Many point to the Raiders’ actions during the National Anthem as the catalyst to the team’s emphatic 27-10 loss to the Washington Redskins on Sunday night.
Jack Del Rio isn’t one of them.
“Was it a problem? I don’t think so,” the Raiders head coach said. “(Washington) outplayed us today.”
Thoroughly and soundly, in fact.
Tired of hearing all the marvelous things about the Raiders offensive line, the Redskins mauled Oakland in the trenches and made the unit less-than-ordinary. Washington’s defensive line got to quarterback Derek Carr with natural front-four pressure and that allowed the rest of the defense to play zone and sit on routes, taking away Oakland’s quick-strike timing offense.
Unlike Carr and Co., let’s hit the Quick Slants:
- Carr’s first interception, a too-much-air lob to Amari Cooper, was a foreshadowing of the events to come in a number of ways. Namely in the desire and fight department (see the next bullet).
- David Amerson had a pass dead to rights. He was stride-for-stride with Washington wideout John Doctson and was in prime position for an interception. Nope. Doctson high-pointed the ball and scampered past an exasperated Amerson for the 52-yard score. Hence, both Cooper and Amerson should have high-pointed and leaped for their respective passes.
- Cooper’s on-field play is mirroring his off-field demeanor: quiet and reserved. Drops continue to plague him and he only had one catch. This is a far cry from Carr stating Coop was going to get after it this season.
- Todd Downing’s playcalling looked eerily familiar (cough, Bill Musgrave). Having admitted that, I was mildly amused by relative silence on Twitter. How does one not run the ball in the red zone with Marshawn Lynch? Musgrave got plenty of venom thrown his way for much less.
- The defense gave up a 3rd-and-19 on a screen pass. Granted, that was a well-blocked effort by the Skins, but having corner Gareon Conley play off of Chris Thompson was lethal. I understand the concept: Zone, playoff and go make the tackle, but yikes!
- Sean Smith was torched not once, but twice by Washington tight end Vernon Davis. VD’s always had the wheels, but boy, the 33-year-old turned back the clock.
- Khalil Mack recorded a sack making it now consecutive games with a quarterback takedown.
- Bruce Irvin, the Robin to Mack’s Batman, continues to be an ineffective pass rusher.
- The offensive line gave up four sacks. Two were of the back-to-back variety. It was seemingly impossible before tonight, but Kelechi Osemele and the rest of the brutes were shockingly manhandled.
- Marquette King was one of the few bright spots. He had some booming punts, however, he wasn’t immune to the Raiders overall deflated effort as he shanked a boot.
- Zone defense: The Raiders O’s Achilles heel?
Quote(s) of Note:
“If you’d have said our offense is going to be (0-for-11) on third down, I’d have said there is no way. It’s a rarity, but it happened.”
— Jack Del Rio on the team’s inability to convert third downs
“When something like this happens, it’s my fault. Everyone wants to pat you on the back when you win as a quarterback, then go ahead and put this all on me. I’ll be alright.”
— Derek Carr on the defeat
“He had a moment where he was in great shape, he just didn’t high point the ball enough, the receiver made a nice play, he didn’t and we gave up the big one right there.”
— Jack Del Rio on David Amerson’s botched coverage
