The Raiders left Buffalo with another loss and another reminder of how thin the margin is in the AFC. A 33-30 defeat dropped Las Vegas to 3-3, and while the final score kept it respectable, the defense did not make life easy on itself against one of the league’s best offenses.
That puts Raiders defensive coordinator Rob Leonard under the microscope in his first season running the unit. The result wasn’t pretty enough to ignore - 33 points allowed never is - but the performance wasn’t treated as a straight coaching indictment. Leonard gets a C- for Week 6, mainly because the bigger problem was execution on the field.
Buffalo came in with Josh Allen and James Cook, and both played a major role in the Bills’ production. Cook handled 22 carries for 95 yards and a touchdown, and the Bills finished with 103 rushing yards on 29 attempts. The Raiders were aligned to defend the run, but they simply didn’t do it well enough.
There was one clear bright spot for Leonard’s defense: Allen did not hurt Las Vegas as a runner. The Bills quarterback was held to five carries for one yard, a strong answer from the Raiders against a player who can wreck a game with his legs.
But that success had limits. Allen still found ways to buy time, escape pressure and keep plays alive until someone came open.
On those snaps, the issue was less about scheme and more about the pass rush failing to finish. When Allen got the ball out quickly, it often went to a receiver who had separation or was being held by one of the Raiders’ young defensive backs.
There were also a few moments when Las Vegas lost track of the running back coming out of the backfield, which could reflect on Leonard’s coaching or coverage structure. Still, most of the damage came from players not making enough stops in key spots.
So Leonard takes the hit that comes with being the man in charge, but Sunday’s breakdown was more about the defense not holding up its end than about being outcoached.
In Other News...
Raiders Fans Should Be Careful With The Ashton Jeanty Comparison
Ashton Jeantys early Raiders production has invited an ugly comparison, mostly because the surface numbers look familiar to anyone who remembers Trent Richardsons rapid NFL fade. The caution here is that context matters. Richardson entered the league with a different kind of pre-draft hype and landed behind a stronger blocking environment, while Jeanty has had to navigate a Raiders offense that has not given him much room to work with.
Still, the concerns around Jeanty are real enough to keep the conversation going. His low yards per carry and frequent negative or no-gain runs have been a problem, and the Raiders have not made life easier with poor run blocking, while an ankle issue only adds another layer to the evaluation. The larger point is not that everything is fine, only that it is too early to stamp him with Richardsons fate when the situations around the two backs have not been remotely the same. [Read more 🡒]
Raiders Offensive Line Trouble Has Put Spytek Under Early Pressure
With the Raiders trying to steady an offensive line that has already become a concern, the front office made another round of roster adjustments this week. Las Vegas brought in offensive tackles Amari Kight and Darian Kinnard on the practice squad as part of a push to add more protection depth before facing the Los Angeles Rams.
At the same time, the Raiders cleared room by moving on from tight end Chris Myarick and offensive lineman Evan Neal. It is an early sign that general manager John Spytek is willing to keep working the roster aggressively, and the bigger question is how much improvement he can engineer in time to help a unit that needs it quickly. [Read more 🡒]
Raiders Backfield Suddenly Has A Workload Question Fans Should Watch
The Raiders left Buffalo with a few encouraging signs in the backfield, even if the loss itself still lingered. Rookie Mike Washington Jr. gave the offense a lift with his running, and head coach Klint Kubiak came away pleased enough to point to better production and effort from the group overall.
Kubiaks comments also suggest this is not turning into a one-back operation just yet. Ashton Jeanty and Dylan Laube remain part of the mix, and the workload split in the weeks ahead should be worth watching as Las Vegas tries to find a steadier rhythm on the ground. [Read more 🡒]