Week 4 impact play: Raiders-Chargers

Each week, I recognize players who put the Las Vegas Raiders in a position to win. So far, the previous Impact Plays have gone to:

1. KJ Wright (4th down stop)
2. Henry Ruggs (61 yard touchdown)
3. Alec Ingold (Goal-line fumble recovery)

This week although the Raiders didn’t win, they were in a position to tie the score going into the fourth quarter. Despite the offense struggling to get things going in the first half. The Raiders defense did their part to prevent the game from being a blow-out. The Raiders scored two touchdowns in the 3rd quarter to bring the game within a single score.

The Chargers offense came out onto the field to end the third quarter. Their drive continued into the initial minutes of the fourth. It took the Chargers five plays to get to mid-field however after two incomplete passes on 1st and second down, Justin Herbert and the Los Angeles offense faced a 3rd and 10, up 21-14 with 13:41 remaining in regulation.

Raiders defensive coordinator Gus Bradley dials up a six-man pressure and runs a five-man blitz coverage in the back-end. Tre’von Moehrig is targeted in coverage and deflects the ball in mid-air. The Chargers would punt on the subsequent play, giving the Raiders the ball back for a chance to even the score with 13:27 left on the clock.

Unfortunately, the Raiders offense was only able to capitalize on one of the defense’s third down stops (7 in total) and the game results in the team’s first loss.

The funny part about the above play from Moehrig is that he is beat. Cook is alone in a vacant area of the field. Moehrig clearly has a miscommunication with linebacker Nick Kwiatkoski and passes tight end Jared Cook off to no one. But credit to the young safeties reaction time and ball skills to deflect this pass. Next time, catch the ball, rookie.