Alright so welcome in to the full recap of Week 15 between the Chiefs and the Raiders, where the Raiders got ripped apart, kept it close though in the third, but gave all the momentum away after.
This game was frustrating to watch throughout. I mean, just wow. Our season is pretty much out of reach, but the Chiefs just came in and wanted to strike a dagger in the black hole. A lot to talk about in this recap, a lot to talk about.
Let's go with the positives. Like I said in my halftime, Rashad Jennings is a positive. Jennings is our top performer with 23 carries, 91 yards, 2 TDs. He had a couple of good runs. Whenever Olson calls a run up the middle, it's scary especially against this Chiefs front seven (even though they were not healthy), but Jennings plowed through the middle in much needed situations. Pryor was in at 3rd down and 10, executed a running back draw and Jennings just bulldozed his way, fighting for yardage. Another positive, our receiving corps. I thought our receiving corps did well in the midst of playing with 2 interchangeable QBs. Rod Streater was targeted 9 times had 4 receptions for 59 yards, Andre Holmes, 4 receptions for 58 yards and a TD, Taiwan Jones 1 reception for a big 52 yard gain, Marcel Reece 1 reception for a big 45 yard gain, Denarius Moore 2 receptions for a 46 yard gain, and Mychal Rivera 3 receptions, 30 yards and a TD. Holmes particularly could develop into a big sized, go to receiver, talk about a clutch reception with a defender in his face and the sun in his face to set up a McGloin to Rivera TD drive. Particularly Holmes and Streater could be like 1 & 2 respectively, Moore as a deep threat, and Rivera could develop into a security blanket. For the most part this game, our receiving corps played well and at least it boosts some confidence in their developments.
Alright onto the negatives. Never speak too soon. After the Pittsburgh game, our defense was in the conversation in being a top 10 until the Philly game hit us and now this game. If you're a Jamaal Charles fantasy owner, pat yourself on the back for drafting him in the first round. If you're in the playoffs in the championship round, the better, if you're in the consolation round or out, well consolation, you're season's not over, just fighting for fifth place, but if you're out with Charles on your team, shame on you for not building your team well. I know I'm on the other end of the stick because my opponent has him, he's leading by 4 though I still have Cincinnati D on, but Charles covered up the majority of my opponent's lacking two Wide Receivers in his lineup. If you're wondering: 51.70 points in standard fantasy leagues. Other than that, the defense had no answer to contain Jamaal Charles. The last 3 games, dating back to 2012, we managed to shut him down and boy was he waiting for a breakout game against our D. But most of his TDs came from screen passes. Really? Summarizes our D this year not being able to cover simple plays, but just goes to show the lack of a star pass rush. Dating back to my preview, I said the pass rush is going to be an area of concern and 9 games later into this season, the void became bigger and bigger. The secondary can cover, cover, but no pass rush, the effort in the coverage is lost and this game showed today yet again. Another negative, the QBs. Discounting Marcel Reece's pass on a fake punt, Matt McGloin completed 18 of 36 passes for 237 yards, connecting 2 TDs and 4 INTs, Terrelle Pryor, 1 of 4 completions for 12 yards and 1 INT. The QB debate is settled that none of these 2 are the answer. Yeah Pryor has the better record, but most of his wins depended on the defense to win (Jacksonville was his only legit win), yeah McGloin has the better stats, but he's 1-4 as a starter. The reality that these two have in common is that none of them prove to be a franchise quarterback going forward for this team.
Dennis Allen has two more games, Reggie McKenzie has two more games. If the Raiders fall flat in both the San Diego and Denver game, a lot to talk about in the offseason. But if I were McKenzie, I would focus on this game to think about drafting either a star pass rush or a franchise quarterback and McKenzie has to choose wisely. I'll see you guys on Sunday for the San Diego game.
No comments:
Post a Comment