Among the many many mottos Al Davis ingrained into the Las Vegas Raiders‘ DNA was a variation of this — it would not matter how ugly it appears, as long as you win. Yeah, a spin of his extra iconic “Simply win, child” slogan. However at MetLife Stadium, towards a winless and rudderless New York Jets staff, it was greater than applicable.
As a result of behind a report day by tight finish Darren Waller and a miracle end courtesy of a 46-yard landing go from Derek Carr to Henry Ruggs III with 5 seconds to play, the Raiders pulled out a 31-28 win that ended a two-game shedding streak and had many Raiders followers white-knuckling their means all through.
Las Vegas improved to 7-5 and remained firmly within the AFC playoff race because the season approached its quarter-pole. In addition they gained towards the Jets in New York for the primary time since 1996, breaking a six-game shedding streak.
Yeah, the Raiders management their future with three straight house video games up subsequent, together with two towards groups with whom they’re competing for a playoff spot within the Indianapolis Colts and Miami Dolphins.
Describe the sport in two phrases: Oh my. Yeah, issues seemed dicey early for the Raiders, whose offense couldn’t get a working recreation going and whose protection couldn’t get a cease, however defensive finish Clelin Ferrell was practically as unstoppable speeding the quarterback as Waller was after the catch and normalcy reigned.
Purchase a breakout efficiency: Waller was next-to-unstoppable. He had a career-high 200 yards receiving and two touchdowns amongst his 13 catches. It’s the most receiving yards by a good finish in franchise historical past, the primary time a TE had 100 receiving yards and two TDs within the first half of a recreation since Jordan Reed in Week 16 of the 2015 season.
Troubling pattern: Yeah, the Raiders have been lacking thumping security Johnathan Abram, and cornerback Damon Arnette was misplaced on the second play of the day along with his second concussion in as many weeks, however Jets quarterback Sam Darnold carved early and infrequently. Having not thrown a TD go since Week 3, Darnold had two TD passes within the first half. And the Jets merely gashed the Raiders on the bottom, speeding for 206 yards. The protection, or lack thereof, continues to be a difficulty for a staff that fancies itself a playoff contender.
QB Breakdown: Carr seemed uncomfortable at finest a lot of the day, rattled at worst, by a better-than-advertised Jets go rush. He was underthrowing passes within the fourth quarter. On the day, Carr completed 28-of-47 for 381 yards and three TD passes with an interception that bounded off Ruggs’ palms. Carr additionally ran one in from 2 yards out to offer the Raiders a 24-13 lead halfway by the third quarter. But it surely was the bomb to Ruggs that gave the Raiders the win. It was Carr’s 23rd profession game-winning drive, second-most within the NFL because the begin of the 2014 season (Matthew Stafford has 26 such drives).
Pivotal play: Ruggs’ fumble close to midfield after a 12-yard catch with lower than 9 minutes to play and the Raiders nursing a 24-21 lead. Ruggs was stripped by cornerback Javelin Guidry, who additionally saved Ruggs from recovering the ball, which Jets security Marcus Maye corralled. The Jets transformed the turnover right into a landing to take a 28-24 lead with 5:34 to play. The play, although, solely arrange his heroics later.
