Loser: SS Johnthan Abram
The Raiders tackling has been pitiful for the first two weeks and didn’t get any better against the Patriots. Johnathan Abram, who was playing with an injury, was the main culprit of very embarrassing plays that led to significant gains for the running attack.
Abram was juked by Rex Burkhead first on the first touchdown of the game by the Patriots, where he didn’t even get a chance to get an arm out. It got even worse as the game went along as he completely whiffed on Sony Michel in the open field and ended up creating a massive play for that set up another score by the opposing OffenseOffense.
If Abram is hurt, he has to miss games if he will put out this type of product. He looked reluctant to make tackles in the open field after giving up his whole body in previous games. The Raiders need a healthy Abram, but the defense might be unwatchable if he doesn’t go. It’s a tough spot for the Raiders.
Loser: LB Cory Littleton
The Raiders linebackers are still a mess after investing a ton of cash into them during the offseason. The biggest signing of the offseason was Cory Littleton, and he has shown up very little so far during the 2020 season.
Littleton only missed one tackle in 2019 but came into this game with four the previous week. He consistently missed tackles once again, getting blown black invariably as well, struggling to get off blocks. This was not the same player who was such a playmaker for the Rams the past couple of years.
Littleton has always struggled against the run based on his size and was more of a dynamo in coverage. But teams are running at the Raiders right now instead of passing and exposing them inside. Littleton has to raise his game against the run fast, or it’s going to be a long season.
Loser: Offense
After a good two weeks with him displaying steady play, Derek Carr had his first below-average day. The Raiders needed the OffenseOffense to him in this game, and they had too many turnovers for them to compete with the Patriots.
The offense had three turnovers, with the first one coming in the red zone on their second drive that looked promising. Jacobs let the ball on the ground, but it looked like he recovered but still was a considerable turnover. Carr then had two turnovers himself with him fumbling twice and one going for a touchdown. He has to hold onto the football when he is being sacked, or this team will not go very far.
As it seems this season, this team goes as the offense goes. If the offense doesn’t put out a good display, it will be a long day for the Las Vegas Raiders. This team cannot have turnovers or timely penalties if it wants to be a playoff contender.
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