Raiders Review: Vegas Falls Short At Nissan -

The Las Vegas Raiders faltered in Tennessee, with failure from both sides of the football. The clock continues to tick.

Sitting in the cheap seats of Nissan Stadium on a hot Sunday in Nashville is like a sweatier, more expensive version of an All-22 subscription. While sitting closer to the field provides more of an in-person experience, being able to see every player on the field with a mere shift of the eye is quite beneficial. From the 300-section, there was much to be learned. The Raiders need to win and win immediately.

Where For Art Thou, Davante?

Offensively, many expected Derek Carr to overuse Davante Adams as he did in Week 1, especially after recording a shockingly low 2 catches against Arizona. Unfortunately, the Titans expected him to do exactly that and spent the majority of the day sending second and third defenders to make Carr beat them elsewhere. Waller also got the same treatment and made himself an even less attractive target with at least three costly dropped passes, with two coming in the end zone.

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Hollins To The Rescue

The attention paid to Adams and Waller opened the Raiders’ passing game for lesser utilized players like Mack Hollins and Foster Moreau. Hollins earned the game ball for his eight-catch, 158-yard performance, and tacked on a last-minute touchdown to bring the game within two points, while Moreau matched Waller in receptions, but doubled his yards 44-22.

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Blocking Improvement

Despite early criticism from the six-allowed-sacks game against Los Angeles, the Raiders’ offensive line also stepped up when called upon. Carr had the fifth-longest time to throw on average of any quarterback in Week three and was only sacked once. Additionally, the offensive line made work a bit easier for Josh Jacobs, who once again is not seeing the total touches many would like him to. He ended the day with thirteen carries for sixty-six yards. Sunday was the second time in three games that Jacobs has averaged over five yards per carry, yet the Raiders continue to overlook his abilities as a bellcow back. The team does not need to rely on him as much as the Titans rely on Henry, but Jacobs can carry more weight than he is being given.

Getting On The Good Foot

Lastly, Carr looked comfortable scrambling on his two carries, which he has appeared hesitant to attempt in previous games. It is always a bit shocking when Carr tucks the ball and runs, not just because it is a bit rare, but also due to his sneakily high acceleration; he does not take much time to reach top speed.

Defensive Woes

The worst part about being able to see every player on the field without moving one’s head is that repeated mistakes stand out and there is nothing to be done. Despite the Titans being a run-first team, the Raiders’ defensive scheme appeared terrified that Ryan Tannehill would beat them. Those who know Tannehill know that this is not exactly his strong suit. Still, the Raiders continuously left the short-middle (or the “checkdown zone”) wide open.

Forgetting The Details

Leaving the middle of the field open created easy completions on tight end wheel and curl routes, but Derrick Henry’s five receptions out of the backfield were created in part by the Raiders’ lax coverage. Stopping Henry out of the backfield when he has a couple of yards to pick up some steam is scary enough. Yet, it feels even worse when a painfully short pass allows him to do the same thing.

Finishing The Play

The Raiders defensive line did not do a horrible job of getting home to Tannehill. However, if it was not clear before, this is Maxx Crosby’s defense. He remains the only Raider to record a sack in 2022. While there is no time for consolations, the Raiders have recorded an interception in two consecutive games. Plus, they’ve shut their opponents out in one half in each of their last two as well.

Overview

From an overview standpoint, this does not feel like a winless team, but records do not lie. Should the Raiders get something clicking against Denver in Week 4, they may find a winning formula.