Finally, the Las Vegas Raiders won a football game in 2022. With a 32-23 win over the Denver Broncos at home, the team displayed many of the same things they did in the first three weeks. Once again, the offense was top-notch while the defense was shaky overall.
In this one, it was running back Josh Jacobs who stole the show. He carried the Raiders to victory, finishing with 144 yards rushing and a pair of touchdowns. Even quarterback Derek Carr got involved in the running game with 40 yards of his own, by far the most he’s had all season.
In the passing game, the Raiders had their least productive game of the season so far. Of course, as long as the team wins, no one is going to complain. However, this was how the team fared when they did elect to put the ball in the air.
Raiders WR Davante Adams is back!
After consecutive weeks with less than 40 receiving yards, it was starting to become national news. After all, how could the Raiders pay such a premium price for the league’s best receiver and not use him? Well, in week four, it was business as usual for the superstar as he recorded his second game with over 100 receiving yards this season.
Clearly, the game plan was to get him involved often as his day could’ve been even better. On the first drive of the game, Carr missed Adams in the end zone. While it was not necessarily an easy throw, it was one that he should have hit. Even still, Adams’s 13 targets resulted in nine receptions for 101 yards.
Definitely some pressure up the middle here but I still think you have to make this throw. If the ball is closer to the "V" than it is to the "A" then this is a touchdown https://t.co/TLmi75sWeW pic.twitter.com/hupCZGajsi
— Jason Willis (@_JasonWillis) October 3, 2022
Overall, this is how Adams should be used in every game going forward. While the Raiders have lots of talented receiving options, none are quite as talented as their newly acquired receiver. The best in the league at his position, he makes his impact as a dominant possession receiver who thrives on high-volume game scripts. Ten targets per game should be the minimum going forward.
Raiders Blog: Las Vegas needs more from Derek Carr
The story of Carr’s season so far has been the plays that he didn’t make. Simply, he has just left too much meat on the bone for a quarterback who has been in the league since 2014. Unfortunately, it was more of the same in Week 4 against Denver. Specifically, on the first drive, where he missed on two potential touchdown passes.
On the first play, he just decided against throwing it to Keelan Cole down the field. On a post to the middle of the field, the Raiders got the look they wanted, but Carr simply decided not to unleash it and settled for a check down instead.
Raiders missed one here. Not sure why Carr didn't let this one go down the field to Cole. Safety turned his back to him and he had nothing but green. Instead, check down. pic.twitter.com/yYBDDH1OBj
— Jason Willis (@_JasonWillis) October 3, 2022
Is Carr holding back the offense?
It’s plays like these that show how Carr is holding the Vegas offense back. Clearly quite talented, he just doesn’t make enough plays to put the Raiders offense into the elite tier. If they are going to become a team capable of winning championships, their quarterback cannot miss on these plays.
Despite the meager stat line of just 188 passing yards, Carr did enough in this game. Keeping the offense on schedule and targeting Adams often, he did what he needed to. In all honesty, that is how the Raiders’ offense may have to function going forward. If Carr can’t get the passing game going, the offense will first and foremost have to go through Jacobs.
The Raiders Need To Keep It Simple, Feed Josh Jacobs In Week 5
*Top Photo: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports