HENDERSON, Nev. — The beginning of the Raiders’ game on Sunday foreshadowed the challenges they would face throughout. On their very first offensive play, Kolton Miller made an early jump, which was the first of three pre-snap infractions committed by the Las Vegas offensive line. Jackson Powers-Johnson contributed to the penalty count with two additional violations within the next three plays.
The team’s offensive line struggled significantly during their 27-20 defeat against the Chiefs, accounting for four of the Raiders’ five penalties. The struggle didn’t end there, as Las Vegas faced difficulty in running the ball against a formidable Kansas City rushing defense. By the end of the match, the Raiders only managed to accumulate 33 rushing yards, averaging a mere 1.6 yards per carry.
Pass protection was another area of concern, as quarterback Gardner Minshew was sacked five times, particularly as Kansas City’s defensive coordinator, Steve Spagnuolo, opted for a heavy blitz strategy in the second half. The offensive line, which features rookie starters Powers-Johnson and DJ Glaze, has been a persistent issue throughout the season. The pre-snap penalties, however, might be the most straightforward problems to rectify.
Following the game, coach Antonio Pierce noted, “On the first play, we had three guys moving. That’s something we definitely need to refine. Some of the young players are still adjusting. We have high expectations, especially facing off against talents like Chris Jones, but that’s no excuse. They need to focus until the snap.”
Addressing the larger concerns, the Raiders continue to struggle with rushed games, allowing an average of 3.1 sacks per game, which ranks them 27th in the league. Their run blocking has been particularly troubling, managing to surpass the 100-yard mark only three times this season and averaging just 79 rushing yards per game. This puts them near the bottom in terms of performance, making them overly reliant on the pass.
The Chiefs effectively neutralized the Raiders’ running game, forcing Minshew to carry the offensive load. This strategy is likely to become a template for future opponents, although Pierce expressed his determination to re-establish a successful run game. Las Vegas had an opportunity to capitalize on an interception that brought them to Kansas City’s 3-yard line while trailing 17-13 in the third quarter. A touchdown could have altered the game’s trajectory significantly.
They made progress with Alexander Mattison picking up a yard on first down, yet after two additional attempts, they not only failed to achieve the needed yards but also lost ground, resulting in a critical fourth-down sack that extinguished their scoring opportunity. “We aim to establish physical play upfront and dominate the line of scrimmage,” Pierce shared. “However, we hadn’t done so effectively last night; we faced setbacks during crucial plays, especially near the goal line.”
In terms of their strategy, the Raiders have shown they can start strong with their opening drives, scoring touchdowns in three of their last four games. Unfortunately, they have struggled to adapt and maintain momentum throughout the game.
An area in need of improvement is the team’s inability to recover fumbles. So far, they have not seized any of their opponents’ fumbles in four attempts, a rarity as no team has gone an entire season without recovering at least one since records began in 1999. This failure contributes to the Raiders being tied with the Titans for the worst turnover margin in the NFL at minus-13.
Looking ahead positively, the Raiders could be positioned for a high draft pick, enhancing their chances of potentially acquiring a franchise quarterback. Currently projected to select seventh in next year’s draft, they could have their eye on prospects like Miami’s Cam Ward, Colorado’s Shedeur Sanders, or Georgia’s Carson Beck, even though the upcoming quarterback class is regarded as weaker than this year’s.
On the downside, the home field advantage at Allegiant Stadium seems questionable, particularly when facing the Chiefs. In the last 350 days, both Kansas City and the Raiders have won three games there. Kansas City has triumphed in their last two encounters against Las Vegas, including a Super Bowl win, while the Raiders last defeated the Chiefs on the road during Christmas last year.
Injury updates from Pierce included a lack of information regarding center Andre James, who is dealing with an ankle issue.
One significant statistic is that the Raiders have joined a rare group of 14 teams in NFL history, trailing by double digits in each of their first eight games of the season. The most recent team to experience this was the 2013 Jaguars.
Looking forward, the Raiders are set to face the Cincinnati Bengals this Sunday in a match between struggling teams at or near the bottom of their respective divisions.