RAIDERS

then held to two field goals the rest of the way thanks to three interceptions by Derek Carr, a lack of a consistent run game and the inability to get the ball to receivers Amari Cooper and Jordy Nelson on the outside.

The defense wilted in the second half as Todd Gurley took over the game and Jared Goff used play action to find holes to throw downfield. The Raiders struggled to generate any kind of pass rush just over a week after trading star edge rusher Khalil Mack with rookies Arden Key, P.J. Hall and Maurice Hurst failing to make big impacts.

“They have to keep improving,” Gruden said. “They have to keep seeing schemes. Keep their pad level down. Using their hands better. Just improving. We have to get Arden Key some better looks. When they run all those jet sweeps, there's a lot of eye candy out there. It's tough.”

Carr said after the game that this loss felt different than past ones because of how positive Gruden was after the game to the team.

Gruden said it felt just like any other loss and he's trying to avoid that same feeling this week when Oakland travels to Denver (1-0).

“Losses all feel painful,” he said. “Especially Monday night losses when you have to get up and get ready for a team like Denver. Put a lot into it. We put a lot of time into this. I thought he was on his way in the first half. He was 20 for 24, I read, doing some really good things . ... I don't have any doubts that Derek Carr is going to be great and I can't wait to get started and get ready for the Broncos.”