Team looking for way to finish off opponents
DENVER — Derek Carr’s three interceptions last Sunday just put a loud alarm on what has been a problem for the Raiders all season: the fourth quarter.
Oakland (5-7) has led or been tied after three quarters in nine of its 12 games (and was down by only two to the Broncos). The Raiders are only 5-4 in those nine games.
A closer look at the numbers shows that the Raiders have been outscored 93-24 in the fourth quarter the past seven weeks. The running game has fizzled late, Carr has thrown seven of his nine interceptions in the fourth quarter, and the pass defense’s issues become more visible as the clock ticks down.
It may just be growing pains — the Raiders are expected to start nine first- or second-year players Sunday in Denver — but coach Jack Del Rio is looking for other possible reasons and solutions.
“Certainly, a lot of NFL games are decided there in the fourth quarter, so we need to be at our best and that’s everybody,” Del Rio said. “We all need to be at our best in the fourth quarter. If that’s not occurring, we’re definitely going to take steps to ensure that we give ourselves every opportunity to be better going forward.
“You’re pointing out something that I’m aware of.”
The Raiders will get a big boost Sunday with the return of center Rodney Hudson from an ankle injury. Oakland has lost two of the three games Hudson has missed. The coaching staff thought he was having a Pro Bowl season, getting outside on sweeps and pulls and downfield to block linebackers and safeties to extend runs.
Latavius Murray, who leads the AFC in rushing with 851 yards, had only 39 yards on 13 carries against the Broncos in a 16-10 loss on Oct. 11.
The Raiders need more, and know that will be hard to do against the No. 1 defense in the NFL.
The Broncos are also getting outside linebacker DeMarcus Ware back. Ware has missed five games with a lower back injury but has 6.5 sacks in the other seven games. He will be on a play count Sunday, with Denver coaches hoping to cut him off somewhere around 20 snaps.
“I don’t really think about how many snaps I get,” Ware told reporters. “I think about how many times I could hit the quarterback. … It’s about how effective you can be in the short amount of time that you’re out there.”
On the other side of the ball, former 49ers tight end Vernon Davis returns from a concussion. The Raiders have allowed 11 touchdowns by tight ends this season.
Denver running backs Ronnie Hillman and C.J. Anderson are both banged up, with Anderson missing practice Friday with an ankle sprain. Hillman has a foot injury but is expected to start. Combined, the two have 1,181 of the Broncos’ 1,257 rushing yards.
Raiders safety Nate Allen is out with a knee injury, and cornerback TJ Carrie is expected to move back to take his place again.
“He has a lot of range,” Del Rio said of Carrie. “He’s an intelligent guy. We have no problem with him matching up whenever we want to stay in and face people against smaller groups. We have no problem doing that because he’s a guy that can go out and cover the third wideout.”
The Raiders’ defense is ranked 25th in the NFL, but Khalil Mack has four sacks in the last two games.
“It’s cool to see (the sacks come), but we’re grinding every week to get a win,” Mack said. “We’re not grinding every week to collect sacks. I’m a team guy. Whatever happens as far as stats go, I care about being effective and getting wins.”
Bring on the fourth quarter.