38.5 million people tuned in to watch America’s Team fall at the feet of the Las Vegas Raiders. It was a game that could be deemed a classic. If not for all the laundry littering the field throughout, the Raiders outlasted the Cowboys in overtime, 36-33. The offensive firepower of the Silver and Black was on full display, even in the absence of tight end Darren Waller for much of the game. Carr and company will need that same execution this Sunday against the Washington Football Team.
Quarterback: A
You couldn’t ask for much more from Derek Carr on Thursday afternoon. The seasoned signal-caller shone under the bright lights of his first career Thanksgiving tilt. DC would finish by going 24/39 for 373 yards and a touchdown, getting the ball to eight different targets in the process. Many may have assumed the worst when Waller was ruled out early on, but Carr kept the ship on course, delivering bomb after bomb when it mattered most.
Running Backs: B+
Drake and Josh did their best to keep the offense balanced, and it’s hard to argue with the results. The duo amassed a total of 111 yards on the ground-Jacobs with 87 of those yards on 22 carries-and while Carr may have had the longest scamper of the night at 22 yards, Jacobs ripped off a 21 yard run of his own. Both backs would secure two catches out of the backfield as well. Outside of a big drop from Jacobs in the second quarter, Thursday renewed hope in the continued effort to re-establish the run game in Las Vegas.
Wide Receivers: A+
Nothing but respect for this group of pass-catchers. DeSean Jackson put up a vintage Jackpot stat line with three catches for 102 yards and the game’s first touchdown, not to mention drawing a few crucial pass-interference penalties. The Sultan of Slot Hunter Renfrow would have a career day, finishing with eight catches for 134 yards, which included a 54-yard bomb in the second half. Zay Jones would also chip in with his largest output since joining the Raiders: five catches for 59 yards. With a possible extended absence for Waller, this type of production could become paramount moving forward.
Tight Ends: C
That was a tough week for the Raider tight ends once Darren Waller went down. Foster Moreau is usually used to stay in line and help block. That game plan didn’t divert much even after Waller exited in the first quarter.
Moreau and Daniel Helm would get a combined six targets that would result in three yards of production. Along with one big route miscommunication between Helm and Carr in the end zone. Despite the lack of flashy stats, both tight ends would help do the dirty work, keeping Carr clean for most of the day.
Offensive Line: B
The offensive line would have its hands full due to the relentless push of rookie linebacker-turned-pass rusher Micah Parsons. Keeping ‘11‘ at bay was a top priority, and while his pressure was evident throughout the afternoon, they did not allow him to completely wreck the flow of the game. The run game also found its footing. While 4.1 yards per carry isn’t a huge figure, it’s a marked improvement for this Raiders front. Let’s hope they ride this momentum into a matchup with a very tough WFT front four.
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*Top Photo: Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images
