If you had a stroke watching the Las Vegas Raiders on Sunday, you aren’t alone. Watching their games from start to finish is the equivalent of running a marathon. They let the Los Angeles Chargers hang around and let them have a chance to win on the final snap of the game. Of course, it was the ‘Bolts’ so did they ever really have a chance. All their fans are surely heartbroken, all six of them.
The Raiders in a one-sentence summary
“Isaiah Johnson is prime Darrelle Revis.”
Having seen Johnson play less than one full NFL game, I can assure you he is better than Nevin Lawson. Why it took this long to see him get real action is beyond reason. Not only did Johnson have the two goal-to-go stops to end the game, but he also made two big plays earlier in the contest.
The Chargers took a deep shot at him early, which was incomplete and ruled pass interference, and he came up and made a tackle short of the sticks on a third-and-six slant. Give us more Isaiah Johnson, please.
Related:Â Raiders Top 3 Offensive Performances vs Chargers
Name the Game
“The Double Fade Failure”
Football people who are smarter than me hate the “fade” route in the end zone. The analytics just don’t favor it. The first fade route with six seconds remaining made a little bit of sense because big Mike Williams was in the receiving end and it would leave enough time for one final play. The second one was unjustifiably stupid. The Chargers lobbed one up for Donald Parham Jr, a third-string tight end from football powerhouse Stetson University. They deserved to lose for that.
Stat of The Game
Offensive line – one sack allowed
Entering the year, only two of the five offensive linemen that played in Week 9 would’ve been considered starters. Yet, they still controlled the game, giving Carr enough protection to pass and bullied the Chargers on the ground.
CarrFax
I’ll leave you with two thoughts that would’ve been unthinkable before the season.
1: Derek Carr is playing like a top 5 quarterback.
The Good News
The Raiders are 5-3 with a .582 strength of schedule. This team is legit.
The Bad News
For the next ten years, the Raiders have to play Mahomes and Herbert twice a season.
Random Thoughts about the Raiders
- Devontae Booker looks like more of a 1B than a backup at running back.
- It is time to be concerned about wide receiver Henry Ruggs (three targets, zero catches).
- Wide receiver Nelson Agholor continues on his path towards the Raiders Ring of Honor.
- Defensive end Clelin Ferrell turned in another great performance against the Chargers.
- If he played them every week, he’d be worth that number four overall pick.
- Nick Kwiatkoski was fantastic.
- His open-field tackle of Tyrod Taylor on the two-point conversion was a giant play in the game that is flying under the radar.
Apology of the Week
Dear Brandon Parker,
This is going to be hard for me because I have talked about how terrible you are so many times. So, please stay with me here. ‘B Park’, you were outstanding Sunday. Filling in for Kolton Miller, you didn’t miss a beat. I was stunned. Please keep proving wrong.
Your friend,
Holden.
One Prediction for Next Week
Drew Lock throws a pick-six. Dude is Blaine Gabbert with bad dance moves. Broncos will get thumped.
Go Raiders.
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*Top Photo: Alex Gallardo/Associated Press