That was just brutal. Although they played poorly, it felt like the Las Vegas Raiders were going to squeak by against a bad Chicago Bears team. That all changed when Daniel Carlson’s attempt at a game-winning field goal was blocked. Now, the Silver and Black find themselves at a disappointing 1-3—so let’s take a look at some overreactions.
Ashton Jeanty Has Arrived
Maybe it was just the Bears, but this does not feel like that much of an overreaction. Ashton Jeanty finally looks like the guy that Las Vegas drafted him to be. Part of it was the offensive line playing a little better. It also helped that offensive coordinator Chip Kelly finally made an effort to get him into space. The rest was all Jeanty. His tremendous contact balance seems to be translating to the NFL just fine. He was a problem to bring down every time he got into the open field. Perhaps this will open things up for an offense that desperately needs to change.
The Raiders Cannot Rely on Geno Smith
There is no way around it; Geno Smith’s three interceptions cost the Raiders the game. 13 of Chicago’s 25 points came off of those picks. Additionally, all three interceptions appeared to result directly from Smith’s poor decisions and inaccurate throws.
Raider Nation should not be surprised at this point.
That is just who Smith is. If you love his gunslinger mentality, you have to accept the interceptions. However, that is not a recipe for winning games. Smith has had his most success when he has had a good running game to lean on. Over the last three years, Smith is 18-7 when his team rushes for at least 100 yards and 9-16 when they do not. He is simply not good enough to be the focal point of the offense for a serious team.
Speaking of seriousness…
The Special Teams Unit is a Joke
It can be difficult to recognize the extent of the Raiders’ struggles on special teams, largely due to the strong performance of AJ Cole and Daniel Carlson. However, the issues have reached a critical point that is adversely affecting the team.
As awful as Smith was today, he still had the team in a position to win. The protection on the field goal was so poor that it was blocked by an opponent coming off the edge. This issue is not isolated; Las Vegas has faced ongoing problems with special teams execution throughout the year. They have allowed numerous big returns, struggled to generate many returns of their own, and have had difficulty preventing exceptional punts by Cole from rolling into the end zone for touchbacks.
When your kicker and punter perform at such a high level, yet your special teams remain ineffective, it might be time to reevaluate the coaching staff.
Related: Pete Carroll Continues To Guide Team Amid Rough Start
*Top Photo: AP Photo/John Locher