Storyline: Jack Del Rio kept his team believing when it seemed like there was nothing to believe in. Now, can Del Rio get his team to “believe” in a 9-7 record for the season? With a player like Khalil Mack, all things are possible.
At halftime last Sunday in Denver things looked pretty bleak for the Oakland Raiders. They were down 12-0, but it actually felt like it was 38-0: the Bronco’s dominating defense was playing to form. The Raiders had an inconceivable negative 12 yards at halftime … that’s right, -12! Football Outsiders has stats back to 1989 and no worse first-half performance could be found.
Courtesy: bleacherreport.com
After that inept half of football, I’m not sure you could find a member of Raider Nation who still believed a victory was in reach. But lucky for The Nation, Jack Del Rio’s troops still believed … and so did Del Rio.
“I’m always aware of what I think the team needs at that time,” Del Rio said. “We talked about playing for 60 minutes, bringing our best ball for 60 minutes. I really felt that. I really believed. I think it was important that the team felt that belief.”
What did “belief” look like in action? The offense took the 2nd Half kickoff and marched 80 yards down the field for the game’s first touchdown. Oakland scored on a beautiful Derek Carr touch-pass to Seth Roberts, who snared the ball in the back of the End Zone. And while there wasn’t much offense to speak of after than–by either team–the Raiders’ defense and special teams were more than enough to get the win, 15-12, over the AFC West-leading Broncos.
How did the Raiders come back to life? The opening TD drive seemed to awaken the team. But, still, they were going to need something special to overtake Denver. How special? Let me introduce the NFL world to “special,” Raiders defensive stud, Khalil Mack.
Courtesy; 9news.com
Mack put on a performance for the ages. He wasn’t just a defender on this day. No, he was pure force of nature. Mack racked up a team record 5 sacks on the day (tying the great Howie Long), with all of them coming in the 2nd Half. He also added 10 total pressures, 7 tackles, and a forced fumble, which led to a safety in the 3rd quarter. Mack destroyed Denver tackles, Ryan Harris and Michael Schofield, on his way to the Pro Football Focus highest-rated defensive performance of the year. That’s right–OF THE YEAR!
Since being drafted with the 5th pick in the 2014 NFL Draft, Mack has been a consistent force and probably Oakland’s best overall player. Right off the bat he was a terrific run defender for an edge player. Yet he had to learn how to be premier pass rusher. That didn’t click until halfway into this year. He was able to pressure before then, but he didn’t always finish. Over the last few weeks, however, Mack has shown just how much he has learned: he has 9 sacks during that time and now leads the league with 14.
I’ve heard Lawrence Taylor and Derrick Thomas comparisons in the past, but I was still waiting for Mack to grow and develop. LT and DT dominated games single handedly. They changed their team’s fortunes by disrupting offensive game plans. Well, that’s exactly what I saw in Denver from Khalil Mack. He was a one-man wrecking crew, willing his team to victory. The comparisons now seem legitimate.
Courtesy: justblogbaby.com
The playoffs may still be out of reach for the Raiders in 2015, but a victory like Sunday’s goes a long way toward building a winning program. Jack Del Rio kept his team believing when it seemed like there was nothing to believe in. Those experiences carry a team forward by building character and attitude in the locker room. Del Rio led the belief in Denver, but can he get his team to “believe” in a 9-7 record for the season? With a player like Mack, all things are possible.
Game Day Observations
After the Raiders took a 15-12 lead in the 4th quarter I saw the offense stay on the field for a two-point conversion. I went ballistic. I didn’t understand what was going on. With mind racing to understand Del Rio’s reasoning, I couldn’t figure it out–with any scenario. I wanted him fired on the spot! It was against all logic! (I don’t think you can understand how apoplectic these events make me!) Thankfully, the announcers finally told us that Jon Condo, the Raiders long-snapper, was hurt and unavailable. Whew! Sorry to jump the gun on you, Jack.
Denver’s pass rush and cornerbacks are a truly phenomenal combination on defense and it shows last Sunday. The Raiders WRs had a total of 6 catches for 39 yards on the day–included 0-8 targets for rookie Amari Cooper. So a big change OC Bill Musgrave made at the half was getting the TEs involved. On a day with minimal offense, Clive Walford had 3 catches for 47 yards and Mychal Rivera had 3 catches for 49 yards plus the winning TD reception. That change was a key adjustment at halftime made by the Raiders’ offensive staff. Kudos!
Courtesy: Getty Images
Mack did the heavy-lifting on defense, but he had some help, too. Mario Edwards Jr. and Denico Autry helped Mack dominate the Denver O-line. They held the Broncos to only 34 yards rushing on 21 carries. Rookie Ben Heeney continued to get more time at linebacker and, once again, he was all over the field. Heeney forced a critical fumble in the second half.
Derek Carr didn’t have a spectacular game, by any means, but he did make two critical TD throws on 3rd down. And he didn’t turn over the ball, which is a huge plus for him. After his 4th quarter debacle against KC the week before, it was a solid effort by Carr, especially considering the quality of the opposing defense. Hopefully Carr can get back to his early-year form during the last weeks of the season.
I take no joy in bashing the referees on a weekly basis, but maybe I should change my tune. The Raiders are now 5-0 when they commit 10 penalties or more; and they have 69 infractions in 6 wins and only 37 flags in 7 losses. Most of the penalties against Denver were self-inflicted–5 false starts–so I offer no rants this week … unless you want to discuss the blatantly obvious PI on Cooper at the 1-yard line in the 3rd quarter. Cooper was mugged on the play–right in front of the referee, who simply waived the ball incomplete. It must have been a bad angle on a play that was an entire two feet in front of him.
Player of the Game
Courtesy: Getty Images
The choice is Khalil Mack, of course. However since I’ve gushed about his greatness already, let me give my second choice some love, punter Marquette King.
It’s not often that you’ll see a punter as MVP of the day, but King’s leg was a true difference-maker in this defensive battle. King had a whopping 10 punts on the day with a 46-yard average. He also had 5 punts inside the 20-yard line with 0 touchbacks. His coffin-corner punt to the Denver 2-yard line led to Mack’s safety; and his booming hang-time helped contribute to Denver’s muffed punt and the second Raiders’ TD.
Punters are players, too. Superb job, Mr. King.
