FSM Essential Recap: Week 14 - Raiders vs Chiefs

After their pregame standing and dancing on the Chiefs logo, the Raiders seemed to forget the intensity once the game started and got pounced on right out the gate.

On the first play from scrimmage, running back Josh Jacobs gets the ball knocked out of his hands by defensive tackle Jarren Reed, which was recovered by cornerback Mike Hughes and returned for a touchdown. That play pretty much sums up how the rest of the game went for the Raiders.

The offense couldn’t get much going for themselves in any area. The offensive line was often outplayed and manhandled. The running game produced 44 yards on the ground, and receivers couldn’t get separation to make plays down the field. The lone bright spot was the reliable Hunter Renfrow, who finished the game with 13 catches, 117 yards, and the teams’ lone touchdown.

Quarterback Derek Carr was sacked four times and threw one interception off a bobbled pass to tight end Foster Moreau. Of the other three wide receivers used, Zay Jones, Bryan Edwards, and DeSean Jackson, neither had more than 25 yards, and Jackson only had one catch on two targets. His lack of involvement in the passing game continues to be frustrating as he’s shown when given the targets, he can make plays and create more explosive opportunities for the offense.

The Raiders’ struggles on offense were at an all-time high this season in this outing. There was never a look of desperation on the team to say ok; enough is enough; we have to start going big and make something happen. Instead, they just seemed to be going through the motions and playing it safe, looking to leave the field and move on to the next game.

It was 35-3 going into halftime, and the game wasn’t even that close. Sometimes a team is off and doesn’t have a good showing. That’s the least you can say about how the Raiders looked at Arrowhead stadium.

As stated, the team got together before the game on the team’s logo midfield, looking to get some motivation and swagger behind them going into this matchup; it looked as though it did more harm than good.

The defense was short-handed their star linebacker in Denzel Perryman, who missed the game. But even if he would’ve played, it’s hard to imagine the team would’ve looked any different.

The lone bright spot was the team did get three sacks. Ngakoue, former first-round pick Clelin Ferrell, and rookie defensive end Malcolm Koonce were able to bring the quarterback down. Koonce has been showing progress in practice the past few weeks, which has earned him more playing time, and in back-to-back games, he’s recorded a sack. The promising pass rusher is showing with time, and he can become a contributor for this defense in the future.

Not much else stood out for the team defensively other than they held star tight end Travis Kelce to just 27 yards, but with others contributing and finding different ways to score, he wasn’t needed as much to come up with the big plays.

The Raiders managed 9 points, matching their season-low. This might be their worst showing of the year, given it was against a division rival. The team falls further down the playoff race line and doesn’t look like they will recover. Here’s to finishing the season strong.