The Las Vegas Raiders snatched victory from the jaws of otherworldly failure, defeating the remnants of the Cleveland Browns at the buzzer, 16-14.
The rollercoaster ride fans were sent on wouldn’t end until “Cash Money” Daniel Carlson delivered the game-winning field goal as the clock hit zero. This means that the Raiders are still mathematically eligible for the AFC Playoffs…Rejoice?
Peyton Barber Deserves More Carries
After speeding to a 10-0 lead, the Raiders decided to grind the pace of the game to a halt. Josh Jacobs would get his usual allotment of touches, but backup Peyton Barber saw some time as well. While he only received five carries, he would push the pile to the tune of 6.8 yards per carry, for a total of 34 yards. Barber is far from a flashy tailback, but he follows his blocks and churns out tough yardage. Las Vegas clearly wants to reestablish the run down the stretch, and Barber should play a large role in that.
Mad Maxx is Missing in Action
Yes, we all know that newly announced Pro Bowler Maxx Crosby is top-notch when it comes to creating quarterback pressure, but what is also becoming apparent is that Crosby can’t seem to finish the job once he causes said pressure. The Eastern Michigan alum has not recorded a sack since Week 6 against the Denver Broncos. Even with the Browns’ offensive line in flux due to COVID absences, Maxx was disappointingly quiet. Maybe Crosby is waiting for this Sunday’s matchup against Denver to add another three sacks to his season total.
The Raiders are Prolonging the InevitableÂ
This win felt a lot like the victory last year against the New York Jets. The Raiders almost lost a game they were in control of for the bulk of the four quarters, only to succeed in the final moments. But nothing truly changed after that for the team in 2020, and I don’t believe this win will change much either. The Raiders finish the season facing much healthier teams than the Browns, with competent defenses. With COVID and injuries no longer on the side of the Silver and Black, the Raiders look destined to finish the season with a 9-8 record. And that’s if they’re lucky.
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*Top Photo: Chase Stevens/Las Vegas Review-Journal