Welcome in to the full recap of the Raiders' week 8 matchup vs. the New York Jets where the Raiders gain early leverage in the AFC playoff picture as they beat the Jets 20-34 lead by Derek Carr's career day of tossing 4 TDs.
Well, the finish that we wanted was there. There's still a lot more room to improve in closing out games, but the Raiders finished better this game and they earned a convincing victory against the Jets in what is a matchup that could possibly shake up the playoff picture in the fight for a wild card spot. Despite the injuries the Jets had on offense, this was still a good win because the Raiders' offense absolutely shredded the Jets' top ranked defense and they didn't even need Amari Cooper to have a big game since they know Darrelle Revis was going to keep him in check. So, it is what it is.
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There were a lot of positives this game, I don't even know where to start!
Derek Carr, 23 of 36 passing, 333 yards, 4 TDs. So far, the Raiders are 3-0 this season when Derek Carr throws for three or more touchdown passes. With a Jets defense that loves to blitz and with a stingy secondary, this sets the bar out of all of Carr's performance this season. Like I said, he just continues to level up his game week after week. Under this offense, Carr is just nothing short of amazing. He's commanding the huddle, changing up the plays when he sees an exploitable matchup, and just going through his reads like it's nothing even with pressure coming in his face. This game is a definite bar setter for Carr.
Michael Crabtree, 7 receptions, 102 yards, 1 TD. Darrelle Revis got held up with Amari Cooper all game long and that opened up Crabtree to have an excellent game. Crabtree absolutely delivered. That 36 yard run was probably the highlight of the game because by having a good defense, we thought the Jets would be sure tacklers. But one missed tackle by the Jets defense allowed Crabtree to cut loose for that TD. Crabtree has been reliable all game long and he definitely turned it up a notch since his partner-in-crime in Amari Cooper was going to be challenged by Revis.
Latavius Murray, 20 carries, 113 yards. So, the Jets had a top 5 run defense huh? That run defense was non-existent today against the "Tay Train." Though I'll give them credit for stopping Murray in run plays up the middle, but everything else from running to the edge, waiting for the pull from the guards to break a run, Latavius Murray burned that top 5 Jets run defense in every other category besides running up the middle. No problem for the run game to get going at all.
Taiwan Jones, 2 carries, 5 yards, 1 reception, 59 yards, 1 TD. Taiwan Jones has found a role under Bill Musgrave and it's the same role that Percy Harvin had when Musgrave called plays in Minnesota. When Jones is on that field, besides Marcel Reece, he gives this offense a new dimension because of his speed and elusiveness. On a simple screen pass, Jones eluded two Jets defenders and absolutely torched them 59 yards to the house for the Raiders' last TD of the game. I'm very glad he's found a role after the previous pathetic excuse of a coaching staff tried to convert him into a defensive back.
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There were not a lot of negatives this game, but I guess clock management needs a little more work for the Raiders. There's some questionable pass plays in which the Raiders could've just run the ball and kill some clock, but the Raiders wanted to be more aggressive and the Jets did have two timeouts left. It's not too much of a negative, but it's a learning curve for the Raiders' offense to clock out opposing defenses.
Conclusion
Overall, this was a satisfying win and the margin of victory is a type of margin that upholds the Raiders' domination of this game throughout. I'll say this proudly, Derek Carr and the offense are legit. There are too many weapons on that side for everyone to be underutilized and Bill Musgrave has done a masterful job in utilizing them to the best of his ability in his game plans. The defense though has a couple of pieces left till they are legit, but they are holding their own out there thanks to the tutelage of Jack Del Rio and Ken Norton, Jr. This season is a significant sound of progression and why not push for playoff aspirations now? They knocked off the Jets this week to gain leverage and they look to build on that by facing the Steelers next week in Pittsburgh as the Steelers are also pushing for a playoff spot and gain some leverage. But no matter the end result, the Raiders are finally looking like a legit football team. It has been so long that there is some optimism and this team is giving us a reason to believe. I'll see you guys next week for the Steelers game.
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