Raiders’ quarterback Derek Carr returns to the lineup; 49ers’ defense regroups after NaVorro Bowman’s release.
QB looks to rev up offense, snap 3-game losing skid in return
There are no mathematical computations which will eliminate the Raiders from the playoff race should they lose Sunday to the Los Angeles Chargers.
Not even close. At 2-4, they’d be last in the AFC West but still have 10 games to play with two division games to play against the Chiefs and one more to go against the Broncos and Chargers.
You wouldn’t know it from the radio airwaves or social media, where mole hills routinely become mountains too high to climb.
So it’s not surprising there were no Raiders biting this week on the subject of a “must-win” against the San Diego Chargers following three consecutive losses.
“Obviously, we need a win,” coach Jack Del Rio said. “It’s about us preparing, coming out and playing good football. That’s all we want to be about is good football. Whatever it takes to get you motivated, we recognize the need. We need it pretty bad. If there’s a desperation meter, we want it pretty bad.”
Said quarterback Derek Carr, who will be back in the lineup
after taking a week off to heal up a fractured transverse process in his back: “I don’t think it’s ever a makeor-break week, to be honest, until it’s really eliminating.”
What Del Rio, Carr and the rest of the Raiders realize is this — if a team believes it is facing a “must-win” situation this early in the season, that season has almost assuredly been already lost.
Carr even injected some much-needed perspective when addressing the North Bay wildfires that have devastated the region.
“That kind of stuff, that’s real life. That’s hard,” Carr said. “Being 2-3 is not hard when we really think about it.”
Besides, if the Raiders are anywhere near the team they thought they were after two games, the “good football” of which Del Rio speaks ought to be enough against the 1-4 Chargers.
Belittle the opponents if you must, but a 10-point road win in Tennessee to open the season would meet anyone’s standard, and the New York Jets — the team the Raiders blew out in Week 2 — are 3-2.
What did the Raiders have in those games that they didn’t have in the ensuing three games? For one, an effective if methodical offense. The Raiders scored 71 points in those two games and have 37 in the last three.
The last time the Raiders had less than 37 points in three games was under interim coach Tony Sparano in 2014. During that stretch they lost 13-6 to San Diego to fall to 0-10, beat the Chiefs 24-20 and took a 52-0 walloping from the St. Louis Rams that convinced Mark Davis he’d be looking hard at outside coaching candidates after the season.
Carr was steady in those two wins, taking what was in front of him, with the big explosions coming on the ground in the Jets game.
“We just have to be efficient,” Carr said. “I’m just going to do my job. Take what they give us and when the big plays are there, you make them. I think that goes for everybody. If each man does their job and doesn’t worry about anything else, I think we’ll be better off.”
That goes for the defense, which needs to avoid the Chargers’ downfield strikes and make it difficult for Melvin Gordon to get running room. The team that runs the ball and stops the run could have the upper hand when it gets to the fourth quarter and the air quality from the wildfires makes itself felt.
What to watch for in Week 6:
FIRST DENT IN CARR >> It’s probably too much to ask for Carr to go though the entire game without being hit, especially with Joey Bosa and Melvin Ingram lining up as bookend rushers or occasionally on the same side. It will be important for Carr to absorb the first blow and bounce back up, and it will be important for both teammates and fans to realize he’s going to be OK. MACK RESUMES ATTACK >> It’s not often you see defensive end Khalil Mack spend so little time in the opponent’s backfield. But that’s what happened against Baltimore. No sacks, no quarterback hits, no tackles for loss. Mack says he’s not looking to atone for anything. “Man, I’m worked up for every game. I just want to answer the call,” Mack said.
WHERE’S SEAN SMITH? >> The Ravens were able to isolate speedy Mike Wallace on Sean Smith last week and it paid off in a big way. This week’s version of Wallace is Travis Benjamin, and it’s up to Ken Norton Jr. and assistant coach John Pagano to devise ways to keep Smith from having to solo defend deep passes against Benjamin.
OH, HENRY >> Antonio Gates has been posting up on Raiders safeties for all of his glorious career. Gates is still around and can hurt you, but it’s second-year tight end Hunter Henry who’s the most dangerous presence at tight end. Henry got the Raiders for red zone touchdowns in each meeting last year and also had a 59-yard catch in the first game.
SLOWING GORDON >> The surest way to force Philip Rivers into interceptions is through down-and-distance with pressure, and the best way to accomplish that is to keep running back Melvin Gordon under 100 yards and under 4.0 yards per carry. With rookie middle linebacker Marquel Lee sitting it out, the Chargers will take aim at smallish linebackers Cory James, Tyrell Adams and Nicholas Morrow as they attempt to fit the run game.