Oakland Raiders vs. New Orleans Saints: Full Report Card Grades for Oakland
The Oakland Raiders scratched and clawed their way out of a 14-point third-quarter deficit to claim a 35-34 season-opening victory over the New Orleans Saints.
Last year’s Raiders would’ve continued to sputter after tight end Clive Walford failed to reel in a catch on a critical drive and wideout Seth Roberts dropped a pass.
Due to a pass interference infraction on Saints linebacker Craig Robertson, Oakland took full advantage of a second opportunity and put the nail in New Orleans' coffin with a two-point conversion.
Head coach Jack Del Rio likely made the definitive call to go for two points and the win as opposed to a tying extra point. According to San Francisco Chronicle reporter Vic Tafur, Del Rio wanted to seal the victory in an immediate fashion.
If the play had failed, it would've been labeled a moronic play call with the game on the line. With success, Del Rio deserves much credit for a gutsy decision to snatch the victory.
How did each positional unit perform for the Raiders on Sunday? We’ll grade each group and the coaching staff.
Quarterback
1 of 9
Statistically, Saints quarterback Drew Brees (423 passing yards, four touchdowns) outperformed Derek Carr (319 yards, one TD), but there’s a silver lining when comparing the numbers.
The Raiders didn’t have to rely on Carr to throw for 400-plus yards and four touchdowns due to offensive balance in the ground attack. The Raiders’ starting signal-caller came through in the clutch when his team needed him the most.
Carr showed faith in Roberts on a touchdown pass after he dropped a first down in the open. Then, he tossed a perfect fade to wideout Michael Crabtree on the two-point conversion.
After all the concerns about his early-preseason performances, Carr looked sharp and primed for another solid year.
Grade: A
Running Back
2 of 9
As mentioned, the additions to the Raiders’ backfield paid immediate dividends in the first game. Fifth-round draft pick DeAndre Washington didn’t look as impressive when compared to his preseason work, but Jalen Richard broke through the Saints defense for a 75-yard touchdown.
Latavius Murray finished with 14 carries for 59 yards and a touchdown, which will resemble a typical day for him going forward. He’s still an effective ball-carrier when sharing the load with one or two other running backs.
On Sunday, Richard took the crown for best running back in the Raiders’ backfield. His 75-yard run put the team in position for a late comeback.
Grade: B+
Wide Receiver and Tight End
3 of 9
With Mychal Rivera inactive, Walford took center stage as the primary receiving tight end within the offense. The second-year pro caught three passes for 25 yards but failed to keep his feet in bounds on a critical play late in the game.
Wideouts Amari Cooper and Crabtree combined for 13 catches, 224 receiving yards and a two-point conversion apiece. The second-year receiver kept the offense flowing in the first half. The eighth-year veteran carried the momentum into the second half and closed the deal.
Grade: A-
Offensive Line
4 of 9
Offensive line coach Mike Tice’s group handled the circumstances better than expected. The Raiders lost their starting right tackle (Menelik Watson) and his backup (Matt McCants) to injuries.
The absences forced the Raiders to rearrange their line protection. Kelechi Osemele split out at left tackle, Donald Penn shifted over to right tackle and Jon Feliciano subbed into the game at left guard. Despite a few hurries, Carr didn’t take a sack for the entire contest. Time in the pocket allowed him to find his wideouts downfield.
The offensive line also cleared lanes for the ground attack. Murray averaged 4.2 yards per carry. Richard squeaked through a tight lane for a 75-yard run.
After the game, Penn told Tafur he struggled at right tackle.
Grade: A-
Defensive Line
5 of 9
The Saints offensive line held up adequately against the Raiders defensive line. New Orleans won its battles in the trenches while on offense.
Oakland will miss defensive end Mario Edwards Jr. (injured reserve), who can play 5-technique in nickel packages and 3-technique defensive tackle in a four-man front.
The Saints put pressure on Brees to deliver in the passing attack and ignored running back Mark Ingram’s average of 4.8 yards per carry. Oakland must find more creative ways to apply quarterback pressure and sew up the holes in run defense.
Grade: C
Linebackers
6 of 9
The Saints offensive line held up adequately against the Raiders’ pass rush. Linebacker Bruce Irvin’s sack on the third play of New Orleans’ first offensive drive was the only hiccup in pass protection.
Pass-rusher Khalil Mack didn’t log any sacks but came close on several occasions. The Saints didn’t allow him to blow up plays in the backfield or trouble Brees on a consistent basis.
However, Malcolm Smith clearly struggled in pass defense when lining up against Saints wideout Willie Snead (he finished with nine catches for 172 yards and one touchdown). With Neiron Ball (IR) and his pass coverage skills on the sideline, the Raiders will likely struggle against receivers on underneath routes as they did during Sunday’s game.
Grade: C+
Secondary
7 of 9
On paper, the Raiders secondary looks much improved, but it didn’t translate against the Saints.
Brees freely moved the ball up and down the field without resistance. The Saints wideouts embarrassed cornerbacks Sean Smith, David Amerson and DJ Hayden.
The coaching staff benched Smith after wideout Brandin Cooks torched him for a 98-yard touchdown. The Saints speedster also held an edge over Amerson with his quickness. The referees made two questionable calls on Hayden, but he eventually reverted to his holding tendencies on one clear occasion.
The Saints’ high-powered offense challenged the Raiders secondary to the maximum. It’s still too early to panic with three new starters within this group. Progress will come, but Brees took whatever he wanted through the air on Sunday.
Grade: D-
Special Teams: B
8 of 9
Sebastian Janikowski converted on two field goals and one extra point in the season opener. Marquette King pinned the Saints offense inside the 20-yard line on one out of four punts. Then again, Brees didn’t experience difficulty moving the football against the defense.
The Raiders didn’t allow miracle returns on kick or punt coverage. Taiwan Jones continued to serve as the primary kick returner and a valuable asset on special teams coverage.
Grade: B
Coaching Staff
9 of 9
Both coordinators started the season flat. Ken Norton Jr. never solved the riddle of stopping Brees in the pocket. Bill Musgrave finally dug into his playbook to move the ball downfield in chunks with the team’s collective back against the wall. When forced to push the pace, the Raiders moved the sticks at a faster rate.
Hopefully, Musgrave adopts a fast-paced scheme to begin the game as opposed to waiting for a double-digit-point deficit in the second half.
Del Rio’s decision to go for two points elevates the grade from a C to a B-minus. It’s the call that provided the victory. The Raiders’ head coach didn’t have much faith in the defense, but he trusted Carr to execute in a high-pressure situation for the victory.
For once in a late-game situation, the Raiders aggressively went after the win as opposed to playing it safe and hoping for the best possible outcome.
Grade: B-
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