A Year In Review: Bruce Irvin
By Gagan Aujla
Week 11
Ah, the Mexico City game.
Irvin by far, had his best game as a Raider up to that point against the Houston Texans.
Irvin stuffed the stat sheet by leading the team with 10 total tackles, 1 sack, 1 QB hit, and 2.5 tackles for a loss.
Week 12
After having one of his better games, it was a complete momentum builder for Irvin for the remainder of the season.
Against the Carolina Panthers, Irvin again had a full repertoire of stats, which included 4 tackles, 1 sack, 1 tackle for a loss, 1 pass defensed, and also 3 QB hits.
Week 13
Irvin again had another stellar game against the Buffalo Bills. It was his third straight game with a sack, but he also added 4 tackles, 1 tackle for a loss, and 1 QB hit. Irvin’s complete array of athleticism was on full display.
Week 14
The following week, Irvin and the Raiders as a whole once again struggled against a familiar opponent in the Kansas City Chiefs.
There was not much consistency on either side of the ball. Irvin accumulated 3 solo tackles for the game.
Week 15
Bruce followed up his subpar game against the Chiefs by wreaking havoc on Phillip Rivers and the Chargers offensive line. For the game, Irvin led the team with 6 tackles, and also added a season high 2 sacks, 2 tackles for a loss, 1 forced fumble, and 3 QB hits.
This whole highlight reel is worth a watch.
For the season, Khalil Mack was known as the closer, but Irvin embraced that role for this game. It was Irvin’s best game from a pass rushing standpoint, and it was good enough to award him AFC defensive player of the week.
Week 16
After Irvin’s game-wrecking performance, he followed it up another so-so game by his standards. But even though he only had 1 tackle, he was constantly in Andrew Luck’s face with pressure after pressure.
Irvin had a game high 3 QB hits.
Week 17
After seeing the Raiders defense improve over the season, they laid another egg in Week 17 against the Broncos. But then Derek Carr went down, and the team as a whole looked discombobulated and not at all prepared to compete.
Irvin had 5 tackles, 1 forced fumble, 2 tackles for a loss, and 2 QB hits.
What are your thoughts on Irvin’s first season with the Raiders?