Third-and-1 call gets plenty of scrutiny
Team opted for pass deep in K.C. territory late in game
ALAMEDA — There was plenty of second-guessing Friday about a Raiders play call late in a crucial loss to the Kansas City Chiefs.
Trailing by the eventual final score of 21-13 with 2:06 remaining Thursday night, the Raiders faced a thirdand-1 at Kansas City’s 14yard line.
On a drive that began at their 15, the Raiders had advanced 71 yards on the strength of four runs by Jalen Richard for 25 yards, two by Latavius Murray for 5 yards, three pass completions in five attempts by Derek Carr for 22 yards, and a 19-yard pass interference call.
Murray had 22 rushes for 103 yards at that point. On third-and-1, rather than run it inside with Murray, Carr threw a fade toward Andre Holmes in the right corner of the end zone that was broken up by Marcus Peters.
On fourth-and-1, right tackle Austin Howard was called for a false start, and the Raiders’ last offensive snap from the 19 was another fade — this one to Seth Roberts on the left side — that was broken up by Terrance Mitchell.
There was no media access to Raiders coaches and players Friday. Coach Jack Del Rio will speak Monday, the day the players begin preparations to face the San Diego Chargers on Dec. 18.
Former NFL coach and ESPN analyst Herm Edwards thought Del Rio was probably second-guessing the third-and-1 call. Peters is the Chiefs’ best cover corner. Holmes is the Raiders’ No. 4 wide receiver.
“They might have rethought what they wanted to do, when they decided to throw a fade with two time outs,” Edwards told KNBR 680. I think they run the ball in there with Murray.”
Trent Green, doing color for Westwood One radio, told KNBR, “I was a hundred percent sure they were going to run the ball. Then they throw a jumpball fade against Marcus Peters one-on-one. That one baffled me.”
Exactly how the sequence went down is not known. Offensive coordinator Bill Musgrave is the play-caller, Del Rio can step in at any time, and Carr has the authority to change plays at the line of scrimmage based on defensive alignment and matchups.
Chances are the Raiders took a shot at the end zone on third-and-1 figuring if it was incomplete, they could always run for the first down on fourthand-1. The penalty on Howard removed that option, making it fourth-and6 from the 19.
Suspended linebacker Aldon Smith met with NFL commissioner Roger Goodell on Friday in hopes of being reinstated, according to NFL Media. Goodell has the sole discretion to reinstate Smith or have him continue his banishment for multiple violations of the league’s substance abuse policy. The suspension Nov. 17, 2015, was for a minimum of one year.
Were the Raiders foiled when a fourth-quarter Carr pass struck a wire used for above-the-field television cameras?
Amari Cooper’s reaction to the ball in flight suggested something was amiss, saying afterward the ball “kind of moved.” Carr’s older brother, NFL Network analyst David Carr, said on Twitter he “woke up to spiderwire, mystery solved.” (The camera which travels on those wires is called a SpiderCam).
The NFL issued a statement which said “The overhead camera is positioned behind the line of scrimmage, so the cables would not be in play.” Fred Gaudelli, an ESPN producer, told profootballtalk.com that if the ball had hit the wire “the camera would have shaken. On the replay you see the shot was stable.”
Chiefs coach Andy Reid and Del Rio addressed a postgame photo which appeared to show the Raiders coach giving the Chiefs coach an icy glare.
“Jack and I are actually good friends, and I know people don’t like to hear it because it’s the Raiders,” Reid told reporters. “I know the picture — when we were leaving — I just patted him on the shoulder, and we shook hands. There was nothing there, no.” Said Del Rio on Twitter: “Nothing personal between us. Andy is a good man and a good coach. They earned a hard-fought victory last night. On to next.”
Guard Kelechi Osemele, who was hospitalized briefly and missed the Chiefs game because of illness, returned home on the team charter.