Reviewing Las Vegas’ 7 long completions
1. Raiders carve up secondary. Assigning responsibility as best we can on Las Vegas’ seven completions of at least 25 yards — 49-yard touchdown to WR Henry Ruggs III (CB Ronald Darby/s Justin Simmons), 25 to WR Hunter Renfrow (zone), 33 to TE Darren Waller (CB Bryce Callahan), 31 to RB Kenyan Drake for a TD (ILB Alexander Johnson), 29 to RB Josh Jacobs (screen, missed tackle by ILB Micah Kiser), 40 to Ruggs (Darby) and 51 to WR Bryan Edwards (Callahan).
2. Little pass rush … again. The Broncos’ defense sacked QB Derek Carr twice, but both were after lengthy scrambles outside the pocket. The Broncos rushed at least five players on 10 of Carr’s 30 drop-backs (33.3%). The sacks were by Callahan and S Kareem Jackson near the sideline. The defensive linemen had only two disruptions (a knockdown by Deshawn Williams and pressure by Dre’mont Jones).
3. No answer for Vegas pass rush. Raiders defensive coordinator Gus Bradley rushed five or more players on only four of QB Teddy Bridgewater’s 59 drop-backs. No matter, the Raiders were charted for 21 disruptions, the most allowed by the Broncos this year. The five sacks were booked to LT Garett Bolles/c Lloyd Cushenberry, Bridgewater, RT Bobby Massie/rg Graham Glasgow, coverage sack and Cushenberry/massie.
4. Empty calories. The Broncos have entered the fourth quarter of their three losses trailing by 10 to Baltimore, 18 to Pittsburgh and 21 to Las Vegas. That has allowed opposing defenses to soften their coverage and the Broncos have gone the empty calorie route. In the last three fourth quarters, the offense has gained 44.6% of their yards (468 of 1,049) — 85 of 254 vs. Baltimore, 205 of 374 at Pittsburgh and 178 of 421 vs. Las Vegas.
5. Blocking nobody. In the second quarter, the Broncos had secondand-9 from their 34. RB Melvin Gordon got the carry and headed right. DE Maxx Crosby easily shed Fant’s block, but Gordon got by Crosby. Then Fant ran right by CB Casey Hayward as if he was running a route. Unblocked, Hayward made the open-field tackle for a four-yard gain. Gordon looked right at Fant as if to say, “What was that, man?”
6. Williams’ leap. Rookie running back Javonte Williams still can’t get on the field more than Gordon, but he seems to produce an energy-creating play in every game. On Sunday, it was his 30yard run from the Vegas 47. Williams started right, got a good block from Fant (who held up S Johnathan Abram), broke CB Arik Robertson’s diving tackle attempt at the line and jumped over S Tre’von Moehrig for his final three yards.