Mack is kept quiet in return to Buffalo

ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. — Khalil Mack’s return to Buffalo did not have the result he’d wanted.

The reigning NFL Defensive Player of the Year, who attended the University at Buffalo, had two tackles and no sacks in the Raiders’ 34-14 loss to the Bills. It was Mack’s first game in the Buffalo area as an NFL player.

Mack largely deflected talk of his return during the week, but said Friday that he was “excited to be amongst the Buffalo people and get a ‘W’ for Raider nation.”

Instead, he and the Raiders’ defense failed to record a sack for just the second time this season. Quarterback Tyrod Taylor completed 20 of 27 passes for 165 yards and a touchdown and showed his elusiveness on several plays on which he rolled out of the pocket to complete passes.

“The plan was definitely to corral (Taylor) in the pocket, make him throw out of the pocket,” Raiders head coach Jack Del Rio said. “We had opportunities to get him down and left our feet. That was not part of the plan.”

Mack said of the Bills: “They came out and played a hell of a game.” Olawale injured: Fullback Jamize Olawale played a key role on the Raiders’ opening touchdown drive, converting a 4th-and-1 near midfield and later scoring on a 1-yard run. Both were short-yardage plays that might have gone to Marshawn Lynch had Lynch not been suspended for the game.

Olawale also showed his speed on a long kickoff return in the second quarter, but he injured his hamstring on the play and did not return.

The 65-yard return was negated by an illegal block in the back called on rookie Shalom Luani, who started at strong safety in place of the injured Karl Joseph and had seven tackles and one pass defensed. Off day: Marquette King did not look like his usual self punting on back-to-back drives in the first half. King followed a line-drive kick with a pop-up of 28 yards. He has a net average of 45.6 yards per punt on the season, but had a net average of 34 yards on four punts against the Bills.

King appeared on the Raiders’ injury report as limited with a right groin issue during the week. Del Rio was asked if that affected King on Sunday.

“I’m sure being limited throughout the week didn’t help him be at his best,” Del Rio said. “I would think that (being injured) may have had something to do with it.” Familiar face: Buffalo receiver Andre Holmes had a good day against his former team. Holmes, who played four seasons with the Raiders, had a 6-yard touchdown catch in the second quarter and a 36-yard reception later in the game.

Holmes said he had Sunday’s game “on my calendar, of course.”

“I was excited to compete” against the Raiders, Holmes said. “All of them are like family to me. I spent four years there. It felt good to be able to play well against them and get a win.” Injury report: Del Rio said Olawale was the only Oakland player to not finish the game. Receiver Seth Roberts was active, but was sick and played no snaps.