Raiders hammered by Jets: Studs and duds from an ugly loss
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The Raiders returned to earth with a thud Sunday, getting decisively outplayed in every way possible in a 34-3 loss to the New York Jets at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.
Coming in on a high with a three-game home win streak, the Raiders will regroup with a 6-5 record and prepare to face the AFC West-leading Kansas City Chiefs (7-4) on Dec. 1 at Arrowhead Stadium.
Jets quarterback Sam Darnold, getting plenty of time to operate, carved up the Raiders from the outset, completing 20 of 29 passes for 315 yards and two touchdowns with no interceptions. Running back Le’Veon Bell had 108 yards rushing and receiving.
The Raiders were being dominated to such an extent coach Jon Gruden had quarterback Derek Carr and running back Josh Jacobs on the sidelines before the third quarter was over with the game out of reach.
The Jets (4-7) took a 13-3 at halftime and removed all doubt in a third quarter in which they scored 14 points in 14 seconds on a 1-yard pass from Darnold to Robbie Anderson and a 15-yard interception return against Carr off a deflection for a 34-3 lead.
Playing on the East Coast in a morning slot game, the Raiders were a step or two slow in coverage and offensive throughout, and even more important, were dominated on both sides of the line of scrimmage.
Some studs and duds:
STUDS
Sam Darnold: The former first-round pick out of USC had ample time to pass and made the most of it throughout. After missing the first three games of the season with mononucleosis, Darnold looked so shaky he said he was seeing “ghosts.” The ghosts in Sunday’s case were Raiders defenders, who couldn’t keep up.
Robby Anderson: Rumored to be a possible trade acquisition by the Raiders at the deadline (and potentially an offseason target), Anderson had 4 catches for 86 yards with a long of 31 yards.
Jets offensive line: A Raiders defensive front that had 12 sacks in its last three games and 10 in the last two barely got close to breathe on Darnold thanks a Jets offensive line that’s been in a state of flux all season.
Gruden’s challenge: Gruden actually won his first challenge of the season on a pass which was originally ruled a completion. He later lost one on a fourth-down spot when Alec Ingold was stuffed on a fourth-and-1 run and failed to get a first down for the first time this season.
DUDS
Derek Carr: It wasn’t all Carr’s fault — the Raiders were having trouble holding on to the ball in the first half while the Jets were taking charge. He was done in the third quarter trailing by 31 points, having completed 15 of 27 passes for 127 yards with no touchdowns and the interception return by Poole.
Nev and B-Poole making it happen!#OAKvsNYJ | #TakeFlight pic.twitter.com/NPmlahka2G
— New York Jets (@nyjets) November 24, 2019
Josh Jacobs: The Jets lived up to their billing as the top run defense in the NFL. Jacobs had 34 yards on 10 carries and 15 came on one toss play. There was little room to run, and game circumstances didn’t allow the Raiders to stay patient. He was wisely removed with Carr in the third quarter.
Maurice Hurst’s penalty: The Raiders didn’t lose because of the officiating, but in a 96-yard drive by the Jets for a touchdown, Maxx Crosby lost a sack because of a roughing the passer call on Maurice Hurst. Straight up, it was a bad call. Darnold was out of the pocket, technically a runner and the hit was nothing out of the ordinary. The Jets went on to score a touchdown on Darnold’s 4-yard run for a touchdown.
Dropped passes: Tyrell Williams, Hunter Renfrow and Jalen Richard all had drops in the first half as the Jets were taking command.
Holes in the secondary: Jets receivers were breaking free all day. Braxton Berrios caught one short pass as the outside receiver in a three-man bunch formation to the right and raced 69 yards to the 1-yard line. D.J. Swearinger, solid in his debut, struggled in coverage.
The play that set it up…
Sam to Braxton for 69 yards!#OAKvsNYJ | #TakeFlight pic.twitter.com/VSdJz6uNjd
— New York Jets (@nyjets) November 24, 2019
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