Raiders’ last-minute defensive stand sets stage for last-second, winning touchdown
Just when the Raiders appeared on their way to a second straight embarrassing defeat, something strange happened Sunday.
Just when it didn’t seem likely, the Raiders defense made a stop.
Lost in the exhilaration of Derek Carr’s last-second, game-winning touchdown pass to Henry Ruggs III was the fact the Raiders finally prevented the winless Jets from gouging them with their 32nd-ranked rushing attack.
The Raiders’ magical 28-24 victory would not have been possible had their defense not forced the Jets into a three-and-out, allowing Carr and the offense to take over near midfield with 35 seconds left.
All the Jets (0-12) needed to do to win their first game of the season was pick up a first down in the final minute and a half against a Raiders defense they’d overwhelmed all day. But after allowing the woeful Jets to run for more than 200 yards for the first time all season, the Raiders kind of surprised themselves.
“We did a thing we hadn’t done all game. We stopped the run for one series,” said Raiders defensive tackle Clelin Ferrell, who had a breakout game with two strip sacks and a crucial tackle to help prevent a Jets first down.
Raiders tight end Darren Waller insisted he was still confident their defense would come through when it mattered most and force the Jets to punt.
“I did. At first I didn’t know that
we still had two timeouts. So I’m like, ‘OK, the defense gets a stop right here, we use two timeouts and we get the ball back with 40-something seconds. ... We have an opportunity here,” Waller said. “Let’s just step out here and see what happens.
“I still don’t even know what to say now.”
Besides saying thanks to his defensive teammates, of course.
Ferrell, who had missed the last two games while on the COVID-19 reserve list, was easily the Raiders’ biggest contributor on defense. He resembled the difference-maker they sought when they made him the fourth overall pick in the draft a year ago.
Ferrell not only recorded his first sack of the season, he became just the second player in the NFL
to record two strip sacks in a game this year, joining the Chiefs’ Chris Jones. Ferrell is the first Raider in 15 years to get two strip sacks in a game; Tommy Kelly achieved that feat against the Chiefs in 2005.
Nonetheless, Ferrell wasn’t satisfied with his performance until after Ruggs hauled in the game-winning TD with 5 seconds left.
“It was so hard to enjoy it because the game was such a sway of emotions the whole game. I know the Raiders fans were really, really trippin’ the whole game. It was up and down, up and down. It was crazy,” Ferrell said. “I was just happy to come out, come back, play well and get a win.”
Raiders coach Jon Gruden doesn’t like to make excuses, but he noted some of the Raiders’ troubles
Sunday could have been due to injuries. Defensively, they were missing regulars such as safety Johnathan Abram (knee), defensive end Carl Nassib (knee), defensive tackle Maliek Collins (injured reserve) and then cornerback Damon Arnette (concussion) was knocked out of the game in the opening minutes.
“Plenty of things to clean up, but we were missing a lot of key players today and to win on the East Coast on a short week after a tough outing is a character-builder for us. I’m really proud of the guys,” Gruden said.
No matter to what degree those injuries contributed to the Raiders’ performance, it’s still scary to see a team with postseason aspirations allow the Jets’ offense to operate so efficiently. The Jets, the lowest-scoring team, gained a season-high 376 yards while running for more than 100 yards for the first time since Week 6.
Adding to the Raiders’ defensive woes was Sam Darnold throwing his first TD pass since Week 3. Then throwing another touchdown pass in the opening minutes of the second quarter. The Raiders also permitted the league’s worst thirddown offense to convert on five of its first eight attempts.
Then again, the only thirddown attempt that really mattered was a third- and- 6 with a minute left. That’s when defensive back Keisean Nixon and linebacker Nick Kwiatkoski stopped Ty Johnson for a 1-yard gain, enabling the Raiders to get the ball back one final time.