Losing Their Way
Struggling Raiders lose their 3rd straight game
The offense is stagnant, the defense got gassed and the sloppy play with penalties and turnovers once again proved costly.
A Las Vegas Raiders season that had so much promise just a few weeks ago is spiraling out of control after a third straight loss, 32-13 to the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday.
“We came out flat,” quarterback Derek Carr said. “It was terrible, there is no beating around it. Last couple of weeks we just take turns. Just really out of sync right now. Nobody is coming to save us, so we better figure it out.”
The Raiders (5-5) appeared on the right track when they won their first two games under interim coach Rich Bisaccia to head into the bye week with a 5-2 record. But they haven’t won since returning, getting outscored 96-43 in losses to the New York Giants, Kansas City and Cincinnati.
The recent slide started after speedy receiver Henry Ruggs III was released after charged with felonies in a fatal drunken driving crash that killed a 23-year-old woman.
Carr has struggled to push the ball downfield without Ruggs threatening the defense, and the offense has looked mostly stale after a promising first two games without coach Jon Gruden.
Coordinator Greg Olson, who took over as play caller after Gruden resigned over the publication of his old offensive emails, has been unable to come up with a winning formula the past three weeks. Carr has struggled as well with four interceptions and two fumbles.
The Raiders are running out of time to get things fixed if they are to make it to the playoffs for just the second time in the past 19 seasons.
“Being a Raider fan for a long time, 20 years of this crap is enough,” Carr said. “I’m fed up. I just want to be part of the moment that changes. I want that so bad, that’s what keeps driving me. I get pissed off and I get upset. I stand up here, and I’ve done this way too many times than I like to do it.” WHAT’S WORKING Pass rush. The most consistent part of the Raiders came through once again with Las Vegas getting three sacks.