Oakland Raiders' Week 14 Stock Report
The Oakland Raiders’ Week 14 stock report highlights turnovers, missed opportunities and defense as flash points for good and ugly performances on Sunday.
The Raiders executed an effective plan on both sides of the ball for most of the contest but came up short in crunch time.
Sunday’s outcome leaves a palpable sting for a young roster but also brings some positives to light. An entire unit deserves recognition, which speaks to improved coaching adjustments.
On the other hand, a pair of reliable players flinched in critical moments, aiding the Kansas City Chiefs in gaining momentum en route to victory.
Whose stock took a fall? Which players or coaches surged up the stock charts?
Derek Carr: Stock Down
1 of 5
Quarterback Derek Carr threw a horrendous interception in the fourth quarter that opened the floodgates for a barrage of miscues. Many spectators can debate his influence on the second and third interceptions, but it’s a moot point.
Carr’s first turnover, on second down at Kansas City’s 33-yard line, potentially swung the momentum by at least 10 points. Chiefs linebacker Josh Mauga returned the interception to the Raiders' 2-yard-line, putting Oakland's defense in a tough predicament.
The ensuing score tied the game at 20.
Carr didn’t throw the most accurate pass on the third interception to wideout Amari Cooper. The rookie wideout had to dive for the catch, which suggests Carr led the receiver a little too far in his route.
Once the ball touches a receiver’s hands, he’s expected to make the grab. Nonetheless, Carr shares significant responsibility on the turnover.
Ken Norton Jr.: Stock Up
2 of 5
Defensive coordinator Ken Norton Jr. devised an effective game plan to neutralize Kansas City’s strength on offense.
The Chiefs' rushing offense steamrolled its opponents coming into Week 13, eclipsing 100 yards in five consecutive contests. Kansas City’s running backs registered 61 yards on the ground against the Raiders' struggling run defense.
Production from opposing tight ends plagued the Raiders at the beginning of the season. Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce finished the game with two catches for 42 yards and a fumble.
The Raiders defense surrendered two touchdowns to Chiefs wideout Jeremy Maclin after the offense turned the ball over to an opportunistic defense that advanced possessions inside the red zone.
Defensively, Oakland came prepared and stifled the opposition. However, turnovers put the Chiefs in position to score without marching down the field.
Sebastian Janikowski: Stock Down
3 of 5
Kicker Sebastian Janikowski’s stock drops, but not so far down the toilet in a slumping situation.
On Sunday, he missed a point-after attempt and 49-yard field goal. We can categorize both as missed opportunities, which drops his stock.
However, his miscues don’t indicate that he’s washed up or on the decline.
Janikowski wasn’t the only kicker to miss a point-after attempt in that game. In fact, only eight starting kickers remain perfect on extra-point attempts.
Keep in mind, point-after attempts are no longer chip shots. They're now 33-yard kicks. Janikowski ranks fifth in successful extra points, converting 32 of 33 on the season.
Secondly, a 49-yard field goal isn’t an automatic score. Janikowski has a powerful leg, but he’s an 80 percent kicker for his career. Through 12 games, he’s still an 80 percent kicker.
He botched two kicks, but his accuracy remains consistent with career numbers. No need to send him out to pasture.
.jpg?w=256 "Colts Jaguars Football")
Charles Woodson: Stock Up
4 of 5
Safety Charles Woodson came up huge with one fumble forced and two fumble recoveries against the Chiefs.
Woodson ripped and scooped the football from Kelce at the end of the second quarter to set up the offense in Kansas City territory.
The coaching staff opted for an aggressive approach, and offensive coordinator Bill Musgrave designed a successful pass play to wideout Michael Crabtree in the end zone. Of course, Woodson’s heads-up play made the aforementioned sequence possible.
The veteran safety hasn’t forced a turnover since Week 8 but flashed his ball-hawking skills against the Chiefs on Sunday.
Woodson's ability to make plays leaves the door open for a 19th year in the league.
Khalil Mack: Stock Up
5 of 5
On Sunday, defensive lineman Khalil Mack registered two sacks to put him in a three-way tie with Denver Broncos edge-rusher Von Miller and New York Jets defensive end Muhammad Wilkerson for the fifth-most sacks in the league at nine.
Mack has ramped up his play over the past couple of weeks, accumulating four sacks in the previous two games. He's led the team in solo tackles in two of the last three outings.
Mack started as an outside linebacker, per NFL.com’s gamebook, and made plays along the defensive line.
Norton continues to move the second-year defensive lineman around like a valuable chess piece with good results. He’s gobbling up ball-carriers and quarterbacks in pursuit of becoming one of the shining defensive stars in the league.
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.
.jpg?w=480 "Colts Jaguars Football")
.png?w=480)
