The Las Vegas Raiders have shown they can put up points early in the game. Sadly, it’s not a standard they have prioritized. The Week 13 game against the Washington Football Team was further proof.
The Raiders once again lost a game that was within their grasp and was considered “winnable.” However, it was not to be and Las Vegas lost to the Washington Football Team during Week 13 of the NFL season, 15-17. Running back Josh Jacobs was quoted during the post-game presser regarding the lack of execution on offense; “I think it’s a mindset. I think we kind of just coast a little too much. It’s definitely frustrating.“
Jacobs summed it up perfectly
Coasting is the perfect word, Josh. At the beginning of most games, if you have the time to rewatch them, the offense acts as if they have one hundred more drives to attempt to execute if the first one doesn’t go right. The playcalling is pedestrian, lazy, docile, whatever word you want to use, it’s the same thing. It’s coasting.
In this particular game, the Raiders were shut out until the final seconds of the second quarter, when Daniel Carlson, the Raiders’ leading scorer at that point, struck gold for three points. However, the endzone remained untouched. In the second half, the Raiders hit another field goal early in the third quarter. They did not show any signs of life until the final eleven minutes afterward. Jacobs ran it in for a score with some nice footwork, and then Carlson again put up three points for a lead, but it was only temporary as most predicted.
Acting as if third and two in the red zone is merely a “free play” is something Raiders fans are accustomed to seeing. Nevertheless, they’ve grown weary and just want the best play to be utilized. Essentially, they want to see their team show some aggression for once: go for the gold, not the silver.Â
At this point, the Raiders would be lucky with the silver, but at the rate they are currently coasting at, the Raiders could be batting cleanup at the bottom of the AFC West. Once again, outside of any hope of a playoff appearance this season.
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*Top Photo: Chase Stevens/Las Vegas Review-Journal