Raiders Week 13 report card: Passing game woes doom the Raiders

Aerial Attack: F

Don’t let Derek Carr’s numbers fool you. Seventy of his 222 yards and only touchdown pass came in the team’s final possession, when the score was 38-3. Prior to that drive, Carr was 13-of-22 for 152 yards and two picks.

The receivers did nothing to help their quarterback. Zay Jones, Tyrell Williams, and Keelan Doss caught four passes for 34 yards. If it were not for Darren Waller’s seven catch, 100-yard performance, who knows where the yards through the air would have come from.

You better believe upgrading the wide receiver position will be a major emphasis in the offseason.

Ground Game: B+

Josh Jacobs continued to be a force for the offense with 104 yards on 17 carries. Jacobs went over the 1,000 yard mark on the season. As was the case in Week 2 against the Chiefs, playing from behind forced Gruden to abandon the run game.

Behind Jacobs, the ground attack has not gotten much from Jalen Richard or DeAndre Washington.

Offensive Line: B

The big uglies up front were moving some bodies in the run game, paving the way for Josh Jacobs’ fifth 100-yard game of the season. They gave up two sacks, but overall did a good job giving Carr time to make throws for the pocket.

The bigger issue was the lack of open receivers forcing Carr to hold onto the ball.

Defensive Line: D+

It seems like week after week there is only one guy to praise and that is Maxx Crosby. Crosby added two more tackles for loss in the game and now has 12 on the season. It’s safe to say Clelin Ferrell has not lived up to his selection as the number four pick in the draft thus far in his rookie year.

Interior defenders P.J. Hall and Maurice Hurst applied some pressure from time to time with Hurst getting home for the only sack. The run defense was very good, limiting the Chiefs to 96 yards on 29 carries (3.3 yards per carry).

Linebackers: C-

And that’s being generous.

Tahir Whitehead picked up two penalties on one play, an offsides and unnecessary roughness (though only one could be marked off). He also gave up a 47-yard catch-and-run to Travis Kelce in the third quarter that was the key play of a Kansas City scoring drive.

I’d like to see Preston Brown get a look at some point during the next four games. If wide receiver is need No. 1 then linebacker is No. 1a.

Secondary: A-

The talent and speed of the Chiefs receiving corps is no match for the Raiders secondary, but overall they did alright considering. They did not allow big, explosive plays which was the issue in Week 2. Kelce’s 47-yard reception was the longest of the game, but that was more on the linebackers.

Rookie Trayvon Mullen continued to show flashes, breaking up two passes. Although he was flagged for pass interference that cost himself an interception. Nevin Lawson dropped a wide-open interception that hit him right in the hands. The play very well could have resulted in a touchdown had he held onto it.

Anytime you hold Patrick Mahomes to 175 yards passing you consider that a success. Tyreek Hill was the only wide receiver to make a catch.

Special Teams: F

I have been saying for weeks now that the special teams needed to play better and they finally imploded this week.

A blocked field goal, a fumble on a kickoff, and a blocked extra point returned for two points is unacceptable. The loss of Dwayne Harris has been huge in the return game. Jon Gruden has praised special teams coordinator, Rich Bisaccia, as one of the best in the game, but the results on the field do not support that.

Trevor Davis was pulled from kickoff return duties and replaced with Jalen Richard.

Overall: D+