Grading the Las Vegas Raiders rookie performances in 2020 Week 13
By Nico Di Fede
![EAST RUTHERFORD, NEW JERSEY - DECEMBER 06: Henry Ruggs III #11 of the Las Vegas Raiders reacts after scoring a touchdown in the final seconds of the second half as Josh Adams #36 of the New York Jets looks on at MetLife Stadium on December 06, 2020 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images) EAST RUTHERFORD, NEW JERSEY - DECEMBER 06: Henry Ruggs III #11 of the Las Vegas Raiders reacts after scoring a touchdown in the final seconds of the second half as Josh Adams #36 of the New York Jets looks on at MetLife Stadium on December 06, 2020 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images)](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/shape/cover/sport/https-3A-2F-2Fjustblogbaby-com-2Fwp-content-2Fuploads-2Fgetty-images-2F2018-2F08-2F1289776596-850x560-735661e870c66e87df45e183cf8c834e57727649093874fa210681fc4cdcae06.jpg)
Grading the Las Vegas Raiders rookie performances in 2020 Week 13
Henry Ruggs III
Henry Ruggs made the best play of his career this past Sunday with a go-ahead touchdown with 13 seconds left in the game while the Las Vegas Raiders were down 24-28. However, overall he still has a mostly bad game, so the fact that he was able to hang in there and deliver in the clutch speaks volumes about him as a player.
On the Raiders opening drive, Derek Carr threw a short pass up to Henry Ruggs, which bounced off of his hands and was intercepted by Arthur Maulet of the New York Jets. Luckily, the Raiders’ defense forced a quick three-and-out, so no harm, no foul there, except for against Carr’s season statistics.
Fast forward to the 4th quarter with 8:56 left on the clock and the Raiders up 28-24, looking to hopefully put the nail in the coffin. Ruggs caught a pass in the middle of the field and took it for 12 yards before fellow rookie Javelin Guidry knocked it out for a fumble.
The New York Jets recovered and scored on a six-play drive giving them the lead.
While it was great to see the rookie keep his head up and redeem himself by making the game-winning touchdown, no I am not going to blame Greg Williams, Ruggs made the play and that is what matters, the team shouldn’t have been in that situation in the first place, and the fumble is the main reason they were.
Ruggs finished the game with three receptions for 84 yards and a touchdown. Stat lines like this are what we want to see more of, just minus the drop and fumble.
Grade: C-