The Raiders notched their first win of 2018 with an overtime thriller against the resurgent Cleveland Browns. Despite the win, the game was full of up and down moments Raiders fans must get used to for the next few seasons.
It was the best of times, it was the worst of times. – Charles Dickens, A Tale of Two Cities
Sunday’s Raiders win against the improved Cleveland Browns was the breakthrough coach Jon Gruden and quarterback Derek Carr sorely needed. Overcoming their propensity to squander leads and, in turn, games after halftime, Carr performed brilliantly down the stretch and in overtime to exorcise the team after an anemic and disappointing 0-3 start.
Despite the guts and determination shown by Oakland today, the sometimes Jekyll and Hyde performance could be the norm for the remainder of 2018. That means the Raiders faithful would be wise to invest in antiacid and perhaps even a therapist as the “one step forward, two steps back” nature of the team’s performance may last quite a while longer.
That’s not to put a negative spin on an overwhelmingly positive outcome for the boys in silver and black. As our own Sr. NFL Analyst Chris Reed said in his postgame wrap up tonight: Derek Carr took us back to 2016 with a gutsy come-from-behind win where he performed like you’d expect a $125 million signal caller to perform. Carr was crisp, accurate, efficient and protected the ball in the extra period helping drive his team into field goal range where Matthew McCrane hit a chip-shot 3-pointer to give Oakland the 45-42 win.
Still, despite the happy ending and another statistical epic day by Carr, there are still many concerns and the up and down nature of this team isn’t going anywhere for a while. Certainly not after one win.
Like his team, Amari Cooper had ups and downs in the win against Cleveland.
Of course, this means Raider Nation is in for a roller coaster year. As I said from the beginning of the offseason, fans must not get too high when things go well, or too low when they don’t. If it’s any indication by the reaction many had to the 0-3 start, fans aren’t heeding that advice.
After last week’s loss in Miami, a constant drumbeat of “Derek Carr is going to make it,” “get Gruden out of here,” and other focused angst swept through Raider Nation. Although disappointed and anger by fans of a winless team are nothing new, the optimism that surrounded the return of Jon Gruden seemed to be short-lived. That anger even returned during the Browns game when Carr through questionable passes, Gruden called head-scratching plays, and the Raiders fell behind the Browns quickly. That was followed later after the team regained its footing, but hoots and hollers for their team.
Schizophrenic to say the least.
Yes, the Raiders came back in dramatic fashion to win one for the home crowd and the exiled members of Raider Nation. But, there was plenty of red flags yet again during the course of the game that will spell trouble against better and more mature teams down the line – like the Los Angeles Chargers next week.
Here are a few reasons why the Raiders will continue to struggle, and at times look unbeatable.
Offensive Line is a Big Worry
Despite the stellar play by rookie right tackle Kolton Miller, the interior of the Raiders line looks like a shell of its former self. The anchor the line, Rodney Hudson, included. Cleveland manhandled the interior of the line through the second quarter. The regression of Kelechi Osemele and Gabe Jackson continues and is beyond worrisome. Add in the mounting injuries to the displaced Donald Penn and Carr and the Raiders could be in serious trouble down the line. Hudson, whose demeanor is impeccable and always team-first, even showed his frustration in what looked to be a lashing out at Carr during the first half of the Browns victory. Tom Cable needs to figure out what’s going on and reverse the trend quickly. Still, the talent on the inside is impeccable, but the inconsistent play could mean we won’t know which version of this unit will show up.
The Pass Rush
Coming into the Cleveland game, the Raiders were the worst pass-rushing unit in the entire NFL. While the until had some big plays against the Browns, overall it was inconsistent and lacks the talent up front due to a trade and injuries. It might be time for Oakland to take a chance on Junior Galette. Arden Key continued to look good and it’s shocking how fast this rookie plays. Yet the push up the middle is again an issue and will be throughout 2018.
Derek Carr
Yes, Carr was reminiscent of the 2016 quarterback who was an MVP candidate in overtime. Carr made many questionable reads and tried to force passes several times during the game. The lack of consistency by such a talented athlete continues to baffle observers. Is it as simple as the fifth-year pro is still getting comfortable in Gruden’s new system? It’s the fourth playbook in five years for Carr. Or is his health still not 100-percent after two consecutive seasons with major injuries. It’s easy to tell he’s not always comfortable. Even though that’s the case, Carr also looked amazing at times. Expect his confidence to grow but his performances to be uneven until it’s fully back.
Questionable Offensive Playcalling
Gruden is supposed to be an offensive-minded coach. In fact, many say he’s brilliant at it. While that’s true at times, we’ve seen the Raiders – including today – make some really questionable calls. Many blame Carr too much for the deficiencies we’ve seen from the coaching staff. Often, Gruden seems to get a little cute and those plays have blown up in the team’s face this season. Whether it’s oddly designed, and poorly executed fourth down plays, or short screens on third-and-long situations, Gruden is working is way back into playing. That means uneven calls until he himself finds the right mix and rhythm to give his team the best chance to score and win.
This rollercoaster of a Raiders season in 2018 isn’t for the faint of heart. You’re going to see them do what they did today and then see them underperform at times. The key to remember is this organization is building for Las Vegas and the long term.
Take your motion sickness meds and get ready folks, you’re in for a lot more ups and downs this season.