With the division title potentially hanging in the balance, the Oakland Raiders fell apart in Kansas City. The Chiefs quieted any Raider thoughts of the postseason with a 40-9 destruction. The Raiders fall to 6-6. Yet, like an onion, this game contains onions, and they all smell horribly.
Initial Progress and Disaster
After starting with the ball, Oakland pounded the ball. Josh Jacobs gashed the Kansas City defense, moving the ball down the field. Everything appeared to click for Oakland. Jon Gruden saw his plan come to fruition. The Raiders continued to exploit the Chiefs’weakness. Then, Derek Carr, on a pass allegedly intended for Darren Waller, found Tyrann Mathieu instead. From that point on this game began to unravel for the Silver and Black.
House of Horrors
In six trips to Missouri, Derek Carr remains winless. Now, if you’re honest, the first interception seemed to take most of the air of the the team’s sails. In the face of pressure, whether real or imagined, Carr struggled to get his feet under him and look like the decisive passer that the early part of 2019 showed him. When Juan Thornhill stepped in front of Carr’s pass and found the endzone forty-six yards later. Although he completed two-thirds of his passes, none looked threatening. Finding Derek Carrier for a garbage time touchdown only makes the score less embarrassing. Throught the course of this week, fans will begin to question Derek Carr’s future with the Raiders. After six years, maybe it’s time to evaluate.
Lone Bright Spot
Josh Jacobs is the only player that can hold his head up after this debacle. Tallying 104 carries on seventeen carries, Jacobs carried the entire offense. Despite the Chiefs expecting the run, they failed to corral him. Unfortunately, as the score grew further away from the Raiders, Jacobs’ touched diminished. In the immediate future, Josh Jacobs looks like a cornerstone offense piece.
Constant Problem
Over the years, you’ve read endless content, bemoaning the fact that the Raiders cannot cover the tight end. Once again, Travis Kelce torched Oakland for 90 yards on five catches. At will, Kelce finds a spot. Similarly, the linebacking corps of the Oakland Raiders cannot cover. At what point will they fix this?
Meaning
In essence, the Raiders, especially Derek Carr did what he does in big moments. Whether warm weather or not, he cannot win in Arrowhead. The Raiders need to look at themselves in the mirror and figure out what to do. With four games remaining and the playoffs all but done, the time to examine the future remains at hand.
