Jacksonville Jaguars at Oakland Raiders: 3 things we learned
Soft defense in closing moments
Even after Daniel Carlson’s back to back missed field goals, the Raiders still held a 16-13 lead with the Jaguars at their own 35-yard line. With just 1:44 left to play in Oakland’s final game, the Raiders defense, which had held their own through the first three quarters, had one last shot to close out with a win, or at the very least hold Jacksonville to a field goal, and redeem themselves in overtime.
But the Raiders instead opted for soft defense when it mattered most, and Gardner Minshew marched down the field, capping off the drive not with a field goal but with an 11-yard touchdown to Chris Conley. A roughing the passer penalty may have tipped the scales in the Jaguars’ favor, but the Raiders defense allowed Jacksonville to slowly inch closer and closer.
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The fact that the Jaguars were not held even to a field goal try is truly disappointing, and perhaps the reasoning for the falter down the stretch is a combination of all the reasons’ for the Raiders average (at best) defense this year: lack of talent at the linebacker position, a young but growing secondary, and the need for more inspired play calls from defensive coordinator Paul Guenther.