Did the Las Vegas Raiders save their 2023 season with a 17-13 win over the Green Bay Packers on Monday Night Football at Allegiant Stadium? Well, for now, the Silver and Black might have avoided imploding their team ahead of the trade deadline on Oct. 31.
Plenty of takes will surround Week 5’s conclusion, including the direction Las Vegas should take. Although it wasn’t the prettiest of offensive games, this contest revealed one possible argument: the Las Vegas defense is more than just Maxx Crosby.
Let’s dive into the postgame remarks about the defense that showed up when the team needed them the most.
The Raiders defense answered the call against the Packers
Oftentimes the Las Vegas defense gets painted as ‘Crosby and who else’? Well, against the Packers, defensive coordinator Patrick Graham proved the unit is more than just the All-Pro edge rusher. Graham and Co. made Jordan Love’s night difficult as the signal caller went 16 for 30 on his pass attempts, totaling a mere 182 passing yards with three interceptions.
Love will see Robert Spillane in his nightmares this week. The Raiders linebacker was responsible two of the three interceptions against Green Bay’s signal caller. Spillane also had two solo and seven assisted tackles to accompany the interceptions. Furthermore, the 27-year-old believes this game will open the turnover floodgates for the Raiders defense.
“We just opened the floodgates, and now we just got to keep continuing to build on assault in that pocket and finding ways to get the ball out,” Spillane told reporters postgame (h/t Vegas Sports Today).
So, Raiders fans, is Monday’s performance foreshadowing what’s to come for the defense? Or did they take advantage of a bad Packers team? Let us know.
Amik Robertson was ready for the Packers to test him
Considering the rules that favor the offense, life as a cornerback isn’t easy. If a quarterback paints one as the weakest link in the secondary, they’ll get picked on. Nonetheless, Amik Robertson was ready for Love to test him, and boy, did he come up big for Las Vegas to seal a much-needed win.
In the final seconds of the fourth quarter, Green Bay was in Raiders territory, driving to win the game. Love was able to get out of pocket and avoid the pass rush. Afterward, the 24-year-old went to win the game, airing the ball to the end zone, but the ball fell short of the mark. Robertson then sealed the game with an interception.
“I knew they was gonna test me,” Robertson told reporters (h/t KSNV’s Jesse Merrick). “I’m the smallest guy on the field…I just wanted to – not just get a PBU, I was tired of those, I wanted the ball, I wanted them to feel it.”
Las Vegas needed this win if they wanted to salvage their season. With all the speculation over Davante Adams’ future, all that chatter will be quiet this week. Furthermore, the path to get on a win streak and climb past the .500 mark is there for the Raiders.
The Silver and Black will face the New England Patriots and Chicago Bears. If the team wants to be a playoff contender, they should win games. Will they? It should be an interesting ride.
*Top Photo: Justin Edmonds/Getty Images
