FSM Essential Recap: Raiders vs Jaguars - Week 9

 

FSM Essential Recap: Raiders vs Jaguars – Week 9

Las Vegas Raiders (2-6) | Jacksonville Jaguars (3-6)

Franchise Sports Media

 

After losing to Trevor Lawrence’s rocket arm in Duval County, the Raiders’ ship sinks to a pinnacle low since relocating to Las Vegas. At 2-6 through nine weeks, changes are likely coming for Raider Nation.

 

Given how this season has gone for the Raiders, you may now be wondering, “what else do the Silver & Black still have to play for?” Well, at 2-5 entering Week 9, Las Vegas actually still has quite a bit to play for.

Heading into the game against the Jaguars, the Raiders are still not eliminated from playoff contention, but their chances have obviously dwindled since last week. So there’s that, and additionally, a loss in Jacksonville would unanimously send the Raiders to their lowest point as a franchise since relocating to Southern Nevada.

If you read my LV-JAX preview earlier in the week, you’ll know that I’m looking for the Raiders to keep things simple, adjust on defense when necessary, and score early and often. After all, this current version of the Raiders is far too talented (especially on offense) to produce another performance like the one we saw in New Orleans. Forward and onward …

Will staying on the road all week at Sarasota’s (FL) IMG Academy pay dividends for Las Vegas? Perhaps this midseason “retreat” together is precisely what the Silver & Black need to regain proper form.

Before diving into this week’s recap against the Jaguars, reflect on the current 53-man roster. With some key players dealing with illness last week, the Silver & Black should be close to full strength on Sunday (sans Darren Waller). 

 

Previous contests:

 

HOF game: Raiders 27 – Jaguars 11
PRE1: Raiders 26 – Vikings 20
PRE2: Raiders 15 – Dolphins 13
PRE3: Raiders 23 – Patriots 6

WK1: Chargers 24 – Raiders 19 (L)
WK2: Cardinals 29 – Raiders 23 (OT)/(L)
WK3: Titans 24 – Raiders 22 (L)
WK4: Raiders 32 – Broncos 23 (W)
WK5: Chiefs 30 – Raiders 29 (L)
WK6: BYE
WK7: Raiders 38 – Texans 20 (W)
WK8: Saints 24 – Raiders 0 (L)

 

1st Quarter

 

On a mostly sunny afternoon, the host Jaguars won the coin toss and elected to defer their possession to the second half. With that, here comes the Raiders‘ offense. Unfortunately, the drive would be short-lived. QB Derek Carr would attempt two passes, completing one to RB Josh Jacobs for a short gain. On 3rd down, Carr tried to step up in the pocket before being dragged to the ground by DE Dawuane Smoot for a loss. After going three-and-out, we’ll get an early look at punter A.J. Cole.

Jacksonville’s initial possession got started with a good rhythm, mixing in runs from RB Travis Etienne before QB Trevor Lawrence was able to pick up first downs to receivers Marvin Jones and Christian Kirk. Just when the Jaguars spilled over to the Raiders‘ side of the field, a botched handoff exchange from Lawrence to RB JaMychal Hasty left the football on the turf, only for DE Maxx Crosby to make the recovery. Raiders ball!

Riding off the turnover, the Raiders handed off to Jacobs, who was tackled for a loss. Next, Carr found Adams on a swing route to the left for a positive play before returning to him over the middle to move the chains. After a penalty on TE Foster Moreau, Adams stayed hot by grabbing another 1st down reception (this one for 21 yards). Unfortunately, the Raiders would incur another penalty (holding on WR Mack Hollins) to keep them at midfield.

Now faced with a resulting 3rd & 21, Carr found (you guessed it) Adams for two more catches, successfully converting the 4th down. With some momentum, the Raiders went toss-left to Jacobs before finding the end zone. A pure dime, Carr went back to Adams on a fade down the left sideline, who easily made the catch and waltzed a few more steps across the goal line. Facing some adversity early, the Raiders are on the board first; 7-0 Las Vegas.

After a fantastic play in kick coverage from D.J. Turner, the Jaguars would be downed inside their own 10-yard line. A gimmicky series followed, one that featured some read-option from Lawrence. Still, Crosby was able to make a major play in the backfield on 3rd down, forcing Jacksonville into an expeditious three-and-out. To make things even better for the Silver & Black, WR Hunter Renfrow produced a favorable return, taking the ball back to midfield.

