The talk of the Las Vegas Raiders going on a run hit a brick wall last Sunday. The Silver and Black were dominated in a 24-0 loss by the New Orleans Saints. The entire team looked lethargic and uninterested from the owning whistle. The offense and defense appeared to enjoy Bourbon Street in the lead-up to the game, as they had no juice. Three players, in particular, will need a big bounce-back game if the Raiders are counting on beating the Jaguars this Sunday.
Derek Carr has to lead the Raiders into Jaguars territory
I believe this is getting a little redundant, isn’t it? Every week, it seems, since 2017, there’s been a question of whether Carr will show up or if he needs to bounce back. Last week was pitiful, as he threw for 101 yards and an interception. There were moments where he appeared to expect pressure and rush throws.
The Honey Badger picks off Derek Carr. #Saints #Raiders pic.twitter.com/tzVFcyMG2G
— NFL Unlimited (@NFLUnlimited) October 30, 2022
The game wasn’t on him, but he did have an overthrow to Keelan Cole that should have been a walk-in touchdown if thrown right. The chatter immediately came about how Carr needs to go and how he’s terrible—you know the typical Raiders Twitter chat—but if the team is to have any semblance of success this year, they need the polarizing QB. He has shown the ability to lead the team and flip the switch, and if there has been a time to do it, that time is now, or he may be heading to retirement this offseason.
The entire Las Vegas Raiders linebacker corps
Yeah, all of them. There’s no nitpicking here; all of them were subpar last week. Yes, they had a lot of tackles, but they also were carved up by Alvin Kamara. The Saints’ running back had 96 yards receiving and two touchdowns. One of the touchdowns was a 36-yard catch and run where he was not touched for nearly 30 yards. He was consistently running free, and the linebacking core was on the field, but if they weren’t, there may not have been a difference.
Alvin Kamara cannot be stopped. The Saints are taking it to the Raiders. #Saints #FPC #NFL #NFLTwitter
— Full Press NFL (@FullPressNFL) October 30, 2022
This week they match up with another electric running back in Travis Etienne, who ran for 156 last week. Etienne has shown the ability to be a gamebreaker, and he must be licking his chops after the performance these linebackers gave us last week. The margin for error is slimmer than Kevin Durant, so these guys need to show up on Sunday.
And you, Davante Adams?
Yes, I know he can’t make plays if he doesn’t get the ball. That is true, but he was thrown to five times, and not all were perfect throws, but they were passes he can make. At times this year, Adams and Carr don’t seem to be on the same page. There are a couple of plays here and there where the ball is in his hands and he either can’t toe drag or doesn’t come down with the ball. He had a sideline pass where his hands were on the ball, but he couldn’t come down with it and looked to the official, and that is not a good sign.
Alontae Taylor vs Davante Adams on 3rd down #Saints pic.twitter.com/ykSxD6xJqL
— ð—™ð—¢ð—Ÿð—Ÿð—¢ð—ª @ð—™ð—§ð—•ð—²ð—®ð—¿ð—±ðŸ³ (@FTBeard7) October 30, 2022
He only had one catch for three yards during the Saints game. I mean, there’s only so much he can do if he’s not getting the ball. Adams has to show why he is the best receiver in the league. If that means that he has to tell Carr to get him the ball, so be it. There is much on the line on Sunday. A big bounce-back performance from the former Fresno State Bulldog is well-needed now.
The Raiders Face A Big Problem With Jaguars RB Travis Etienne
*Top Photo: Scott Winters/Icon Sports Wire via Getty Images