The theory was proffered to coach Jon Gruden that perhaps the Raiders were so intent on stopping quarterback Cam Newton from running the ball that they were susceptible to every other ballcarrier in a 36-20 loss Sunday to the New England Patriots.
The Patriots controlled the game with 250 yards rushing, and their ability to run and control the clock looked a lot like what the Raiders did in Weeks 1 and 2 in wins over Carolina and New Orleans.
Newton broke loose for a late 21-yard run, but finished with 27 yards on nine carries.
“When you hand the ball off and no one is there, it’s a lot more than that,” Gruden said about the Newton theory. “I give Cam credit. I give the Patriots credit. We’ve got to take a good look at what happened on those plays. Obviously we missed some tackles and we had some players out of their gap. We can’t do that against the Patriots, not against anybody.”
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New England averaged a gaudy 6.6 yards per carry, led by Sony Michel with 117 yards on just nine carries including breakaway runs of 38 and 48 yards. New England had 14 rushing first downs and a time of possession advantage of 34:39 to 25:21.
Rex Burkhead, a meat-and-potatoes back, had 49 yards on six carries and scored three touchdowns on runs of 5 and 2 yards as well as an 11-yard reception. J.J. Taylor added 43 yards on 11 carries.
The Patriots ran the ball 38 times and passed it 28, which is the kind of ratio Gruden covets.
The Raiders were eighth in the NFL in run defense last season (98.1 yards per game), but it’s been a long-standing problem over most of their second stay in Oakland. Through three games, the Raiders have given up 491 yards rushing, 5.6 yards per carry, and are ranked 28th.
You can almost hear Warren Sapp and other Raiders defenders through the years lamenting “Do your job” in the same way Maxx Crosby did on Sunday.
“I think it’s just discipline, staying in our gaps, not trying to do too much,” Crosby said. “It goes for the whole defense. We’ve got to be in our gaps, do our jobs, make tackles and we’re not doing a good enough job of that right now.”
All the praise heaped upon defensive line coach Rod Marinelli during training camp has resulted in a struggling unit through three games. The Raiders did manage to sack Newton twice — both from Crosby — but too often have given up ample time to pass as well as open running lanes in all three games.
That’s not all on the defensive line, but when backs get a head start as the Patriots did so often it makes it difficult on defenders. Johnathan Abram in particular flailed at some open field possibilities on Sunday.
EDWARDS OUT AFTER BIG PLAY
Rookie wide receiver Bryan Edwards fell awkwardly after being tackled following a 34-yard pass from Derek Carr, his longest play as a Raider. Edwards did not return.
That left the Raiders without both of their prize rookies, as Henry Ruggs III was inactive with hamstring and and knee issues.
The Raiders have already lost Tyrell Williams for the year, have left guard Richie Incognito on injured reserve and were without right tackle Trent Brown and middle linebacker Nick Kwiatkoski for the second straight game.
It’s getting so Gruden is having a hard time remembering just how many games his team has played.
“I mean, it’s hard, no doubt,” Gruden said. “We lost Bryan Edwards. We’ve already lost Tyrell Williams. We lost Ruggs, two right tackles and our left guard. “We’re in our second game. You start to wonder what the hell’s going on. This is the NFL. It’s for mentally tough men. We’re all professionals. We’re all paid. If we need the young guys to step up, so be it.”
There was no word on whether Edwards’ injury is long-term, and there likely won”t be any official word Monday either or on Tuesday when the Raiders are off.
Rookie cornerback Damon Arnette left for a brief time after having his right hand bent backward (he’s playing with a broken thumb) but he returned to the game.
RENFROW COMES THROUGH
Wide receiver Hunter Renfrow led the Raiders with six catches for 84 yards, including a 26-yard pass from Carr to the 1-yard line in the final seconds of the first half that led to the Raiders first touchdown. Renfro later caught a 13-yard touchdown pass from Carr with the game out of reach with 1:54 left.
The play before halftime was originally ruled a touchdown, but Renfrow realized immediately he hadn’t scored.
“That’s a play we’ve been working on all year,” Renfrow said. “It just so happened it came open and Derek did a good job hitting me down the sideline,” Renfrow said. “I knew I wasn’t in. I knew when I got up. I told Nellie (Nelson Agholor) I was short.”
EXTRA POINTS
— Carr passed Daryle Lamonica for second on the all-time list for Raiders touchdown passes with 149, surpassing Daryle Lamonica (148). He is one behind Ken Stabler (150) for the franchise lead.
— The Raiders were credited with six passes defensed, including three by starting cornerback Trayvon Mullen. The Raiders had eight passes defense din the first two games combined.
— Former Raider third-round draft pick Shilique Calhoun was credited with a half sack on the strip sack of Carr that produced the final New England touchdown.
— It was the third Raiders loss at Gillette Stadium since it opened the year after the Tuck Rule game. They also lost in 2005 (Randy Moss’ first game) and 2014 (Dennis Allen’s second-to-last game as head coach).
