We are back with more “knee-jerk reactions” after a brief hiatus! The Las Vegas Raiders are finally back in the win column after an overtime victory over the Denver Broncos. Here are some post-game reactions now that we’ve had a little more than 24 hours to process it all.
Both The Raiders And Raider Nation Needed That
Just to be clear, the Raiders didn’t need that win. Their season is already effectively over. If anything, this win just hurts draft position, making it harder to build toward the future. That being said, every fan of this team absolutely needed something positive. The apathy and depression that had built from watching the Raiders for the past three weeks were beginning to be too much to bear. Raider Nation needed something to feel good about. For now, we’ll take sweeping a bad Denver team.
Who The Hell Is Tyler Hall?
That is what went through everyone’s head when some random defensive back came up with a big third-down sack in the second quarter. A quick Google search reveals that he is a second-year corner who was signed by the Falcons as an undrafted free agent out of Wyoming. After getting cut by the Falcons, he spent last year with the Los Angeles Rams. Now he is on the island of misfit defensive backs. Last week, Sam Webb had his moment in the sun against the Indianapolis Colts before getting torched by Denver. Here’s hoping that the same doesn’t happen to Hall next week against Seattle.
Again, Pay Josh Jacobs
I said this months ago, and I’ll say it again. The Raiders need to pay Josh Jacobs now. At this point, the man has earned his bag. At this point, he is essentially carrying the offense. Also, he’s doing it with a mediocre line. Plus, the Raiders continue to run him out of ’22’ personnel (running back, fullback, and two tight ends), so everyone knows when he is getting the ball. Luckily, it has not mattered a bit. Despite everything, Jacobs continues to churn out 100-yard rushing games.
Some will say that an extension wouldn’t be worth it. Financially, they would probably be right. Running backs usually never live up to those hefty contracts. Nevertheless, it is not about the money; it is about the message. Playing well has to be rewarded. You cannot let a guy walk after he averages over five yards per carry for the season. If Jacobs maintains that pace, his price is going to skyrocket. The Raiders might as well try to put something together now. If they do, Las Vegas might be able to get a deal done that is relatively team-friendly.
*Top Photo: Aaron Ontiveroz/The Denver Post