Oakland Raiders Week Four: By the Numbers
Was Johnny ever on the spot?
In yet another forgettable offensive performance, special teamer and wide receiver Johnny Holton provided the lone touchdown with a picture-perfect over-the-shoulder grab on a 64-yard bomb for the score.
“We’ve been working on that all week and it just happened at the perfect time,” Holton said of his touchdown.
But the special teams’ ace is also a realist.
“If we would’ve won it would’ve meant something, but we lost,” Holton added.
Such is the case for the suddenly not-so-explosive Raiders offense. On a day when the defense held up its end of the bargain, the offense had another shocking disappearance.
Ugly is a good description, but horrendous is even better to describe the numbers:
0 — Interceptions by the Raiders defense. Oakland is one of four teams without a pick in four weeks of play. Bright side? Zero was also Denver’s red zone percentage. Raiders held Broncos to 0 for 4 in red zone.
1 — First down on the ground. Not the performance one would expect from Oakland’s “dominant” offensive line.
2 — Catches by Amari Cooper and third-down conversions. A dubious number for the Raiders offense. Oakland is a mind-boggling 2 of 23 on third downs.
3 — Number of straight home games the Raiders have coming up.
4 — Sacks Khalil Mack has racked up in first four weeks of the season. The reigning Defensive Player of the Year can make offensive lineman look like nothing more than turnstiles with a jersey and helmet on.
10 — Total tackles by weakside linebacker Cory James. The sophomore has been productive against the run and in coverage.
11 — Completions for EJ Manuel. Coming in relief of Carr, the backup showed accuracy and confidence that eluded him in Buffalo. Although he couldn’t finish the rally, Manuel gave the offense some much-needed life. Number also marks number of total first downs.
16 — Completions for Trevor Siemian. The Broncos QB sliced and diced the Raiders secondary early before finding it tough sledding rest of the way. Number also represents Denver’s first downs total.
15 — Total rushes by the Raiders for a paltry 24 yards. Without the imposing run game to buoy the passing attack, Oakland’s offense has been shockingly rudimentary.
49 — Yards Cordarrelle Patterson’s galloped on a kickoff return. He’s inching towards it, but it seems it will only be a matter of time before CP houses a return.
64 — Holton’s scoring grab was Raiders’ longest play on offense. Without it, the longest play would have been Patterson’s kickoff return.
95 — Yards rushing by Denver’s C.J. Anderson. Must have been a proud and disheartening day for Anderson’s family who are rabid Raiders fans.
254 — Total net offensive yards for Raiders.
298 — Net yards for Broncos’ offense.
With three-straight home games on tap, Oakland must fix a suddenly stagnant and predictable offense. While bumps in the road were expected for rookie offensive coordinator Todd Downing, back-to-back duds were not. The defense, while not stellar, has been good enough to keep the Raiders in games and that should be plenty of help.
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