Oakland Raiders last game in Oakland didn’t end well, but there last home game of 2019 did the opposite. The Raiders came up with a big win and kept their small playoff chances alive with a 24-17 victory over the Los Angeles Chargers.
The offense found its groove with an excellent performance on the road. The Raiders average a healthy 5.9 yards per play with the running and passing game being efficient. The passing offense excelled the most, creating explosive plays throughout the game.
The only problem from the offense was the offensive line allowing three sacks on the day, killing plenty of drives in the first half. However, they bounced back in the second half playing bully ball to maintain the lead.
The defense put up its best performance of the season, allowing 5.0 yards per play and shut down the Melvin Gordon and running game all day. Phillip Rivers did have a decent today and didn’t have the turnovers he did in their last matchup, but he was not able to put points on the board.
The Raiders did face an ugly injury on the defensive side of the ball with Trayvon Mullen going down hard late in the fourth quarter. Mullen’s diagnosis, later on, was a neck injury, and he was supposed to be recovering well after the incident.
After a strong win and keeping the Raiders alive, who were the winners and losers? Let’s look at the studs and duds for this week.
Winner: WR Hunter Renfrow
Hunter Renfrow’s injury ended up hurting the offense more than fans ever thought. Without him, in the slot, Carr struggled, and the other wideouts couldn’t create separation. Renfrow made a triumphant return with a career game, proving he is for sure the slot receiver of the future.
Renfrow finished the day with seven receptions for 107 yards and a touchdown. He started the game with a 56-yard touchdown where he displayed his YAC ability breaking multiple tackles on the way to an explosive score. Carr was able to lean him all game with numerous catches on the drive at the beginning of the third quarter finding the holes in the zone making himself available to the quarterback. He helped in the kicking game when Richard was injured, showing while he is such a valued player to this football team.
The former Clemson wide receiver is adjusting to the NFL in a compelling way when his team needs him the most. The chemistry he has built with Carr is evident, and we could see him have another huge game next week against the Denver Broncos.
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