Las Vegas Raiders vs Tennessee Titans 2022 Week 3: Studs and Duds
Las Vegas Raiders vs Tennessee Titans 2022 Week 3: Studs and Duds
Dud – Darren Waller
Darren Waller had himself a nightmare of a game as one could point to him as the chief reason that the Raiders lost this game. Obviously, they had other issues which have been noted including not running the ball enough and not playing defense in the first half but there were 3 key plays that Waller was at fault for and they could have swung the game in a big way.
The first was on the Raiders’ first offensive series of the game when they faced 3rd and 2 from the 3-yard line. Carr rolled out and hit Waller in the back of the end zone, but he dropped a pass that you would expect a tight end of his caliber to make. This ended the drive, and the Raiders kicked a field goal to make it 7-3, leaving 4 points on the board.
The next mistake was late in the first half as the Raiders faced third and 7 from their 40-yard line. Carr found Waller streaking up the sideline and lofted the ball up but Waller could not make the catch, again one that a player of his caliber should make, and the drive ended. Waller may not have scored but he would have put the Raiders in easy field goal range where they could have scored to make it 21-17 or 21-13. Instead, they punt the ball away with 2:30 remaining and the Titans kick a field goal to go up 24-10.
Perhaps the worst mistake by Waller was a drop in the red zone where Carr found him on the 1-yard line as the Raiders faced 3rd and 3 from the 6-yard line. Carr hit Waller between two defenders but it was clear he was scared of the incoming defender and let the pass bounce off his hands and right to Kevin Byard. This may have been a touchdown but even if not, the Raiders would have first and goal from the 1-yard line and could have made it 20-24 with 9 minutes or so left to play in the game.
Next. Raiders vs Cardinals 2022 Week 2: Studs and Duds. dark
Darren Waller will not have many games like this but all three of his mistakes directly cost the Raiders at least 13 points in a game that they lost by 2 points. He will need a big bounce-back performance against the Broncos in Week 4 if he wants to redeem himself in front of Raider Nation.