With the Raiders’ offense back on the field, Carr continued the Renfrow love, hooking up with the slot receiver on the left sideline for a toe tap 1st down. After a second reception from Renfrow, Carr got Mack Hollins involved by going to him over the middle to successfully move the chains. With the offensive rhythm shaping up, Jacobs added another short run before the opening quarter’s time expired. At the end of 1Q, the Raiders are up 7-0 and on the move. (LB DIVINE DEABLO WAS RULED OUT W/ TWO MIN LEFT IN 1Q)

 

2nd Quarter

 

Starting on 2nd down, Carr’s first pass of the second quarter fell incomplete (intended for Moreau). Now faced with 3rd & 11, the Raiders schemed up a halfback screen pass to RB Ameer Abdullah, who nearly made the line to gain but was tackled a couple of yards short. Still, Las Vegas managed to produce points, trusting in their star kicker. Naturally, K Daniel Carlson had no trouble converting the 38-yard field goal, extending the Raiders’ lead to 10-0.

The ensuing drive for Jacksonville resulted very similarly to their last. After a gain on 1st down to M. Jones (wherein CB Rock Ya-Sin supplexed the receiver), their next two plays were futile. For the second possession in a row, the Jags would be forced into a three-and-out.

Las Vegas’ next drive would be a short one as well, but in a good way. After a run from Jacobs, Carr hit Moreau on a crosser, earning valuable YAC as he broke tackles into Jacksonville’s side of the field. On the next play, McDaniels dialed up a play-action pass, and Carr did not miss, finding a wide-open Adams (no defender within 10 feet) on a 38-yard post in the end zone. With the Raiders now up 17-0, the Duval County crowd is beginning to vocally express their displeasures

For the Jaguars, a 9-yard sweep from Etienne followed before he moved the chains on a run up the gut. Staying ground-heavy, Etienne churned about a couple more positive gains before Lawrence got loose on a QB keeper around the left side. Now on the edge of the red zone, Etienne took a gun run between the tackles down to the 1-yard line. On the next play, the Jags went right back to the 2nd-year running back from Clemson, scoring on a dive up the middle. With Jacksonville’s first score of the day, the Raiders‘ lead has been cut to 17-7.

With the Raiders back on offense, Josh Jacobs came out running angry, rushing the ball three times to get the ball back to midfield. Another reception from Adams certainly helped, but the star receiver trotted out of the game with a stinger, only to return to action two plays later. That would give way to the two-minute warning.

At the 50-yard line, Carr tossed a motion-swing pass to Adams to give the receiver his ninth catch of the first half, moving the chains in the process. Next, a 1st down run from Jacobs thrust the Raiders into FG range. Vegas was nearly able to convert the drive into another touchdown, but Carr’s 3rd down end zone pass to Abdullah fell incomplete (in what looked like a face-guarding penalty on LB Chad Muma, but no call was made). Regardless, Carlson salvaged the drive for three points, making his second 38-yard field goal of the day: 20-7 Las Vegas.

With only 45 seconds left in the half, the Jags were able to put something together. Along with some dink and dunks to Marvin and Zay Jones, Lawrence ripped off a 24-yard run up the middle and into Raider territory. However, Jacksonville would stall before reaching the red zone. Knowing they’ll get the ball back to open the second half, the Jags settled for a 44-yard field goal from K Riley Patterson.

 

3rd Quarter

 

Returning to action, the Jaguars would orchestrate their most productive drive to that point. Going 45 yards in nine plays, Etienne served as the workhorse, continually adding yards after contact. When eventually down at the Raiders‘ 2-yard line, a holding penalty pushed the Jags back, only for Lawrence to fire a 7-yard touchdown pass to Kirk in the back-right corner of the end zone. In a flash, Jacksonville is back in the game, down 20-17.

Right away, the Raiders put the ball back in Jacobs’ hands, who added a bruising 8-yard rub before adding a 15-yard counter romp to move the chains. Rookie Zamir White would be stuffed on the next play, followed by a 1-yard reception from Adams. On 3rd down, Carr nearly threw a pick-six trying to find Hollins up the seam, but safety Andre Cisco was looking at the end zone instead of the football. Still, the Raiders were forced to punt back to Jacksonville.

