Biggest Takeaways from Oakland Raiders' Week 13 Loss
The Oakland Raiders’ Week 13 loss leaves a bitter taste for Raider Nation and some intriguing storylines heading into the last four weeks of the season.
The most significant narrative focuses on playoff implications. At 5-7, Oakland now stands on the bottom rung as far as AFC wild-card contention. Although, not mathematically eliminated, it’ll take colossal collapses for multiple teams to revive postseason hopes in Oakland.
Crazier things have happened, but the Raiders face stiff competition in the final quarter of the season. Three of the last four opponents boast a .500-plus record.
In regards to Sunday, a few patterns took shape and some blips may become trends as the season winds down.
What are the biggest storylines following the Raiders’ 34-20 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs?
No More Tight End Coverage Issues?
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Do you remember when ESPN’s Matthew Berry encouraged fantasy owners to pick up the tight end matched against Oakland’s defense?
Defensive coordinator Ken Norton Jr. may have rectified the communication issues in the middle of the field. Safety Taylor Mays has contributed coverage on tight ends during linebacker Neiron Ball’s absence.
Safety Nate Allen's return also factors into improved pass defense in deep coverage.
Tennessee Titans tight end Delanie Walker and Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce list as primary weapons within their prospective offenses.
In Week 12, Walker caught six passes for 91 yards but only two receptions for 35 yards in the second half. On Sunday, Kelce logged two catches for 42 yards and lost a fumble.
Norton has finally addressed the Achilles' heel on defense through adjustments and regaining a key component to the pass defense. Oakland also hopes to see Ball return to the lineup this season.
Unleash Jamize Olawale
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With four games left in the season, it’s time to allot more carries to fullback Jamize Olawale.
In the last two games, he’s finished as the Raiders’ second-leading rusher in yards with two carries in each contest.
The offensive game plan places too much emphasis on starting running back Latavius Murray, and it’s clearly a failing strategy.
The third-year running back has struggled to maintain efficiency as a ball-carrier without a significant amount of carries for a solid backup.
The coaching staff should consider evaluating Olawale as a consistent No. 2 ball-carrier or maximizing his talent in a hybrid running back-receiver role.
Clive Walford More Involved on Offense?
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After absorbing the offense in small doses, rookie Clive Walford made a sizeable impact in the passing attack. On Sunday, Walford put together his most productive game of the season with five receptions for 53 yards.
His increased production could become a trend or spike intermittently as a byproduct of weekly game plans. As the most complete tight end on the depth chart, the rookie could see more action over his one-dimensional counterparts.
As a blocking tight end, Lee Smith's snaps seem secure. However, the Raiders drafted Walford in the third round, which doesn't bode well for Mychal Rivera's longevity in Oakland.
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Sebastian Janikowski Slumping?
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In Week 5, media circles buzzed about kicker Sebastian Janikowski’s decline after missing two field goals against the Denver Broncos.
On Sunday, Janikowski missed a point-after attempt and a 49-yard field goal on a critical fourth-quarter drive.
When viewing Janikowski’s kicking percentages over the years, his lulls shouldn’t surprise anyone. He logged a field-goal percentage below 75 for three consecutive seasons between 2005-07 during the prime of his career.
In 2013, he converted 70 percent of his field goals and remained the unquestionable starter. Through 12 games, he’s made 16 of 20 field goals, tied for No. 25 in field-goal percentage among kickers.
Many categorized Janikowski’s leg as powerful but not reliably accurate every year. The Raiders may consider an aggressive approach instead of attempting long field goals going forward.
Who’s the No. 1 Wide Receiver in Oakland?
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For the players, No. 1 and No. 2 mean very little, but wideout Michael Crabtree’s contract expires in the offseason, per spotrac.com. He’ll look for leverage to increase his worth.
Thus far, rookie wideout Amari Cooper leads the team in receiving yards, but Crabtree tops all wideouts in touchdowns.
Approximately a month ago, Crabtree expressed his satisfaction in Oakland, but stopped short of saying he’ll re-sign in the offseason, per ESPN.com’s Bill Williamson.
On Sunday, Cooper's inconsistencies raised concerns. He failed to record a catch in the first half and his drops hurt continuity on offense.
If the rookie wideout continues to struggle with drops, will the Raiders allow Crabtree to test free agency? Will the coaching staff trust Cooper without a veteran who’s accustomed to the offense on the opposite side?
If not, general manager Reggie McKenzie will likely offer Crabtree a salary coinciding with an upper echelon No. 1 wideout to retain the strength of the offense.
Follow Maurice Moton on Twitter for news, updates and intriguing discussion about the Oakland Raiders.
All statistics are provided by Pro-Football-Reference.com, Pro Football Focus and Team Rankings, unless otherwise noted.
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