Though the first quarter didn’t go exactly as the Raiders would’ve hoped — they gave up a opening drive TD to the Jets and then Derek Carr was intercepted — one part of their offense is working like a well-oiled machine.
Darren Waller has been absolutely uncoverable by the Jets so far. Check out his numbers in the first quarter: Six catches on six targets for 79 yards and a touchdown.
That’s one quarter. Two drives.
Among those was this 18-yard catch and run on third and eight.
Getting 83 going early.#LVvsNYJ | CBS pic.twitter.com/5tUI3JhhvX
— Las Vegas Raiders (@Raiders) December 6, 2020
That drive stalled with a Carr interception off the hands of Henry Ruggs III.
The defense held the Jets to a three-and-out and the Raiders offense got the ball back. On the ensuing drive, Waller was back at it with a 28-yard catch and then this 9-yard touchdown catch.
D-Wall came to PLAY in East Rutherford.
Darren Waller | #ProBowlVote | CBS pic.twitter.com/X9oWzwu1Fi
— Las Vegas Raiders (@Raiders) December 6, 2020
This tied the game up at 7-7 as the first quarter came to a close. It’s clear the Derek Carr will keep feeding his elite receiving target Waller until they can stop him. And there’s no sign they will be able to stop him.