Oakland Raiders: The Good, Bad, And Ugly In Loss To The Chiefs
By Kevin Saito
The Bad: Everything After That Opening Drive
For an offense that seemed to be clicking so well over the first drive, they fizzled out really, really quickly. After that opening drive, the Raiders were unable to generate anything on the offensive side of the ball. They couldn’t sustain drives, went three and out too many times, and were unable to stay on the field long enough to give the defense a rest.
For the rest of the game, the offense made plays here and there. They were able to generate a few big plays. But never with any consistency and certainly, never with any ability to build momentum and go on a long, yard chewing, clock consuming drive that ended with some points on the board.
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After that opening sequence, the drive chart for the rest of the game is an absolute horror show. Interception. Missed field goal. Turnover on downs. Field goal. Punt. Punt. Punt. Fumble. Turnover on downs. And then the merciful end to the game.
That the offense was able to only generate ten points for the whole game is disturbing. This is a unit capable of hanging thirty or more on just about anybody in the league. Or at least, we thought they were able to. In truth, the way they performed, they looked like a ten point a game offense.
What should have the team and the fans even more concerned though, is the fact that for the first time this season, the Raiders were shut out in the second half. In most every game this season, the second half had been where the Raiders really came alive. Carr had been a wizard in the fourth quarter, and the Raiders were able to generate big yards and big points in the second half.
Not on Sunday. Which speaks to Reid and the Chiefs making big adjustments at the break and HC Jack Del Rio and his staff not being able to counter them. Which could be a bigger problem down the line.