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Raiders Wild Card vs Bengals: 3 studs, 3 duds from the loss

By Khaled Abdallah

CINCINNATI, OHIO - JANUARY 15: Derek Carr #4 of the Las Vegas Raiders calls a play in the first quarter of the game against the Cincinnati Bengals in the AFC Wild Card playoff game at Paul Brown Stadium on January 15, 2022 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
CINCINNATI, OHIO - JANUARY 15: Derek Carr #4 of the Las Vegas Raiders calls a play in the first quarter of the game against the Cincinnati Bengals in the AFC Wild Card playoff game at Paul Brown Stadium on January 15, 2022 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images) /
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Jan 15, 2022; Cincinnati, Ohio, USA; Las Vegas Raiders guard Alex Leatherwood (70) reacts after their loss against the Cincinnati Bengals in an AFC Wild Card playoff football game at Paul Brown Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Joseph Maiorana-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 15, 2022; Cincinnati, Ohio, USA; Las Vegas Raiders guard Alex Leatherwood (70) reacts after their loss against the Cincinnati Bengals in an AFC Wild Card playoff football game at Paul Brown Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Joseph Maiorana-USA TODAY Sports /

Raiders Wild Card vs Bengals: 3 studs, 3 duds from the loss

Duds – The offensive line

The Raiders’ offensive line has had their struggles this season and they continued against the Bengals. They allowed Derek Carr to be sacked three times and each one of them or penalized at crucial times in the game.

Kolton Miller had a false start to kill a drive in the first quarter, Brandon Parker did the same, Andre James and John Simpson had holding calls during a crucial third-quarter drive, and Alex Leatherwood had a holding call and an ineligible man downfield to wipe off two big gains. Penalties are drive killers and while Carr and company fought back despite the penalties, it’s not sustainable for an offense to keep playing behind the sticks like this.

The Raiders need to make the offensive line one of their top priorities this offseason and can no longer rely on the likes of Brandon Parker to step up. Hopefully, John Simpson and Leatherwood will continue to improve but some changes at that position are much needed if this team wants to compete in 2022.

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