The Las Vegas Raiders won the NFL on Sunday near the Cleveland Bruins. There was essentially a chance to lock a place in the playoffs. With an easy shading going on and on within a week, Cleveland kept up for their opponents. The Raiders were more physical at the point of contact and ran 206 yards on 44 career defenses for the Bruce, while Las Vegas won 16-6 in Cleveland.
Bra .Nuz lost the tackles, threw the pass and was bonded. They were terrible in every aspect of the game, and it’s hard to identify a player who has performed well. The play-calling by Joe Woods, Cleveland’s defense coordinator, showed an incredible lack of awareness of the situation. Las Vegas had a 37:43 ball and limited big gains from Cream Hunt.
It wasn’t pretty, but, in a fight against another potential AFC playoff team, the Raiders imposed their will on the Bruins.
Why Las Vegas won
Las Vegas was more physical at the point of contact. The team did a better job of limiting the big games when they were making their own thing by running back and protesting. Raider crossed the 200-run mark on 44 balls when he kept the ball 15 minutes longer than his opponent.
Penalties were an issue in the first quarter but errors were cleared up during the game. Las Vegas had a +1 turnover difference on the day despite a -5 turnover difference in the afternoon.
Why Cleveland lost
Where does it start to describe the defenses full of professional performers on Sunday other than the professional game? In the third and longest situations, defensive coordinator Joe Woods either didn’t expect the screen or just didn’t care. The lack of awareness was exacerbated by the effects of the weather. Josh Jacobs and Devonte Booker ran with their eyes wide open and exploited the team’s poor run. Miles Garrett went off the field with a knee injury, leaving Cleveland unable to tie sharply.
Baker Mayfield did not play badly but his recipients made him zero. Tight & Harrison Bryant was responsible for the lone turnover of the day and several other passes were dropped. Opportunities to extend the drive mercilessly fell into the field.
Game of Thrones
For the start of the fourth quarter, Hunter Rainfro’s 4-yard touchdown reception was essentially a nail in the coffin. At no point did he realize that Cleveland’s offense would put the ball in the end zone. Rainfro’s catch was a bit controversial. The ball hit the ground, of course, but there was never a camera angle that showed a loss of control. The call comes after an official review.
What’s next?
Brass is sent to a weekly with a 5-3 record but looking for answers. The good news is that the league has had some of the worst teams in the last half of his tenure: the Jaguars, the Jets, the Giants, the Texas and the Eagles. His postseason fortune is still very much in the air.
Las Vegas leads 4-3 with two games against the Los Angeles Chargers and the Denver Broncos. Chargers are looking forward to next week.
