Las Vegas Review-Journal

GRADING THE RAIDERS

- Ed Graney

OFFENSE

Derek Carr (26 of 43, 386 yards, 2 TDS) threw a Pick-6 via some serious Grade miscommuni­cation with tight end Foster Moreau.

The offensive line allowed two sacks, nine quarterbac­k hits and four tackles for loss. It was a big-time struggle for those up front. But the running game was saved by a career-high 111 yards from Peyton Barber on 23 carries. Barber also scored a touchdown and his 27-yard run late in overtime helped set up the game-winning field goal. Carr completed passes to nine receivers. Bryan Edwards and Henry Ruggs combined for seven catches and 167 receiving yards. Hunter Renfrow had five for 77.

DEFENSE

It was really, really good … for three quarters. But when you blow an Grade 11-point lead in the fourth quarter and can’t get a backup quarterbac­k (Jacoby Brissett, 32 of 49 for 215 yards) off the field when he’s facing downs such second-and-23 and fourth-and-20, things need some cleaning up. Quinton Jefferson had the team’s lone sack. The Raiders had seven quarterbac­k hits and two tackles for loss.

SPECIAL TEAMS

Daniel Carlson hit the game-winner in overtime from 22 yards — he Grade also made good from 50 and 38 — but his missed extra point with 13:47 left eventually allowed Miami to tie the game with a touchdown and two-point conversion with two seconds remaining in regulation. A play that might go unnoticed but shouldn’t is wide receiver Zay Jones downing a punt inside the Miami 5 late in the first quarter. One play later, cornerback Casey Hayward tackled rookie Jaylen Waddle in the end zone for a safety to get the Raiders on the scoreboard.

COACHING

Not sure about the timing of some second-half timeouts, but Grade Jon Gruden’s late-game play-calling, specifical­ly in overtime, proved to be a big difference yet again. Gus Bradley’s defense didn’t allow Miami points on six of its first seven possession­s and kept the Raiders in this one until the offense figured some things out.

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