Vikings provide a tough road test
MINNEAPOLIS >> The traveling circus hits the road for next five games, a stretch that could make or break the Raiders’ season.
First up today at U.S. Bank Stadium are the Minnesota Vikings, a team that resembles the Denver team the Raiders beat in Week 1 more than a Chiefs team which prevailed in Oakland.
The Vikings (1-1) have a defensive-minded coach in Mike Zimmer with experienced and talented personnel on that side of the ball, and a (so far) runfirst offense that will test the Raiders’ toughness and resolve.
The Raiders (1-1) have a lot to prove after letting the Chiefs get away from them in the second quarter. A good portion of the fan base is skeptical, a natural outgrowth of rooting for a team which has had one winning season in the last 16 years.
Some keys if the Raiders are going to restore some of that Week 1 promise and get back on track:
CARR OVER COUSINS >> Either Derek Carr or Kirk Cousins will be facing some questions about their viability as franchise quarterbacks for a 1-2 team depending on the outcome.
The Raiders invested heavily in Carr to the tune of $125 million, although the club could get out of it having paid $69 million after three years this offseason. Carr played one of his most efficient games against Denver in Week 1, completing 22 of 26 passes for 259 yards and a touchdown in a 24-16 win. He followed that up by going 23 of 38 for 198 yards, a touch
down and two interceptions against the Chiefs.
Carr successfully led the Raiders against a Vic Fangio-coached defense in Week 1, and now is up against Mike Zimmerm who has one of the most buttoned-up units in the NFL based on their time spent together. Eight of 11 starters have been with Zimmer all five years.
“It’s kind of like a 1980 or 1975 team. They’ve been together, playing together at every level in the same system, which is uncommon,” Raiders coach Jon Gruden said. “So, they don’t make mistakes, they don’t screw around on defense. They’re really good, man. Really good. And it’s amazing that they’ve had that kind of continuity.”
It will be up to Carr to avoid mistakes against that unit, duplicating what he did against Denver and avoiding the pitfalls against the Chiefs.
Cousins, meanwhile, threw it only 10 times in a Week 1 win over Atlanta, and was 14 of 32 for 230 yards, a touchdown and two interceptions in losing to the Packers. The Vikings guaranteed $84 million over four years to get Cousins last season and they finished 8-7-1.
“I won’t be playing quarterback here much longer if I play the way I did Sunday,” Cousins said. JACOBS OVER COOK >> Carr, Cousins and pretty much any other quarterback outside of Patrick Mahomes operates better with at least a semblance of balance. The best way for Carr to get the time he needs to operate is to put the Vikings on their heels with Josh Jacobs getting tough yards and creating manageable third downs.
Otherwise, the likes of Danielle Hunter (against Trent Brown, health permitting) and Everson Griffen (against Kolton Miller) could make for a long day with Carr taking undue punishment.
Jacobs is fifth in the NFL with 184 yards rushing, and he’s playing with a sore hip and also said this week on social media he’d lost 10 pounds with an illness. It was good news for the Raiders that Jacobs was a full participant in Friday’s practice. They’ll need his presence and ability to get the extra yard.
As for Cook, the 5-foot-10, 210-pound back leads the NFL with 265 yards rushing. He can pound like Jacobs and is fast enough to have broken an 75-yard touchdown run against the Packers. The Raiders have been stingy against the run through two games, but this is the acid test.
MAKING PLAYS ON DEFENSE >> It’s not enough for the Raiders to be sound in their gaps and slow Minnesota’s cutback running game. They’ve got just one takeaway in two games, and it came in the fourth quarter against the Chiefs on a strip sack by Benson Mayowa with Daryl Worley recovering the fumble. Problem was it was 28-10 at the time. Too little, too late.
They’re going to need a takeaway or two to win on the road. Not only against Minnesota, but all the way up to Nov. 3 and their home date with the Detroit Lions. If the Raiders come back with a minus in turnover margin, they’ll be fortunate to be 2-5. SET UP CARLSON FOR THE WINNER >> Drummed out of Minnesota a year ago, Daniel Carlson actually made his only attempt at U.S. Bank Stadium before going 0-for-3 in Green Bay and missing potential game-winners of 49 and 35 yards in overtime of a 29-29 tie.
The Vikings cut Carlson after that game, and then the rookie fifth-round draft pick did a smart thing. Rather than immediately seek another job, Carlson sought help from special teams guru and kicking coach Jamie Kohl. It wasn’t until after Week 8 that Carlson signed with the Raiders and then he converted 16 of 17 field goal attempts to finish the season.
Carlson said all the right things this week but he’s no doubt hoping for a chance with the game on the line against the team that gave up on him.
• Rookie Maxx Crosby was fined $21,056 for a blow against quarterback Patrick Mahomes in last week’s 28-10 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs. The fine represents a substantial chunk of change for Crosby, whose salary is $495,000, which amounts to $29,118 per week over 17 weeks.