Raiders drop the ball, lose to Payments

ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. — Beginning sluggish was not an issue for the Raiders on Sunday, as their offense marched 81 yards in a crisp 13 performs for a landing and early seven-point lead on the Payments.

It was merely every little thing after that. The offense slowed. Holding onto the ball proved troublesome. A keen protection bent because it was repeatedly pressed into motion within the second half.

The outcome was a 34-14 Oakland loss that tempered the joy surrounding its last-play win over Kansas Metropolis 10 days earlier. Midway by the season, the Raiders are Three-5, already eclipsing final season’s loss whole. They’ll keep on the East Coast this week earlier than enjoying Miami on Sunday after which have their bye, throughout which Oakland could have an opportunity to diagnose what has gone flawed in a season that started with a lot promise.

“Bought to man up and acknowledge that’s what it’s,” head coach Jack Del Rio mentioned of the Raiders’ report. “That’s what we’ve earned so far. Midway mark, Three-5, clearly not what we had been searching for. Nevertheless it’s what we’ve earned so far.”

Del Rio mentioned defending the ball was a degree of emphasis for the Raiders in opposition to a Buffalo staff that got here into Sunday main the NFL with a plus-10 turnover margin. As a substitute, that determine grew to plus-14 because the Raiders dedicated 4 turnovers, together with three in a pivotal span of 5 minutes of play.

With 41 seconds left earlier than halftime in a 7-7 sport, quarterback Derek Carr threw a brief go to working again DeAndre Washington, who was hit laborious by cornerback Leonard Johnson. The ball popped out of Washington’s arms and into these of linebacker Matt Milano, who returned it 40 yards for a landing and sharp momentum swing.

Washington mentioned Johnson’s helmet “hit the ball. Good hit on contact. Gotta maintain onto the ball, although, regardless.”

The Raiders compelled a punt to open the second half, however return man Jalen Richard fumbled and misplaced the ball on the 14-yard line. Oakland’s protection held Buffalo to a area purpose, after which discovered itself proper again on the sector after a Carr third-down go for Michael Crabtree was tipped and intercepted by security Micah Hyde.

Buffalo kicked one other area purpose and all however sealed the sport with its subsequent drive, a 12-play, 80-yard slog that ate up the ultimate 7:16 of the third quarter and the primary three seconds of the fourth. Quarterback Tyrod Taylor lunged over the purpose line for a 1-yard landing and Stephen Hauschka’s additional level made it 27-7.

“On the finish of the day, the most important detriment or issue was minus-Four in turnovers,” Del Rio mentioned. “It’s laborious to go minus-Four and have the sport go the best way you’re trying.”

The Raiders truly outgained Buffalo 367 yards to 331. Carr eclipsed 300 yards pbading for the second straight sport — after not doing so in his first 5 video games — however wanted 49 makes an attempt and threw two interceptions.

He began sturdy, going 5-for-Eight pbading on a gap drive that appeared to hold over from the 31-30 win over the Chiefs in Oakland’s earlier sport. Carr arrange a 1st-and-goal on the 1 with back-to-back completions of 21 yards. And fullback Jamize Olawale, who’d prolonged the drive by changing a 4th-and-1 run, barreled into the top zone for his first landing of the season.

Oakland’s subsequent drive started with a 40-yard go from Carr to Crabtree. However hardly ever once more was the offense so aggressive, and with working again Marshawn Lynch serving his one-game suspension, the floor sport was minimal. Richard and Washington mixed for 11 carries and 47 yards, although they had been lively within the pbading sport, combining for 13 catches, 97 yards and a landing.

Requested if the Payments defended them otherwise after the opening drive, tight finish Jared Cook dinner mentioned: “Nah, we had been simply capturing ourselves within the foot, man. We had been doing issues that profitable soccer groups shouldn’t do. Turnovers, penalties, dangerous area place. We gotta maintain the chains transferring.”

A Four-yard landing go from Carr to Washington trimmed the deficit to 27-14 early within the fourth quarter. The Payments responded with a 48-yard landing run from LeSean McCoy, who had a season-high 151 yards on 27 carries.

“It’s a must to give credit score to the staff we performed in opposition to,” mentioned receiver Amari Cooper, who had 5 catches for 48 yards. “They got here to play. They made extra performs than we did. We simply should get again within the swing of issues.”

Carr threw his ultimate go of the day in Cooper’s course. It was intercepted on the Buffalo Three — and served as a reminder that the Raiders nonetheless are the one protection within the NFL with out an interception this season.

Raiders’ Three notables

FB Jamize Olawale: He had two key short-yardage runs on the Raiders’ opening drive, together with a 1-yard landing, however left within the second quarter with a hamstring damage.

LB Cory James: He returned from a knee damage to report eight tackles, together with three for loss, and was lively across the line of scrimmage.

WR Michael Crabtree: He accounted for the Raiders’ longest play with a 40-yard reception, however totaled 43 yards on his different 4 catches.

— Matt Kawahara