Raiders Win Low Scoring Affair
Photo Credit: Mark Anderson, AP Photo
The Las Vegas Raiders pulled off an ugly game versus the Green Bay Packers on Monday Night football in which neither team scored 20 points. The 17-13 win by the Raiders is the first time they have beaten the Packers since the Reagan administration, and it could not have come at a better time. This was a game in which the Raiders absolutely needed a win, and behind great defensive performances from Maxx Crosby and the Raiders secondary, they did what they needed to do to secure a win.
Josh McDaniels, in the writer’s opinion, had his first game of the season in which he outcoached the opposing team. Perhaps it was simply the bad playing and play calling from the Packers team, but McDaniels took what was given to him and made enough out of it to get the win. Even so, an ugly game and a questionable late game field goal call on 4th and 1 that could have possibly cost them the win has fans questioning their head coach, and it is certainly not unwarranted.
To begin with the team’s actual play though, the Raiders defense looked much improved, which is certainly a sight for sore eyes for Raiders fans. The secondary forced three interceptions out of Jordan Love, two by LB Robert Spillane and one by DB Amik Robertson to close out the game. Now, the youth throughout Green Bay’s passing game is certainly suspect (no player is over 25 years old), but a Raiders defense that has been yearning for turnovers and strong defensive back play found their footing. Of course, to make their job easier was Maxx Crosby, who totaled five tackles, four of which were for a loss with an added sack. The pressure applied by Crosby and the secondary for the Raiders, as well as interesting play calling from the Packers, put Love and the young Packers offense at a great disadvantage. The Raiders defense’s best outing of the season certainly led to the outcome of this game.
As for the Raiders offense, play looked better overall, but there is still a lot left to be desired. Although Josh Jacobs had his best rushing game of the season with 69 yards on 20 attempts, the run game still had a hard time finding traction, even with Green Bay’s track record of a bad run defense and the absence of both of their starting linebackers in the second half.
Jimmy Garoppolo, returning this week from the concussion protocol, did not have his best game. He certainly found his open receivers when Green Bay played their corners 10 yards off the ball and lined up a player wearing number 91 on Davante Adams (for some unknown reason), but he also took three sacks and threw an interception. If anything, this game showed that the Raiders may have the offensive weapons they need, with Adams, Jacobi Meyers, Josh Jacobs, and rookie TE Michael Mayer all having solid games, but Garoppolo might not be the guy of the future.
Overall, QB play and coaching questions still rack Raiders fans’ brains. With this win, some are questioning if it was really a positive for the Raiders to win this game. However, with the season still being young, if the Raiders can build from this win, four of the next five games can easily be won, putting this team in a very favorable position. Will they build and learn? Only time will tell. But make no mistake, while there are certainly many things to fix, this game should create a positive outlook for Raiders fans.
