Ngakoue says defense can force more turnovers

The Raiders’ defense gave the offense every opportunity to get back in the game during Sunday’s 20-9 home loss to the Bears.

Defensive end Yannick Ngakoue believes the unit can do more.

“We need to force more turnovers as a defense,” he said. “Three-and-outs are cool, but turnovers change the game and give you a higher percentage of winning. We can help out the team tremendously that way.”

The Raiders allowed just 252 total net yards and forced five punts. Chicago managed one first down on three possessions in the third quarter but maintained a 14-3 lead entering the final 15 minutes.

It was the third consecutive game in which the Raiders have failed to force a turnover. Only the 49ers and Jaguars have created fewer turnovers than the three the Raiders have forced through five games.

“If you want to be a great defense in this league, you have to turn the other team over and give your offense more opportunities,” Ngakoue said. “We just have to keep working at that.”

Ngakoue had both of the sacks for the Raiders, his first multiple-sack game since Week 15 of last season. Linebacker Denzel Perryman led the way with 12 tackles.

Perryman leads the league in tackles with 60 through five games. He has recorded double-digits in tackles in each game this season.

He agreed the focus needs to be on generating turnovers but also stressed the importance of playing a full 60 minutes.

“What we need to do better is start faster,” he said. “I feel like these past two games, we’ve kind of let people get ahead, and that’s when we turned things on.”

The Raiders trailed 14-3 at the half and have been outscored 35-3 in the first half over the past two games.

Sunday marked the 11th straight game the offense failed to score a point on its opening drive.