There’s a lot of talk about Antonio Pierce assuming the permanent head coach position. Pierce has the team coming out strong but he needs to do more after halftime before he really earns that job. Vegas hasn’t exactly beat a team they weren’t supposed to since he took the reins.
At 5-7, the Raiders exit their Bye Week at last in the AFC West. They also trail the Bills, Bengals, Browns, Steelers, Texans, Colts and Broncos for the three AFC Wild Card slots. Sunday versus the Vikings is a must win to keep any of those playoff hopes alive.
The Vegas Raiders came out hot versus the Chiefs in Week 12. Their 14-point lead early in the second quarter didn’t help them as they were outscored 31-3 after that.
Afterwards, player like Amik Robertson expressed their frustration. Robertson said he thought the were better than the Chiefs but they did not execute. Vegas gave up ten points in the final quarter and didn’t score anything.
Veteran corner Marcus Peters was cut. He was benched before halftime. It looked like the decision to let him go was made at halftime. There are plenty of memes about his tackling and effort. However, you can’t make him the scapegoat. He was tuned in with them team and helped them play with swagger. The secondary did not play better when he sat. We will see how they do without the veteran this week.
Josh Jacobs came out strong with a 63-yard touchdown versus Kansas City. Jacobs had one of his best games of the season with 110 rushing yards on 20 carries. Vegas’ offensive line looked better. The line didn’t dominate in the run but they did just enough to get a body on a body. They also only allowed one sack to the Chiefs.
The Raiders really got the ball to their playmakers. Davante Adams had 5 catches for 73 yards. Jakobi Meyers registered 79 receiving yards for one touchdown. Hunter Renfrow added 4 catches for 38 receiving yards. They just didn’t always execute when they needed it most.
Maxx Crosby wasn’t supposed to play. However, he came up with a sack. The team didn’t look the same when he wasn’t on the field.
Turnovers have been huge for the Raiders this year, but the group failed to create one versus the Chiefs. The inconsistent pass rush deserves some blame for that.
Vegas’ pass rush must be at its best this week versus Minnesota. Vikings receiver Justin Jefferson is back from IR. Jefferson has been practicing with the team for a couple of weeks since Minnesota is also off a Bye Week. The Silver and Black secondary will need all the help they can get from their pass rush, no matter how rusty Jefferson comes out.
Not to mention, Vikings quarterback Josh Dobbs is a dual-threat. He’s cooled off since starting hot after Minnesota traded for him from Arizona. Dobbs still has 400 rushing, including 29 first downs. He’s also thrown for 2,400 passing yards, 13 sacks and 10 interceptions. The Raiders will need to stay discipline versus the Vikings as they look to contain Dobbs and Jefferson.
The Raiders need to stick to their script. Vegas needs to control the clock by establishing the run with Jacobs early and often. They need to keep spreading the ball around. Hopefully, an extra week of preparation gets rookie QB Aiden O’Connell more in sync with his veteran receivers. O’Connell has missed a few game changing shots over the past few starts. Vegas is going to need one of those, particularly if they Jefferson tears them up.
Defensively, the Raiders have to count on Crosby getting home. They also need someone else to get home. This should force Dobbs into making a mistake. The Raiders secondary also needs to come up with a turnover to keep this game in reach.
Moreover, the Raiders need to contain TJ Hockenson in the middle of the field. Hockenson is a big and physical target who can give the Raiders problem in the short and intermediate game.
Minnesota should also look to establish the run with Alexander Mattison. Vegas needs to tackle well this week.
On defense, the Raiders must fear Danielle Hunter off the edge. He is among the league’s elite pass rushers with 13.5 sacks this season. MOtherwise, this Vikings front seven has faced injuries with edge Marcus Davenport and linebacker Jordan Hicks on IR currently.
The Raiders offense faces a winnable matchup. Nonetheless, Minnesota has enough playmakers to keep them in the game. innesota’s defense features Harrison Smith, who is still among the league’s best hybrid safeties. Rookie Ivan Pace plays all over the field. Byron Murphy has three interceptions this season.
Overall, it’s a home game and the Raiders desperately need a win. Pierce must have his team come out with urgency but he also needs to be able to adjust no matter what happens. This could be an easy win, a last team standing defensive match, a sloppy close out or an offensive shootout. Either way, the Raiders need to just win, baby.
Look for the Raiders to run the ball and take some selective shots in the pass game on offense. They must rush the passer, tackle well and create a turnover or two on defense. If they can do that, they should squeeze out a home victory. A win here will keep Pierce in the long-term coaching conversation too.
