Storyline: The Raiders were hammed by the Bengals in Week 1. The Silver and Black have nowhere to go but up, but those prospects aren’t good. Is it the same old, same old?
The Oakland Raiders opened up the 2015 season with another horror show of a performance. They got walloped by the Cincinnati Bengals 33-13. The final score doesn’t even come close to reflecting the Bengals overall dominance. (I’m not sure why I expected anything different because this has been the norm under the Mark Davis/Reggie McKenzie regime.)
Adam “Pac Man” Jones against the Raiders (photo courtesy si.com)
Usually I try to keep a rational attitude when writing a game recap. I try to keep everything in perspective. I understand it’s Week 1 and teams can grow and change as they move on. But I can’t do that this week. This week I’m in full-fledged panic mode: I can’t see any hope for the Raiders’ 2015 season.
With the Raiders, it always seems things get to a lower point than you can imagine. Sure, I envisioned a possible Raiders loss, but this was a Train Wreck in the Black Hole? I never thought they would look so inept in Jack Del Rio’s coaching debut … and at home. It was a complete meltdown in every facet of the game.
Courtesy: bigstory.ap.org
The offense was basically non-existent. The revamped offensive line couldn’t open holes for the running game and the passing game was completely out of sync. Derek Carr looked the same as he did as a rookie–inaccurate and unable to complete anything downfield. Rookie WR Amari Cooper looked legit. That’s the only compliment I have.
It’s not like the defense had a good day, but they were left out on the field way too long. With the offense looking to get a head start on leading the league in three & outs, the defense melted down. There were holes everywhere in the secondary. Oakland must have thought TE Tyler Eifert was still injured because no one seemed to cover him all day. Eifert scorched the overmatched LBs and secondary with 9 rec for 104 yards and a TD. An, oh yeah … all of that came in the first half!
Del Rio and his staff have years of experience. The Raiders finally have some young talent to build around. And this was Year 4 of the Raider rebuilding under McKenzie. The team finally has depth and skill to compete in the AFC West. But none of that looked to be true on Sunday. It was a complete and utter debacle. This shame was on par with the 27-0 drubbing the Raiders got on opening day in 2006 from the San Diego Chargers. That was Art Shell’s return to coaching, and he finished up that season at 2-14 and was fired.
It’s your play Jack.
Game Observations
I’m officially worried about Derek Carr’s franchise quarterback status. He didn’t get a full game to contribute, but the same errors popped up as in the preseason. His passes were once again inaccurate, his feet unsteady, and his decision making suspect. QBs are supposed to make a second-year leap and I am just not seeing it from Carr yet.
Ray-Ray Anderson (photo courtesy Wikipedia.com)
I hope that pissing match you had with Sio Moore was worth it, Del Rio. The Raiders traded promising young linebacker Moore before the season…supposedly because he didn’t fit in and the other LB’s were better. Moore’s replacement, Ray-Ray Armstrong, was not good to put it nicely. He was out of position often, couldn’t set the edge, and missed a huge tackle at 4th and Goal on the one. I’m sorry, but Moore makes that play.
One day I might just write about the excellent game D.J. Hayden had at cornerback, but Sunday was not it. Once again Hayden was the weak link of the secondary. He got burned by A.J. Green repeatedly and seems to get flagged twice a game as if it’s mandatory.
Speaking of penalties, the Raiders only had a few. However, in a blowout like this the officials always like to dump as much salt as they can in the Raiders’ wounds. The Raiders’ best offensive play of the day? It was a sixty yard+ run by FB Jamize Olawale … wiped out by a holding call. The Raiders finally get a key 3rd Down stop in the Red Zone… but, wait…defensive holding was called on Hayden.
The officials hate the Raiders like America hates poor people.
If the Raiders didn’t look bad enough, then let’s throw in some injuries while we’re at it. Carr hurt hit wrist and may miss a few weeks. Both safeties were hurt: Nate Allen may have torn his ACL and Charles Woodson left the game with a bum shoulder. Defensive lineman Justin Ellis also left with an ankle injury, along with Hayden.
Head Coach Jack Del Rio has a lot of work ahead of him. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)
Player of the Game
Hahahahahaha! This section is a joke, right? No Raider deserves this award, so I’m going with the entire O.Co Coliseum crowd for having to endure this nightmare.
The Raider Nation waited in anticipation for eight months and got a turd of a performance. It’s not good when expectations go kaput by the second quarter of Week 1. I praise the fans for their resilience because it sure was better than anything the team put out there.
