Just Don’t Get Distracted, Baby
Raiders deal with off-field issues in playoff hunt
The Las Vegas Raiders have dealt with an email scandal that forced coach Jon Gruden out after five games, and a fatal drunken driving crash that led to the release of star receiver Henry Ruggs III.
Yet they still find themselves in position to make the playoffs for the second time in 19 seasons.
Now as they prepare for a season-ending showdown against the Los Angeles Chargers they learned that rookie cornerback Nate Hobbs has been arrested on a misdemeanor DUI charge.
“As distractions go away, we’ve kind of learned to deal with distractions around here,” interim coach Rich Bisaccia said Monday after news of Hobbs’ arrest became public.
Bisaccia had no more details on Hobbs’ status as the Raiders main focus is on the Chargers following Sunday’s come-frombehind 23-20 win at Indianapolis that set the stage for the big finale.
With a win at home Sunday night against the Chargers, the Raiders (9-7) will make the playoffs for just the second time in the past 19 seasons. Las Vegas also can get in with one loss by Pittsburgh and a Colts loss to the Jaguars on Sunday.
The Raiders have done a good job to get into this position by winning the past three weeks by a total of nine points. A struggling offense has made just enough plays in key spots, the defense has held firm and kicker Daniel Carlson has made two walk-off field goals.
“We’ve had to win the last three weeks to even make this one mean something,” quarterback Derek Carr said. “I think just keeping the mindset and keeping the main thing the main thing . ... I think every game for the last month, really, has been a playoff game for us and I don’t think anything changes this week.”
WHAT’S WORKING
“Red Zone Renfrow.” The Raiders have had issues scoring TDS in the red zone this season but the one reliable option has been slot receiver Hunter Renfrow, who has caught seven of Carr’s 15 TD passes in the red zone. That’s the most in a season for any Raiders player since at least 2000 and is tied for the sixth most of any wide receiver this season.
“He makes big plays in big situations, and he’s done it his whole career,” Bisaccia said. “He did it at Clemson and now he’s doing it at the National Football League. I can’t say enough about the chemistry between him and Derek and his ability to understand the field or get himself in open positions.”