The Raiders came out of Buffalo with another loss, and this one pushed them into a 3-3 hole after a 33-30 defeat to the Bills. It was their third straight setback, and it followed a familiar script: a strong enough showing to hang around, but not a clean enough one to finish the job.
That pattern is becoming hard to miss. Like the Chiefs game a couple of weeks ago, Las Vegas battled a good opponent and still ended up empty-handed. The difference again came down to one of the ugliest parts of the sport.
Turnovers, man. Turnovers.
The Raiders were in the game for most of the afternoon before the momentum swung sharply after Buffalo’s field goal in the third quarter gave the Bills a three-point edge. On the next Raiders drive, a Kirk Cousins interception handed Buffalo a short field, and Josh Allen and company turned it into a touchdown that stretched the margin to 10.
It was the same kind of back-breaking sequence that decided the Chiefs game. Las Vegas simply is not built to survive those moments when it loses the turnover battle.
That reality does not land solely on Cousins, either. A veteran quarterback working with anticipation is going to throw the occasional interception.
The deeper problem is that the defense has stopped creating takeaways. During the Raiders’ 3-0 start, they forced a league-high nine turnovers.
In the three games since then, they have managed just one. For a defense that is already having trouble keeping points off the board, that drop-off is a major issue.
The offense has a separate concern, and it’s starting to look impossible to ignore: Ashton Jeanty needs a break.
Through six games, the Raiders’ last year’s first-round pick is averaging 3.2 yards per carry and has only one touchdown. That’s not what anyone expects from a running back taken in the top 10.
Jeanty is not being helped by the line or by the overall run game, but his own struggles are part of the picture too. He has been inconsistent in pass protection, has dropped several must-have catches and has not shown the burst fans are used to seeing.
Something looks off. Maybe it’s the adjustment to the new offense.
Maybe it’s physical. Either way, he doesn’t look like himself.
The solution, at least for now, sounds simple: sit him for a game or two. The Raiders are not helping him by keeping him out there, and he is not helping them.
This is not about writing him off. It’s about giving him time to reset while the team figures out what’s wrong.
Mike Washington should take the load in the meantime, and Las Vegas should think about bringing in a street free agent to help fill out the backfield.
Even after scoring 30 points, the Raiders still have another offensive problem staring them in the face. The passing game cannot keep leaning almost entirely on Brock Bowers doing the dirty work.
Michael Mayer is a solid tight end, and Tre Tucker’s speed matters when he actually secures the ball. Beyond that, the options are thin.
Jack Bech is hurt and was underwhelming even when healthy, Jalen Nailor is a generic depth receiver and Cody White was more of a special teams story than a real receiving answer.
That’s why reinforcements feel necessary.
One more legitimate receiver would make a real difference, especially with Tucker stretching the field and Bowers doing everything else. The Raiders need someone who can consistently beat nickel defenders.
There are names out there. Las Vegas could make a swing at Terry McLaurin by calling the Commanders, or it could check in on Brian Thomas Jr. of the Jaguars if it wants a cheaper route.
Even Zay Jones would be an upgrade right now. At 3-3, the Raiders do not have the luxury of waiting until next year’s draft to fix it.
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 🡒]