All isn’t lost for the Raiders this week. They may have lost to a bad Panthers team in Week three, but they get another shot against another struggling team in Week four. Neither team should feel confident going into this one. And here are a few reasons for optimism if you’re the Raiders.
Both Browns starting tackles out
The Raiders may be without both their starting edge rushers – Maxx Crosby and Malcolm Koonce – but the Browns are without their starting tackles – Jack Conklin and Jedrick Wills. Granted Crosby and Koonce are bigger losses for the Raiders than Conklin and Wills are to the Browns, but perhaps it evens the playing field a bit.
The Raiders have been looking for former seventh overall pick Tyree Wilson to start showing his draft potential and there’s no time like the present. He figures to get the bulk of the snaps at edge in his game, with the Janarius Robinson, Charles Snowden and former top pick K’Lavon Chaisson rotating in and splitting time at the other end spot.
Deshaun Watson is terrible
No amount of massaging can make Deshaun Watson’s stats look anything but terrible. He’s just plain bad. He has yet to crack 200 yards passing this season and the offense’s best game was when they scored 18 points without him throwing a touchdown. His season passer rating is a pathetic 71.4. And he hasn’t been making up for it on the ground either. He has 14 carries for 85 yards this season.
Then there’s this gem.
https://twitter.com/austingayle_/status/1839362362186531291
Oh, and did I mention he’s already been sacked 16 times this season?!
Zero interceptions
The Browns defense is one of just five teams in the NFL without an interception on the season. The Raiders do tend to have a way of ending such futility streaks, but it’s at least a sign of hope that they aren’t facing an opportunistic defense.
That doesn’t mean Gardner Minshew should just be throwing it all over the yard willy-nilly. The Browns still have one of the better cornerbacks in the league in Denzel Ward, even if Ward hasn’t gotten his hands on one yet.
