Raider Nation can finally take a deep breath. Yeah, it was a few games later than it should have been, but the Las Vegas Raiders now have their first win of the 2022 season. And not a second too soon. Taking care of the first of two AFC West opponents goes a long way toward fulfilling their aspirations for this season. Furthermore, if you are 0-4 going into Arrowhead, go on and kiss your season goodbye.
However, the Raiders stepped up to the plate. The top five names graded by Pro Football Focus really shouldn’t be a surprise: they’re mostly the usual suspects. It is a surprise, though, that Amik Robinson was left off this list. So was Max Crosby. Such omissions certainly make you question the system that the publication uses. So, let’s take a deep dive into the top five guys from the game against the Denver Broncos.
Who were the highest-graded Las Vegas Raiders?
Josh Jacobs, RB – PFF Grade 88.8
Is anybody shocked? According to ESPN, Jacobs finished with a career-high 144 rushing yards and two touchdowns. He should be the Raider with the highest grade from Week 4. And some of the runs he had were just miraculous. Raider Nation has been pleading with Josh McDaniels to rely more on Jacobs and look how that turned out on Sunday. It freed everybody up in the running and passing game. Hell, even Derek Carr was on the loose. And the Broncos’ defense having to key in on Jacobs was a major contributing factor. Holding onto that identity in the coming weeks will be vital for the Raiders’ success. Let’s just hope they stick with that plan.
Davante Adams, WR – PFF Grade 82.3
Although it was his first game without a touchdown as a Raider, Adams’ impact was still felt throughout the whole game. It was still an incredibly productive day as Adams racked up nine catches on 13 targets for 101 yards and four first downs. Derek Carr found a balance this week between targeting Adams too much and too little. And again, look what it led to. Furthermore, with Hunter Renfrow hurt and Darren Waller having butter fingers to start the season, Adams (and Mack Hollins) have been filling that void.
Dylan Parham, OL – PFF Grade 77.2
You just love to see it. An offensive lineman, drafted by the Raiders with their top pick, grades among the top three on the team in a game. Not pointing any fingers, but this hasn’t happened a lot recently to the Raiders. Parham has truly shown that he can play anywhere on the interior of the line. Jacobs’ having his high grade can be attributed to the whole of the offensive line. And all the chatter about the line has recently quieted down. Needless to say, Parham’s emergence has been a huge contributor to that silence.
Who rounded off the top five for the Raiders?
Nate Hobbs, CB – PFF Grade 76.0
Hobbs has been a revelation this season. He appears to be a shut-down corner for the Silver and Black. Although Denver doesn’t have world-beaters at wideout, Hobbs still showed out. Starting with a sack early in the game on third down, he set the tone for the defense all game. He also had a pass deflection. Overall, it was a solid outing, statistically. Hobbs has been an absolute stud this season. He’ll need to be again this upcoming week against the Chiefs. Sadly, Hobbs can’t cover everyone, but he’ll certainly handle his assignment, so can the rest of the defense follow suit?
Trevon Moehrig, DB – PFF Grade 75.3
Welcome back Mr. Moehrig, Raider Nation waited anxiously for your return. He missed the previous two games with a hip injury, but you wouldn’t have noticed it on Sunday. He was exactly where he needed to be on almost every throw. The deep toss in the fourth to KJ Hamler could be argued against Moehrig, but he also wasn’t the primary coverage guy on that play. Nonetheless, Moehrig still had a solid game, especially considering he came back so quickly from his injury. Look for him to have a big role this upcoming week against the Chiefs and their air attack.
Questionable Grades For The Raiders?
I’d still love to have somebody explain to me how the PFF grading system works. These five guys all played great games. Don’t get me wrong. But how did Maxx Crosby not get rated higher than a 75.3? Where is Amik “Too Short” Robertson? Whatever the case may be, hopefully they will interpret it as disrespect and continue to demonstrate.
The Raiders finally put together a full four quarters for a big win. A punishing run game and better secondary play were huge pieces of the win in Week 4. The Silver and Black are going to need that to continue. The Chiefs still look like the Chiefs, but if the Las Vegas Raiders can lean on the five listed above, they can hang around in any game. Hopefully, it’s the first win of many this season, and this would be a great week for these five to lead them to a second.
3 Biggest Surprises From The Raiders’ Week 4 Win Over Denver
*Top Photo: Heidi Fang/Las Vegas Review-Journal