

It was Las Vegas’ first loss under interim coach Antonio Pierce, but the Raiders had a chance to tie the score late until quarterback Aidan O’Connell threw an interception in the end zone with just seconds remaining.

The Raiders’ defense forced three turnovers and overcame a Las Vegas offense that sputtered in the second half, not allowing a single point to the high-flying Dolphins in the fourth quarter. Unfortunately for coach Pierce, the Raiders failed to score a point of their own after the break.

Here are the winners and losers for the week, as the Raiders fall to 5-6.

Winner: Raiders defense/DC Patrick Graham

Defensive coordinator Patrick Graham led an effort the Raiders defense can be proud of. The Dolphins offense had their share of impressive plays and ended up with 422 total yards, but two recovered fumbles by Las Vegas and an interception by safety Isaiah Pola-Mao on Miami’s first play of the second half helped hold off any sustained Dolphins charge.

The Raiders red zone defense impressed as well, forcing a turnover on downs inside the 10-yard line early in the second quarter. Las Vegas also forced Miami into three field goal tries, which is a high number of attempts for their potent offense.

Their effort in the fourth quarter gave the Raiders offense a chance to capitalize, but three second-half interceptions from O’Connell —with two coming in the final frame — loomed large.

Winner: S Isaiah Pola-Mao

Pola-Mao helped cover for an injury to S Marcus Epps and made a positive impact. First, he was in on a 4th-and-1 stop in the red zone, as he and cornerback Nate Hobbs stopped superstar wide receiver Tyreek Hill for a loss on a swing pass.

Pola-Mao’s interception gave the Raiders solid field position, but the offense failed to convert points on that possession. Overall, Las Vegas scored just six points off of turnovers.

Winner: LB Luke Masterson/CB Nate Hobbs

Linebacker Luke Masterson and Hobbs each forced a fumble, recovered by Epps and LB Divine Deablo, respectively. Each play occurred in the first half, and the Raiders converted each turnover into a field goal.

Considering the Raiders didn’t score at all in the second half, those missed chances for six points instead of three became the difference in the game. This includes a conservative approach on offense after Hobbs’ forced fumble just before the first half came to a close.

Winner: WR Hunter Renfrow

We had a confirmed Renfrow sighting on Sunday. Wide receiver Hunter Renfrow had a spectacular catch and run in the second half, as Vegas desperately attempted to even the score at 20 in the final quarter.

Unfortunately for the Raiders, the drive ended in one of O’Connell’s interceptions (this one a wild attempt as O’Connell fell backward to the ground on fourth down), but Renfrow displayed elite, jaw-dropping athleticism as he hurdled a Miami defender.

Winner: QB Aidan O’Connell/WR Davante Adams

O’Connell was on fire in the first quarter, posting a 143.8 QB rating. That was largely because of a 46-yard touchdown toss to superstar WR Davante Adams, which gave Vegas a 10-7 lead. Notably, O’Connell didn’t mind the extra defenders in the area and gave Adams a chance to make a play.

The entire Raiders offense slowed to a near halt after that play, and O’Connell had his three interceptions after the break. But these two are on the winner list because, despite a missed connection in the fourth quarter, their chemistry is improving by the week. If the Raiders are to make a move down the stretch, O’Connell and Adams have to lead the way. On Sunday, they made a huge step in the right direction.

Winner: Coach Antonio Pierce

The Raiders fought hard in this game and gave themselves a chance to beat a superior opponent on the road. It’s a tough loss, but coach Antonio Pierce deserves credit for having his team ready to play. If Las Vegas gives that level of effort every week, they’ll eventually start winning more than they lose.

Honorable mention for the winner list is LB Robert Spillane, who had 13 tackles (six solo) and continues to lead an over-achieving defense.

Loser: RB Josh Jacobs/Run game

A week ago against the Jets, the Raiders kept pounding the run game, featuring RB Josh Jacobs, and eventually broke through. Against the Dolphins, that wasn’t the case. Jacobs ended up with just 39 yards on 14 carries.

Given how close the game was, just a few more timely runs could have made a huge difference, especially in short-yardage situations.

Loser: Short yardage offense/OC Bo Hardegree

The Raiders were 4-for-14 on third-down tries and failed on two fourth-down attempts that came in the fourth quarter.

Las Vegas had plenty of chances before the final frame on third and short, including a failed flea flicker attempt on 3rd-and-1 in the third quarter. Additionally, Jacobs was stuffed for a loss on 3rd-and-1 after Pola-Mao’s interception.

New offensive coordinator Bo Hardegree faces the same issue as his predecessor: a suspect offensive line. Somehow, he has to find some short-yardage plays that can overcome Las Vegas’ inconsistent group up front.

Loser: CB Jakorian Bennett

It’s been a year of lessons for rookie cornerback Jakorian Bennett. After beginning the season as a starter, he’s only seen intermittent action and had some rough moments.

In the first quarter in Miami, a hold on Bennett wiped out a QB sack from defensive end Malcolm Koonce on a 3rd-and-11 play. The Dolphins scored a touchdown on the drive to take a 7-3 lead.

