Raiders/Jets: A Deeper Dive Into the Home Opener
While the Raiders twenty-five point demolition of the New York Jets looks like an easy Sunday, the game, for a while was closer. Halfway through the third quarter, the lead stood at eight. After a Jets’ field goal, the Raiders went to work. More importantly, the team looked mostly sharp. Finally, a total team effort that featured all three phases of the game that the Raiders dominated.
Clean
Derek Carr dropped by twenty-eight times. Yet, no Jets defender came within breathing room of him. Credit the offensive line for stellar play. Facing a defense facing Muhammad Wilkerson and Leonard Williams, you’d think Carr would feel the rush. Left Tackle Donald Penn battled Wilkerson all afternoon. The Pro Bowler could not beat Penn to the outside and struggled with countermoves. However, the entire line accepted the challenge and Carr sat back and picked the Jets completely apart. According to Football Perspective, Derek Carr did not endure a single hit. If Oakland can provide similar protection for the rest of the way, this team could be special.
On top of the stellar pass blocking, the line opened up canyons for the running game. With 180 yards on the ground and three different backs finding paydirt, this group continues to embrace the attitude of their position coach.
Irvin Issues
While the officials flagged linebacker Bruce Irvin for a phantom unnecessary roughness penalty, he mostly disappeared. Three tackles for an active player doesn’t seem to be impactful. Yet, dynamic players such as Irvin find ways to rebound.
Run Stopping
For a team devoid of pass catching threats, the jets ran the ball rather effectively. The Raiders surrendered 126 yards on 25 carries. As a result, the New York attack exposed a potential issue in the Raiders defense. The interior of the line remains a source of headache and stress. Matt Forte and Elijah McGuire picked their way through the middle, leaving defenders reaching for air. Moreover, the interior occasionally looked listless. Sooner or later, this situation must be fixed.
Karl Joseph
The second-year safety opened the toolbox today, exhibiting skills that prompted Oakland to draft him last spring. From blitzing to pass coverage to wiping out ballcarrier, Joseph flies toward the action. On blitzes, he’d streak from his safety spot and get home. Quite the accomplish for a played lined up at least a dozen yards or so away.
In essence, the Raiders did what they needed to do to win this game. In contrast, the win was not super clean. Yet, a win is a win. Consequently, this team finds ways to win in various forms. Keeping the momentum going will be crucial to this process.
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