Week 1’s results were far from what the Las Vegas Raiders had hoped for. Despite adding Georgia superstar Brock Bowers with the 13th-overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, Sin City’s offense was disastrous. Not only did they total a mere 10 points throughout the entirety of Week 1’s contest, but the offense turned the ball over three times. At the game’s end, the Los Angeles Chargers walked away with a 22-10 win; Jim Harbaugh’s return to the National Football League starts with a W.
While Las Vegas’ first game of the 2024 regular season was disappointing, several Raiders managed to have an outstanding outing.
Alexander Mattison, for example, scored the Silver and Black’s only touchdown of the day on a dump-off from Gardner Minshew. Brock Bowers managed to tie for the second-most receptions by a rookie tight end in their NFL debut through league history (6). And although Gardner Minshew turned the ball over twice in the two-minute drill, the first-year Raiders signal caller was able to make history himself.
The cornerback room as a whole gave Raider Nation a reason to be optimistic about the season despite the Week 1 loss. Together, the trio of Jack Jones, Nate Hobbs and Jakorian Bennett were targeted seven times. They allowed only three catches for 14 yards, getting their hands on two passes from Justin Herbert.
These weren’t the only players in Sin City to have themselves a day, either.
Stars of Las Vegas Raiders’ Week 1 contest, via the analytics
A trio of stud defensive tackles
John Jenkins
Jenkins may be 35 years old, but you’d never guess that by watching him play. Among all defensive tackles who took the field for any amount of snaps in Week 1, only four posted a higher grade than Jenkins’ mark of 83.6 via Pro Football Focus.
The veteran DT tallied two pressures on 14 pass-rush snaps, beating his opposition 15.2% of the time (highest on team at position). His 79.2 grade against the run was the highest among all Raiders defenders.
Altogether, Jenkins totaled five stops (most on team) while missing zero tackles; an ageless wonder.
Christian Wilkins
One of the biggest players on the open market this offseason, Christian Wilkins had his presence felt in his first game with the Raiders.
Wilkins earned the eighth-highest grade among all defensive tackles to play in Week 1 (80.8), doing the bulk of his damage against he run where he earned the second-highest grade on the team (75.7). He totaled the second-most stops on the team with four.
The downside of Wilkins’ day was on passing plays, where he totaled both zero pressures and the lowest win-rate among defensive tackles on the team with at least six pass-rush snaps (8.3%). That must change moving forward; there’s no reason to believe it won’t.
Adam Butler
Butler joins teammates John Jenkins and Christian Wilkins as defensive tackles who cracked the top-15 via highest grade at their position in Week 1. With a grade of 76.3, Butler was the 14th-highest graded DT during the 2024 season’s first week.
The second-year Raiders D-lineman beat his matchup on 13.6% of pass rushes while recording two pressures. Butler’s two stops on running downs was the third-most on the team, paving the way to a 70.9 grade against the run.
The defensive tackle unit was exceptional.
Others on the defense
Maxx Crosby
Surprise, surprise; Maxx Crosby was a disruptive force.
Not only did Crosby’s four pressures in Week 1 lead the team, but he was responsible for the only sack of the game for the Raiders. His 17.2% win-rate against blockers was the highest mark among all Las Vegas’ defenders. Crosby was as reliable as it gets when tackling, as proven by his goose egg in the missed tackles column.
For his efforts, the three-time Pro Bowler was given a grade of 76.5; the 16th-highest grade among all edge rushers.
Robert Spillane
Spillane was a key member of the Raiders’ pleasantly great defense in 2023. One week into his ’24 campaign, he’s picked up right where he left off.
With a grade of 84.0, Spillane was the eighth-highest graded linebacker in Week 1. He led Las Vegas in tackles, and more impressively, didn’t miss a single tackle while doing so. The second-year Raider tied Christian Wilkins with four stops; the second-most on the team.
Nate Hobbs
All three aforementioned cornerbacks played great on Sunday, but Hobbs’ day was the best of the three.
Hobbs was tested just once and was able to get his hands on the football to break up the lone pass his way. The Illinois alum also put pressure on Justin Herbert, recording a quarterback hit during the contest.
Additionally, Hobbs totaled four tackles without missing any. He ended Week 1 as the 14th-highest graded cornerback with a mark of 76.0.
The Las Vegas Raiders joined the Seahawks, Cardinals and Vikings as the only four teams to have at least one edge rusher, defensive tackle, linebacker and cornerback receive a top-20 grade at their respective position in the season’s first week.
*Top Photo: Getty Images