Back with the Jaguars, Lawrence and the offense displayed an increased pep in their step. Unleashing the arm a little bit, Lawrence was able to pick up 1st downs early in the drive by going back to M. Jones along with tight ends Luke Farrell and Dan Arnold. Now on the edge of LV’s red zone, the Jaguars would be forced into a 3rd & long before Lawrence connected with Kirk over the middle to move the chains. From there, Etienne added more runs to get the ball inside the 5-yard line. Now faced with a 3rd & 1, the third quarter clock ran out, sending us to the final period in a one-score game (20-17 LV).

 

4th Quarter

 

After taking the majority of the 3Q possession time, the Jaguars scored on the first play of the fourth quarter, handing off to Etienne for his second score of the day. With the Raiders facing their first deficit of the day, Jacksonville now leads 24-20.

And just like that, the pressure is on, and the crowd in Duval County has awoken. On only their second drive of the second half, the Raiders came back out, getting the ball to Jacobs through the air and on the ground. When faced with a pivotal 3rd down, Carr delivered a nice ball over the middle to Foster Moreau while navigating a closing pocket. Now nearing midfield, the Raiders continued to feed Jacobs before facing another 3rd down. On the next play, Carr was flushed out by the blitz and connected with Adams along the right sideline but could not get both feet down in bounds. Forcing a punt, A.J. Cole kicked back to Jacksonville for only the third time in the game.

Starting at their own 9-yard line, the Jags’ first two plays were bottled up. On 3rd down, the Raiders’ pass rush appeared to have Lawrence wrapped up for a near-safety, but the former Clemson Tiger was able to wiggle loose before firing a 1st pass to M. Jones along the right sideline. However, Las Vegas’ defense was able to stand tall on the next series, forcing the Jaguars to stall after an impact play from DT Andrew Billings. After a short PR from Renfrow, the Raiders are back with the ball at their own 30-yard line.

On 1st down, Adams was running open up the seam, but an errant pass from Carr narrowly missed him. A short reception to Jacobs followed before being faced with a 3rd & 7, where a steaming blitz from Jacksonville was able to get to Carr mid-throw, resulting in an incompletion. After a fan running on the field and a false start penalty, Cole punted back to the Jaguars.

The next drive for Jacksonville started with increased physicality as Etienne was able to move the chains with his legs. The Raiders would eventually force the Jags into a 3rd & intermediate situation. Still, Lawrence and his strong arm found Kirk (beating CB Anthony Averett most of the second half) on an out route to pick up the sticks. On the next play, Etienne burst through the middle and onto Las Vegas’ side of the field. The Raiders were able to rally on the next series, forcing a hard count on 4th down inside Jacksonville’s FG range. Showing discipline, the Raiders did not jump offsides, and the Jags reverted back to a field goal. To thicken the plot with only three minutes left to play, Patterson missed the 41-yard attempt off the right upright. Las Vegas has life and the ball

Starting at their own 30-yard line, Carr found Renfrow for an eight-yard gain on the first play before back-to-back incompletions intended for Adams. Now faced with a 4th & 2, Carr went to Renfrow on a slant that was broken up, turning the ball over on downs. At the two-minute warning, the Raiders are still down 24-20 with no timeouts to spare.

Jacksonville went down and added another field goal to ultimately seal the deal, allowing the Raiders one final drive with about 30 seconds of game time. After four incompletions, that was all she wrote from Duval County, with the Jaguars defeating the Raiders, 27-20.

 

Takeaways

 

Nine weeks into the season, and the Raiders are still not giving a consistent performance through all four quarters. Typically, that is a testament to coaching, conditioning, and preparation. As dominant as the offense was in the first half (scoring 20 points behind 250+ yards of offense), they managed to get shutout in the second half. That makes three of the last four halves of football scoreless for the Raiders.

 

It may be time to go in a different direction with the defense. I respect Patrick Graham, but this unit has continually shown too much flex during the middle portions of the game. On Sunday, the Raiders allowed their first 100-yard rusher of the year (Etienne – 109) while surrendering over 400 yards of total offense to Jacksonville, giving up 20 points in the second half. Clearly, something is not working, as NFL quarterbacks consistently have their way with Vegas’ defense.

 

That’s all I have this week. At 2-6, I imagine more changes will be on the horizon for Raider Nation in the coming weeks.

 

In Week 10, the Raiders will head back home to Las Vegas and host the Indianapolis Colts. Kickoff is scheduled for Sunday, Nov. 13, at 1:05 pm, with the game airing locally on CBS channel 8 (radio play-by-play on RNR AM920).

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-Gabe Santiago – Franchise Sports Media

Follow Gabe on Twitter & Instagram at @gps_onthemic

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