The Las Vegas Raiders fell to 3-3 on Sunday, losing to the Buffalo Bills 33-30. Since Buffalo is universally recognized as one of the best teams in the league, now 5-1, Vegas’ performance on Sunday will be good for their reputation. However, the Raiders still lost, and the game is played to be won on the scoreboard, not for moral victories for holding your own.
Still, Las Vegas did some things on Sunday that they should be proud about, and use as building blocks moving forward. Unfortunately, since the Raiders did lose the game, they did some things that they need to get rid of as well.
Here’s a look at what went well for Las Vegas on Sunday, and what didn’t.
The good and bad from Raiders’ Week 6 loss to the Bills
Positives
1. Kirk Cousins’ third-down execution
Kirk Cousins had a pretty good day overall, completing 23-of-41 passes for 313 yards, two touchdowns, and an interception. On third down, though, Cousins and the Las Vegas offense was surgical. The team was 7-of-12 on third down, and Cousins was 7-of-11 for 107 yards and a touchdown when facing third down.
That’s certainly one method to be competitive and keep your team in games. Football often comes down to third downs, and Kirk Cousins and the Raiders offense are proving they can come through in gotta-have-it moments.
2. Non-Brock Bowers receiving production
Superstar tight end Brock Bowers finished the game with four receptions for 70 yards, but his first catch didn’t come until late in the third quarter. However, Las Vegas’ offense stayed afloat throughout the game because other pass catchers stepped up.
Tre Tucker led the way with five receptions for 97 yards and two touchdowns, and Michael Mayer added seven receptions for 95 yards. If the offense can continue to get consistent production from non-Bowers pass catchers, the group will score a lot of points.
3. Mike Washington Jr.
Rookie running back Mike Washington Jr. had a productive day as RB2, actually leading the team in rushing. He carried the ball nine times — one less than Ashton Jeanty — for 43 yards. Washington also had one reception for seven yards.
If he can continue to produce, it will be great for the overall health of the rushing attack, that Las Vegas is still trying to get going.
Negatives
3. Pass rush couldn’t finish
The overall highlight of Sunday’s game was a play where Bills quarterback Josh Allen scrambled around behind the line of scrimmage for about six seconds, evading Raiders defenders, before shoveling the ball through the air to Keon Coleman for a touchdown.
The play was unfortunately a microcosm of Sunday’s game. Las Vegas’ defense was getting pressure on Allen, but it couldn't finish the job. The Raiders only had two sacks, frequently allowing Allen to scramble around and eventually find someone to connect with.
2. Defense couldn’t cover running backs
Wide receiver Keon Coleman led Buffalo in the game with 59 receiving yards, but running back James Cook was right behind him with 58 yards. Cook only had three receptions, and they were all big gainers, with defenders nowhere to be found when he caught the ball.
That could be a dangerous trend for the Raiders, and they will need to get things cleaned up fast if they are going to get back to winning games.
1. Run defense
Unfortunately for Las Vegas, Cook didn’t just destroy them through the air; he had a day on the ground as well. The star running back carried the ball 22 times for 95 yards and a touchdown. Cook was pretty much the entirety of Buffalo’s run game, as the Bills only had 103 total rushing yards on 29 attempts.
While the Raiders did a good job containing Josh Allen and the two other rushers who got a carry, Cook’s 4.3 yards per carry were too much for Las Vegas to overcome.
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