The Raiders took a step back in the standings on Sunday, but they perhaps took a step forward as a franchise. It’s hard to imagine the previous regime playing the Dolphins this tough, and if Pierce can get the same effort out of his team in each remaining week this season, things could get interesting in Vegas. They’ll have yet another massive test next week against the Chiefs at Allegiant Stadium.

Ballers & Busters for Raiders Week 10 win over Jets

Ballers & Busters for Raiders Week 10 win over Jets

The way this one played out was pretty much exactly as everyone expected. In the lead up to the game, I basically kept thinking to myself ‘first to 16 wins’. That’s because ain’t nobody was gonna be scoring more than one touchdown and if either team did, that would be the deciding factor.

That team was the Raiders, who beat the Jets 16-12.

Ballers

LB Robert Spillane

Even if you remove his late game clutch interception, Spillane might still have been the best player in this contest. And that’s saying a lot.

Spillane was on a mission. At least four times in this game, plays he made were the deciding factor in stopping a Jets’ drive.

Come the second quarter, the Jets had scored on their first three possessions to go up 9-3. Thanks to Spillane, they wouldn’t score again until the fourth quarter.

Their next three possessions ended with Spillane making the play. A run stuff for no gain on third and two, a sack on second and two, and forcing a hold on third and 21 then making the stop on third and 22.

Then with the Jets within four at 16-12 and driving late in the fourth quarter, he stepped in front of the Zach Wilson pass for his third interception of the season. This one with a cast on his right hand. Unbelievable.

TE Michael Mayer

It was a back-and-forth game with the Raiders failing to take the lead once in the first three quarters. That ended on the first play of the fourth quarter when Aidan O’Connell escaped pressure and put a ball up high where only Mayer could get it and Mayer leapt in the air, plucking it from over the top of the defender to the go-ahead score.

It was Mayer’s first touchdown as a pro and it was a beauty. And in a game like this, it proved to be enough to get the W.

DE Maxx Crosby

This game started poorly for the Raiders, with a 41-yard catch and run that put them in scoring range. It would go no further thanks to Crosby. He flew in for what should be credited as a sack. And when I say that, I think a rule change is in order, which states that if you have the player wrapped up and he is flagged for intentional grounding, that should be a sack. For the purposes of the game, it was the same. The Jets lost ten yards and a down and couldn’t make it back up, settling for a field goal.

It was big plays on each drive that put the Jets in scoring range. Their third one came off of an interception and moved them into first and goal at the three. A touchdown here may have been devastating in a game this close. So, Crosby wrecked it. He forced a holding penalty that backed them up to the 13. Then was in on the run stop on second and goal and the Jets would settle for a third field goal.

DT Jerry Tillery, DT John Jenkins, DT Adam Butler

Jenkins had a run stuff on the Jets’ first drive. Tillery upended the second drive when he forced a holding penalty. Butler ended the third drive on third and goal when he batted the ball down at the line.

The next possession, Jenkins had another run stuff for no gain. Then the drive after that, he got one of his big mitts on a pass to bat it at the line. Come the third quarter, Butler had a tackle for loss on a three-and-out.

The first drive of the fourth quarter ended with Tillery getting all the way out to the left boundary to help Divine Deablo lead Zach Wilson out of bounds to end the drive. And on the Spillane interception, it was Tillery who got around his man to get pressure in Wilson’s face and force the throw.

RB Josh Jacobs

His two fumbles in the game really had me thinking whether he deserved to be on this list. In the end I decided that because his hard running was such a key factor in the Raiders scoring 16 points in the first place, he deserved more credit than blame.

His first fumble came on the tail end of a 40-yard burst and it bounced out of bounds. The run put the Raiders at the 13-yard-line. The next play he ran for five yards to the eight. Two plays later, they scored the touchdown.

In the early going, yards were tough to come by for Jacobs against a stout Jets defensive front. Even so, his running was a major factor in several scoring drives. Their second scoring drive came near the end of the second quarter and featured runs of six yards and eight yards — both of which the Raiders made the first down on the next play.

The third scoring drive saw Jacobs convert a third and two and a fourth and one along with the longest play of the drive that went for 12 yards on a catch in the left flat. That drive tied the game at 9-9.

Just prior to his lost fumble late in the fourth, Jacobs showed he is still a strong runner late in games, when broke several tackles and carried defenders the final five yards of a seven-yard first down run. He also had a nine-yard run and converted on third and one on that drive.

Jacobs finished with 116 yards rushing — his first time going over 100 yards this season — and added two catches for 11 yards.

K Daniel Carlson

The Jets have the man once known at ‘Greg the Leg’ and ‘Legatron’. And the Raiders have the best in the game today in Carlson. Both kickers were doing work in this one, with Carlson splitting them from 40, 41, and 54 yards.

Honorable Mention

WR DeAndre Carter — Had a 32-yard kick return to the Jets 45 that helped lead to the game-tying field goal. Later had a 15-yard run on fourth and one.

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