Welcome in to the full recap of the Raiders' Week 1 opener on Monday Night vs. the Los Angeles Rams where the Raiders fought hard in the first half against the Rams, but were overmatched in terms of talent disparity, losing 33-13.
Well, I said it in my preview that this game was going to be a gauge meter to see where the Raiders are at. And I can't help but say that this is a rebuilding team. It wasn't a really terrible game. They deadlocked with the Rams for the first half of the game. And then in the 2nd half, we see the difference between a playoff, Super Bowl contending team and a team in rebuilding mode which makes the 2016 season seem like a distant memory.
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Jared Cook, 9 receptions, 180 yards. This might be the only positive I can take away from this game. Jared Cook was a mismatch nightmare against the Rams' linebackers and safeties. They didn't have an answer. Cook started off with a big 64-yard gain off the slant from Carr. It was a good start for the offense. It set up Marshawn Lynch's TD. For some inexplicable reason in the 2nd half, the offense stopped getting him involved until it was too little too late. Either the Rams D made nice adjustments or Gruden wanted to give other receivers a chance. The decision behind that is beyond me, but you have to keep giving it to Cook since he was winning his matchups.
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Derek Carr, 29-40 passes 303 yards, 3 INT. Even in a different uniform, Marcus Peters still haunts Carr in his dreams. Today was a pretty funny day for two of the highest paid quarterbacks in the league. Stafford throws 4 INTs. Carr throws 3 INTs. Enough about that. Carr, I don't know what's up with his decision making or any of his throwing mechanics. It's like ever since he got that contract for $25 million a year, he's gotten progressively worse. First INT, underthrows Jared Cook. 2nd INT, where in the hell was he throwing to? 3rd INT, just like old times when Marcus Peters was still a Chief. Yes it's only the first game under a new head coach. But let's face it, the legend of Derek Carr died in Week 16 of 2016 with that fractured fibula.
Defense. Well, they were good for the first half, holding the Rams to 13 points, so I'll give them that. But, now do we see what they're missing in Mack? Outside of Bruce Irvin's strip sack, there was zero pressure on Jared Goff all game long. Todd Gurley had his day against this suspect D-line. I'll tell you, if Mack was still there, he would've made Maurice Hurst better. He would've made P.J. Hall better. He would've made Arden Key better. You lose that and you throw the three rooks to the wolves, that's the result. And how many times when it was a third down situation have the Rams converted? What the Raiders miss in Mack is that pressure in key situations or eventually a big sack (turnover included). Now, they don't have that. It's going to be a long season for this unit.
MVP
Only fitting that the lone bright spot this game gets MVP. Cook was a monster outside and over the middle of the field.
Conclusion
Well, nowhere to go but up here. Like I said, there's not too many expectations for this team since September 1. I'm just not sold on the outlook of this roster and tonight proved it. Chucky has an uphill battle to climb since returning to the coaching sidelines. Next week, not going to get any easier against another tough defensive-minded team in the Broncos at Mile High. With the way Carr played tonight, I can't imagine how much Sports Authority Field's raucous crowd will disrupt him. And we'll see whether or not the defense will make Case Keenum look like a Pro Bowl QB. I'll see you guys next week for that game.
