How the Raiders graded in a 36-20 road loss to the New England Patriots on Sunday:
PASS OFFENSE: D
The red zone issues had a 2019 feel. Derek Carr (24 of 32 for 261 yards and two touchdowns) didn’t throw an interception but did lose a pair of fumbles on passing plays, the second one clinching the game for the Patriots. New England kept Darren Waller under wraps, blanking him until the game was out of hand. Carr conceded he missed on a couple of chances to get Waller the ball. But there are other eligible receivers even with yet another injury (Bryan Edwards) and the system is built to spread the wealth anyway. Seven completions to running backs netted only 31 yards. Nice day for Hunter Renfrow, in particular a 27-yard catch to the 1-yard line before halftime.
RUN OFFENSE: B-minus
Josh Jacobs averaged 4.4 yards per carry — better than in each of his first two games when he was the dominant offensive player. The problem was because the Raiders couldn’t convert on early red zone opportunities, they couldn’t control the tempo and were forced to pass 32 times and run 24 — and that’s not the way Jon Gruden wants to play. Devontae Booker (three carries, 31 yards) continued to show he can step in on occasion. Jalen Richard got 14 yards on his lone carry. There’s nothing wrong with 5.7 yards per carry that more attempts won’t fix if game circumstances allow. You had the impression if Raiders were in position to be persistent with the run, they would have succeeded.
PASS DEFENSE: B
Cam Newton completed 17 of 28 passes for 162 yards, was intercepted by Johnathan Abram, sacked twice by Maxx Crosby and wasn’t nearly the downfield factor he was against Seattle in Week 2. Raiders defenders were credited with six passes defensed, including three by cornerback Trayvon Mullen. Newton never did look comfortable, but the Patriots were able to hit the Raiders with some completions to backs — an area which was supposed to be addressed with the signing of Cory Littleton. It hasn’t happened yet.
RUN DEFENSE: F
The Patriots ran 38 times for 250 yards, and that was even though Newton’s running plays were kept under control until a 21-yard scramble late in the game. The Raiders would have gladly settled for that if told beforehand. Sony Michel needed only eight carries to get 117 yards and had runs of 38 and 48 yards. Rex Burkhead had 49 yards rushing, J.J. Taylor 43. There were carries where backs were untouched into the second level. Maliek Collins, the three-technique signed to be a difference maker, has yet to be that force. Lots of missed tackles, the most conspicuous of which were some whiffs by Abram.
SPECIAL TEAMS: D-plus
The play that set up New England’s sack-fumble-touchdown was an illegal block above the waist on a kickoff return by Devontae Booker, which put the Raiders at their own 6-yard line. Daniel Carlson missed a 41-yard field goal attempt that would have tied the game 13-13 early in the third quarter. He also converted from 29 and 25 yards. Other than that, the Raiders did little to impact the game on special teams nor did they do anything else egregious.
COACHING: D
The Raiders moved the ball well enough both passing and running, but their execution on third down and red zone was poor. When the Patriots schemed their defense to do whatever they could to take away Darren Waller, the Raiders had no answer in the plays that helped decide the game. Coach Jon Gruden opted to take a field goal down 23-10 early in the fourth quarter, gambling his defense could come up with a stop and the Raiders could get within 23-20. It backfired. The Patriots went on a long touchdown drive to put more distance between themselves and the Raiders. Defensive coordinator Paul Guenther is changing things up on occasion, but whether it’s personnel or familiarity, something’s missing.