GRADING THE RAIDERS
How the Raiders performed in a 20-9 loss against the Bears.
Offense Grade F
This is simple — until what is a terrible situation across the offensive front improves, the Raiders will struggle to beat anyone. Chicago was in Derek Carr’s face all afternoon, totaling three sacks, four quarterback hits, four tackles for loss and three passes defended, and it just got worse and worse. Josh Jacobs was limited to 48 yards on 15 carries. Carr finished 22 of 35 for 206 yards with an interception. The Raiders moved first-round pick Alex Leatherwood inside to guard and started Brandon Parker at right tackle. None of it worked. If it’s true that as an offensive line goes so goes a team, the Raiders are in a heap of trouble.
Defense Grade B
They gifted Chicago its first touchdown with two roughing-the-passer penalties and a hands-to-the-face infraction. But surrendering 20 points at home against a team you’re favored to beat by5 ½ should be enough if your offense is able to score more than nine. Yannnick Ngakoue had two sacks, Denzel Perryman a teamhigh 12 tackles. The Raiders limited Chicago rookie quarterback Justin Fields to 111 yards passing and just 4 yards on the ground. The Raiders also had stops on two third-and-1 plays in the second half. Not that its offense then stood up and did much about it.
Special teams Grade A
It was a nice afternoon for punter AJ Cole, who averaged 56 yards on four attempts with a long of 70. Daniel Carlson made his only field goal, hitting from 31 yards to gave the Raiders a shortlived 3-0 lead.
Coaching Grade F
Whether or not the controversy surrounding Jon Gruden’s 2011 email in regards to players union chief Demaurice Smith had anything to do with such a poor effort can’t be totally known. What was obvious: The Raiders were unfocused, undisciplined and once again awful offensively for long stretches. Make that 11 straight games dating to last season when the Raiders haven’t scored on their opening possession. Gruden and his staff better discover a way to fix things up front on offense.