HYATTSVILLE, Md. — Derek Carr has said his team goes as its offensive line goes. On Sunday, he was right.
Thought to be one of the best units in the NFL, the Raiders offensive line was porous against Washington. Carr was sacked four times, and the group that has opened up spacious running holes and provided Carr with ample time to throw did the opposite Sunday night.
Washington pressured Carr all night and Oakland only rushed for 32 yards on 13 attempts. In turn, the Raiders (2-1) fell to Washington (2-1), 27-10.
“We got our butts handed to us today, man,” left tackle Donald Penn said. “They went out there and were the better team today.”
Carr had only been sacked twice in the first two games of the season. Both came on consecutive plays in Week 1 when backup right tackle Vadal Alexander replaced Newhouse and played a role in both sacks. The vaunted Jets defensive line didn’t get to Carr in Week 2 during the Raiders’ 45-20 win.
On Sunday, Washington got to Carr from the start. Junior Galette and Jonathan Allen combined to take down Carr, before Preston Smith beat left guard Kelechi Osemele for a sack on the next play. Then to open the second half, Washington linebacker Ryan Kerrigan blew by Marshall Newhouse for a loss of 5 yards. Two plays later, Allen and Matt Ioannidis took Carr down for his fourth sack of the night.
“The other guys across from you get paid and if you don’t come to play, especially in a primetime game, you get embarrassed,” Newhouse said. ” … We’re not happy with how things turned out and we’ve got to get it fixed.”
They said it
Washington QB Kirk Cousins on his defense: “I couldn’t believe it when you think about how successful that Oakland offense has been, not only this season but back to last season.”
Oakland LB James Cowser on his two fumble recoveries: “Really it was just trying to be in the right place where I need to be … I just happened to be there and they just happened to fall in my lap. Really blessed.”
Raiders LT Donald Penn: “I am not going to protest next week. I didn’t want to do it this week, but I felt like something had to be said.”
Raiders coach Jack Del Rio on Derek Carr: “We’ve obviously seen him play at a real high level. Tonight wasn’t one of those nights. It started on the second play of the game and I think it kind of unraveled from there.”
Raiders QB Derek Carr on going 0-for-11 on third downs: “Yeah, that’s not good. It sucked.”
Raiders report card: Oakland lays egg in 27-10 loss at Washington
Oakland Raiders quarterback Derek Carr (4) looks for an opening to pass during the first half of an NFL football game against the Washington Redskins in Landover, Md., Sunday, Sept. 24, 2017. (AP Photo/Mark Tenally)
HYATTSVILLE, Md. — Washington out-gained the Raiders by 344 yards on offense, 472-128, and Oakland failed to convert on each of its 11 third downs. The Raiders (2-1) fell to Washington (2-1), 27-10, delivering a wake-up call to an Oakland team that was one of three left undefeated in the NFL when the game started.
Here’s how we graded the Raiders after their loss.
Pass offense: D-
The only play preventing this category from being an F is the fact that Oakland’s new tight end got in the end zone for the first time this season. Jared Cook’s 20-yard touchdown gave the Raiders a sliver of hope in the second half, but Derek Carr’s inability to generate anything else in the air doomed Oakland. The quarterback threw for 118 yards, second-fewest in his 50-game career in any game he wasn’t injured in. Carr also threw two interceptions, one on the first pass he threw, and tossed 13 incomplete passes a week after completing 23-of-28 in the air. Then there were the 11 failed third-down conversions, and the fact that Oakland only earned three first downs via Carr’s arm. At the end of the night, Carr boasted a cringeworthy 52.9 quarterback rating.
Rushing offense: F
Thirteen carries, 32 yards. Marshawn Lynch only totaled 18 yards on six carries and once again struggled to generate any sizable runs. Cordarrelle Patterson, Carr and Jalen Richard each had two rushing attempts. Together, they totaled 14 yards on six carries. DeAndre Washington ran the ball once for no gain. It didn’t help that Oakland’s vaunted offensive line opened up for Washington’s defensive front to penetrate, making it next to impossible for the Raiders to muster any rushing threat. Oakland also had only two first downs on the ground, the same amount of first downs the Raiders received via penalties.
Pass defense: D
Washington quarterback Kirk Cousins dissected the Raiders defense all night, completing 25-of-30 passes for 365 yards and three touchdowns. Running back Chris Thompson caught six of his seven targets for 150 yards and a touchdown. Jamison Crowder and Vernon Davis caught a combined 11-of-11 targets for a combined 110 yards and a touchdown. The hosts earned 14 first downs via the air and converted 7-of-15 third downs. Raiders cornerback David Amerson, in his return to Washington, got Moss’d on a 52-yard touchdown strike from Cousins to wideout Josh Doctson. Amerson somewhat salvaged his night with two impressive breakups on passes targeting Terrelle Pryor, but for the majority of the night Oakland’s pass defense was uninspiring.
Rush defense: B+
Washington only averaged 3.4 yards per carry, and Thompson did his damage via the air instead of the ground. Starter Rob Kelley sat out with a rib injury, and rookie Samaje Perine didn’t fare too well in his place. The Oklahoma product ran for 49 yards on 19 carries and coughed up the ball in the second half. Thompson ran for 38 yards on eight carries and fourth-stringer Mack Brown tallied 27 yards on six carries. Washington only ran for four first downs, while Oakland’s front stifled a depleted backfield for most of the night. Unfortunately for the Raiders, Cousins still had his way Sunday night.
Special teams: A-
Marquette King is first in the NFL when it comes to average yards per punt (53.3) and net yards per punt (50.3). He got plenty of practice at FedEx Field, averaging 52.7 yards on seven punts and pinning four inside the 20. He logged a long of 61. Giorgio Tavecchio remained perfect on the year, hitting his only extra point and knocking through a chip-shot 22-yard field goal. Patterson only brought out one kickoff for 27 yards, and Richard returned two punts for four yards. Crowder only totaled 23 yards on four punt returns for Washington, and he muffed one that James Cowser recovered for Oakland.
Coaching: C-
Again on the goal line, again Carr threw three straight incomplete passes. The second-half sequence Sunday mirrored that of Week 1, when Oakland opted not to feed Lynch on the doorstep and was forced to settle for a short field goal. This time, a defensive pass interference on Washington set up the Raiders with a 1st-and-goal from the 4, but the drive ended in Tavecchio’s 22-yarder. The Raiders only committed four penalties that cost them 35 yards, but a couple questionable play calls on lengthy third downs contributed to Oakland’s offensive inefficiency throughout the night.
