Sometimes, you meet the wrong guy on the wrong day and it seems like nothing else matters. And, well, Sunday was one of those days — and Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers was absolutely that guy. If you thought Rodgers was slipping or had lost a step, the guy in contention to retire as one of the greatest quarterbacks in league history put on an absolute clinic against an Oakland Raiders defense that isn’t terrible.
When the final whistle blew, Rodgers had thrown for 429 yards and five touchdowns (along with a rushing touchdown) — all while throwing just six incomplete passes. As if it couldn’t get any more impressive, he did it without top wide receiver Davante Adams.
In the end, the Raiders lost 42-24, although you could argue this game was just a few inches away from being a whole lot closer (we’ll get to that in a minute). With that said, this game wasn’t the end-all-be-all for the Raiders. Even with the loss, the Raiders sit at 3-3 with just one game remaining on their dreadful away-from-home stretch, and with the AFC playoff picture an absolute mess, Oakland is still very much alive.
So, with a road tilt against the Houston Texans (and their new corner Gareon Conley) on the horizon, here are some key thoughts and takeaways from Sunday’s game:
The Raiders are really building something
It feels like it has been a while since the future was bright in Oakland, but that time has officially come. Darren Waller is an elite weapon. Josh Jacobs is an absolute star. Maxx Crosby looks like a guy who should have been drafted in the first round. Foster Moreau is right up there with the best tight ends from last spring’s draft.
Add it all together and the Raiders have added some nice building blocks to a group of guys that is very clearly on the way up.
Derek Carr is finding a groove
Derek Carr started the game 1/4 but settled in nicely to complete his next thirteen passes. One thing of note in this game was that the Raiders actually pushed the ball downfield in the air, something Carr has been criticized for failing to do. He finished 22/28 for 293 yards, two touchdowns and an interception through the air.
Jon Gruden deserves a lot of credit
When was the last time you saw this much creativity in the Oakland offense? Or this many guys seemingly wide-open 15 yards downfield? While Jon Gruden has primarily been treated like a meme by folks around the league, the guy is settling in nicely in his second year at the helm and has the offense right where he wants it (despite missing a bunch of weapons).
This game COULD have been a lot closer
It’s a sequence Raider fans will be hard-pressed to forget. With less than two minutes left in the first half and the Raiders trailing by four, Carr rolled out to his right and tried to reach the ball across the plane of the end zone. As he did, the ball popped loose and went through the end zone, giving the Packers the ball at their own 20 (this remains the worst rule in all of sports).
By the time the Raiders got the ball back, it was 28-10 partway through the third quarter. At one point, with the game still well within reach, the Packers had the ball up 14-10 with 30-seconds left in the first half. It was 3rd and 6 from their own territory, and if the Oakland defense could just get a stop, then who knows what could have happened.
But? No dice. A couple plays later it was a long touchdown, and then a quick drive to start the second half that just about put this game on ice.
I will say: I was impressed by the Oakland offense’s ability to bounce-back. Down 28-10, on the road, and with zero momentum, Carr marched the team straight back down the field for a touchdown. In fact, “marching the ball down the field” was a common theme. The Raiders’ next two possessions ended on the 6-inch line (when Jacobs couldn’t score on fourth-and-goal) and with an interception in the end zone — so this loss wasn’t due to a lack of moving the ball offensively.
