Another downer:
The Raiders — including tight end Richard Gordon, No. 82 at right — get blitzed by New Orleans 38-17.
“I apologize to the fans. I’m embarrassed for ’em. Because they live and die as Raiders fans, and I feel for ’em.”
Mark Davis, Raiders owner
Most of the fans left early in the fourth quarter Sunday, but some remained until the bitter end, until the Raiders had lost 38-17 to the Saints.
And one especially frustrated die-hard walked down to the locker room to visit with general manager Reggie McKenzie, head coach Dennis Allen and reporters.
“I’m not happy,” Raiders owner Mark Davis
said.
Oakland’s defense couldn’t cover anybody again, and its offense didn’t put up much of a fight against the league’s worst defense in an ugly, methodical beatdown at the Coliseum. The Raiders have given up 135 points in the past three games — all losses — in falling to 3-7.
“I apologize to the fans,” Davis said. “I’m embarrassed for ’em. Because they live and die as Raiders fans, and I feel for ’em. … I feel the same way. I’m a fan.
“And I take responsibility for it, gonna get it right.”
The Raiders looked like they were turning around their season with back-to-back wins over lowly Jacksonville and Kansas City, but that turned out to be fool’s gold, and they have lost the past three by a combined 66 points.
“I’m just saying right now I’m a little disappointed with the regression,” Davis said, “but like I say, they’ll fight. … And hopefully they’ll fix it. … I am patient, but I want to see progress.”
The Saints definitely have made progress and have come back from an 0-4 start to stand at 5-5. Drew Brees completed 20 of 27 passes for 219 yards and three touchdowns. He has won seven straight against the Raiders, completing 70 percent of his passes for 1,467 yards and 16 touchdowns with no interceptions.
“Disappointing,” Allen said. “We felt like we had a good week of practice. We thought we were ready to play and we got beat today.”
The Saints also ran the ball 28 times for 153 yards (a 5.5 average) and like the Ravens the previous Sunday, pulled the plug early rather than run up the score.
“It’s combination of things,” safety Matt Giordano said. “We gotta get to (Brees). We call for a blitz and the blitz has got to get there. We have to cover longer. … All 11 guys on the field have to do their job better.”
New Orleans took a 21-7 lead at the half and then put away the game on Travaris Cadet’s 75-yard kickoff return and Mark Ingram’s subsequent 27-yard touchdown run to open the third quarter.
Ingram was untouched, which was a theme. Jimmy Graham — the Saints’ No. 1 option — was uncovered on a 1-yard play-action touchdown catch in the first quarter that made it 7-0. Later, Lance Moore broke free on a 3rd-and-13 play, getting behind cornerback Michael Huff and safety Mike Mitchell for a 38-yard score and 21-7 lead with 48 seconds left in the half.
On one play in the fourth quarter, Marques Colston caught a 15-yarder and braced for contact. He was surprised no one was around him and turned around and started running. You can’t make up this stuff.
“I am not sure what the problem is, if it’s the scheme, coaches or players,” linebacker Philip Wheeler said. “I just know that we haven’t been executing.”
Raiders quarterback Carson Palmer was shaky all day and wasn’t helped by his receivers dropping passes or the offensive line getting shoved back into his chest. He threw a terrible pass under pressure that safety Malcolm Jenkins intercepted and ran back 55 yards for a touchdown. That made it 14-0 with 4:06 left in the first quarter.
On the next possession, Palmer led Oakland down the field, but his pass for tight end Brandon Myers in the end zone went off Myers’ hands and into the waiting arms of Saints safety Roman Harper.
The Raiders finally did get on the scoreboard halfway through the second quarter when Palmer rolled right and waited and waited before threading a 1-yard scoring pass to Myers. Running back Marcel Reece, who had 160 of Oakland’s 204 yards of total offense in the first half, set up the score with a 56-yard reception.
Oakland gave up Moore’s touchdown catch to close the half, and then was outscored 14-3 in the third quarter. That makes it 123-34 for the opponents after halftime adjustments for the season.
Next, the Raiders get to visit an old Irish-coffee-drinking friend in Cincinnati. The comparisons to Hue Jackson — fired after one 8-8 season in January and now a Bengals assistant — can’t come at a worse time for head coach Dennis Allen, as his team seems headed off a cliff.
All the Raiders’ players can do is keep their heads up, and hope something clicks in a meeting room or practice this week.
“It’s execution,” Giordano said, “and that’s why we play 16 games. This is an improving process, and we’re learning through fire right now. … We’re learning to fight through adversity. We’re not going to give up. I appreciate every Raider fan (who) stayed until the end and rooted us on.”
Especially the one who signs the checks and reminded everyone that this type of performance is unacceptable.