After taking a 14-0 lead in the first quarter of their Week 4 matchup with the Washington Redskins, the Raiders went on to allow 24 unanswered points and lose 24-14.
The Raiders played without starting quarterback Terrelle Pryor and looked to backup Matt Flynn to lead them. The game started out with a blocked punt in the endzone recovered by the Raiders Jeremy Stewart for the first touchdown. That was quickly followed by a 10 play 81-yard drive that ended with a Mychal Rivera 18-yard touchdown pass from Flynn.
After that, the game became all about the Redskins. The Raiders offense became stagnant and the defense tried its best to hold on but bad field position and an anemic Raider offense left them tired and vulnerable.
However, not all is bad with the Raiders as we look at the players that are trending up this week.
Trending Up:
Terrelle Pryor
A Week 3 concussion left the Raiders wondering if Pryor would be ready to comeback for Week 4. All signs pointed up until a Saturday night check-up had its problems and the Raiders went on the side of caution and made Pryor inactive. Any quarterback controversy thought to have been alive in Oakland was laid to rest after Flynn’s performance on Sunday.
Pryor will look to return this week with a full sense of confidence and a full awareness that this is his job for the season.
Denarius Moore
When Flynn was able to complete a pass, Moore was there to make the catch. Following a six catch, 124-yard performance in Week 3, Moore’s stats were slightly modest with four receptions for 66 yards and no touchdown.
However, seeing as the Raiders could not do much through the air, Moore was one of the offensive standouts for the game.
Rashad Jennings
Jennings was all over the stat sheet in Week 4. He started the game by blocking the punt in the endzone that was recovered for a touchdown.
Jennings was thrust into the focal spot of the offense following the injuries to Darren McFadden and Marcel Reece. Jennings finished the day with 15 carries for 45 yards and eight receptions for 71 yards. With McFadden and Reece out, Jennings could see his workload increase.
Trending Down:
Matt Flynn
If anyone had any doubts about the decision to have Pryor start over Flynn, those people no longer have those doubts after Week 4. Flynn began the game well, leading the Raiders to a 10 play scoring drive before things went straight downhill.
Flynn looked lost in the pocket and seemed scared to throw the ball downfield after his pick-six interception in the second quarter. Although Flynn was under constant pressure, his pocket presence was nowhere to be found as he was sacked seven times and lost a fumble.
Sebastian Janikowski
It seems as if Janikowski is still uncomfortable without his longtime holder and friend, Shane Lechler; however, Janikowski has now missed a field goal in three of four games. This one was a 52-yard attempt off the dirt, but it has been a kick that Raider fans are used to seeing.
Janikowski must figure it out soon, as he may be looked upon for more field goals as the season goes on.
Raiders Offensive Line
Despite the fact that Flynn was sacked seven times, the Raiders could not move the ball on the ground.
Looking at the numbers, the Raiders rushed 26 times for 104 yards for an average of 4.0 yards per carry. This does not seem too bad until you realize that 19 of those yards came on a direct snap to Taiwan Jones on a fake punt. That gives them 25 rushes for 85 yards and a 3.4 yard average.
