This was a difficult one for the Las Vegas Raiders, one way or another. Although they had an efficient offense heading into Week 8, coming out of EnergyFirst Stadium with a win was going to be tough. Nevertheless, the Silver and Black are now 4-3 after beating the Cleveland Browns, and their win comes with an interesting undertone.
The Raiders showed toughness against the Browns
The Raiders entered their Week 8 matchup with the 11th best scoring offense in the NFL. However, they were only able to muster 16 points. This was the first time in the 2020 season that they put less than 20 points on the scoreboard. In fact, they have scored 34 in three of their first six games, but taking the weather into consideration which was less than optimal, they fared well.
There were gusty winds throughout the game and at one point, it started raining. The Raiders offense tried taking a few deep shots early in the game but the elements didn’t allow it. Kicker Daniel Carlson failed the team’s first field goal attempt but instead of bending, the team adjusted.
The Silver and Black focused on running the ball and minimizing mistakes. Running back Josh Jacobs carried the ball a career-high 31 times and had his first 100-yard game of the season. Carlson also adjusted too and was successful in connecting his last three field goal.
While the Raiders had their lowest offensive output of the season, their defense had their best game in years. The unit allowed just 223 total yards, their lowest since December 2017. Moreover, this marked the first time since 2012 that they gave up just six points.
The 116-game record streak of allowing 10+ points has ended for the #Raiders. The 6 points allowed are their fewest since a 15-0 win over Chiefs 12/16/12 https://t.co/L0NvtHiQaq
— Josh Dubow (@JoshDubowAP) November 1, 2020
What does this mean in the long run?
The Raiders beat a good team on the road and under bad weather conditions. What does that sound like? If your answer was postseason football, you are correct. By the time the playoffs start, temperatures have dropped and only the best teams qualify. Even though the Raiders’ 16-6 win doesn’t look impressive on paper, they showed grit all the way until the end.
When they beat the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 5, they showed they can keep up and outscore the best teams in the NFL. Against the Browns, they showed they can win on the road even if the climate conditions are less than stellar. If the Silver and Black keeps playing the way they have, they could make plenty of noise heading into the postseason.
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Top Photo: Jamie Sabau/Getty Images
