Miami took away the deep pass in the season opener, so the Las Vegas Raiders relied on their rushing and short-yard passing game to beat the Dolphins.
asserted
Raiders → take → Dolphins
Then on Sunday, the Chargers made sure they wouldn’t be beaten on the ground, so Las Vegas took the air with an aggressive passing attack to defeat Los Angeles.
Two different opponents, two different ways for the offense to succeed for the surprising 2-0 Raiders.
“There’s a lot of ways to win a game,” coach Klint Kubiak said Monday.
asserted
Kubiak → make → game
“Offense, defense and special teams all playing together is the best way to ensure a win.
asserted
playing → play → win
But it’s never going to be perfect, and I thought big credit to the Chargers that took away the run game.”
asserted
that → go → game
The run game was crucial to beating the Dolphins with Ashton Jeanty rushing for 102 yards and Mike Washington Jr. for 41.
asserted
Jeanty → beat → 41
Kirk Cousins passed for 160 yards, averaging 7.6 yards in the air per attempt, according to NFL Next Gen Stats.
uncertain
Cousins → pass → Stats
Cousins upped that average to 9.4 against the Chargers, passing for 253 yards that included two completions of 40-plus yards to Tre Tucker.
asserted
that → up → Tucker
Jeanty, meanwhile, rushed for 48 yards on 21 carries and Washington was given just three attempts that produced 7 yards.
asserted
that → rush → yards
But even though the Raiders opened up the passing attack, the fact Jeanty still carried 21 times underscored Kubiak’s commitment to running the offense through the ground game.
asserted
Jeanty → open → game
“That’s always going to be a part of it,” Kubiak said.
asserted
Kubiak → go → it
“I thought Cousins did a great job of going through his progressions and getting it to the back when it wasn’t there, and our receivers did a good job getting up and down the field.”
asserted
receivers → think → field
And now the Raiders are 2-0, the first team to open a season with that record after winning three or fewer games the previous year since Houston in 2014.
asserted
Raiders → open → 2014
This also is the Raiders’ first 2-0 start since 2021, the most recent time they made the playoffs.
asserted
they → make → playoffs
“I think it just reinforces the messages that we’ve been sending,” Kubiak said.
asserted
Kubiak → think → that
“Our guys have been very coachable and our guys want to win.
asserted
guys → want → ?
Winning is important to this team, it’s important to this coaching staff.
asserted
it → ’ → staff
We also have very short memories and know that you can only win one at a time.
asserted
you → have → time
So we’re turning the page and now we get to prepare to play a really good Saints team.”
asserted
we → turn → team
What’s working
The pass rush continues to flourish, and it’s not all Maxx Crosby.
asserted
it → work → ?
Las Vegas has eight sacks, tied with two other teams to lead the NFL entering Monday and its 47.1% pressure rate is second, according to TruMedia.
uncertain
rate → have → TruMedia
Crosby has 1 1/2 sacks, which occurred in the opener against Miami.
asserted
which → have → Miami
He was responsible for forcing a holding penalty in the end zone against the Chargers that resulted in a safety.
asserted
that → force → safety
What needs help
asserted
needs → need → help
Offense has dried up during some stretches in the first two games, and much of that is because of the Raiders’ struggles on third downs.
asserted
much → dry → downs
They have converted a third of their chances, which is tied with Seattle for 22nd entering Monday.
asserted
which → convert → Monday
Stock up
So much for not having a true No. 1 receiver or tight end Brock Bowers, who hasn’t played this season because of knee surgery.
asserted
who → stock → surgery
Tucker caught five passes for 119 yards and a touchdown.
asserted
Tucker → catch → yards
Cody White, called up from the practice squad, hauled in two TD passes, a 13-yarder in tight coverage to take the lead in the third quarter and 11-yarder in the fourth to essentially seal the victory.
asserted
White → call → victory
He is the first player since 2016 to score two TD passes despite playing seven or fewer snaps.
asserted
He → score → snaps
Jeanty didn’t have a lot of room to run because the Raiders’ offensive line was overwhelmed by the Chargers’ defensive front.
asserted
line → have → front
But his three dropped passes are difficult to ignore.
asserted
passes → drop → ?
The last one occurred on third-and-1 with 6:59 left and the Raiders clinging to a 17-14 lead.
asserted
Raiders → occur → lead
Las Vegas got the job done in the end, but that drop could have been costly.
uncertain
drop → get → end
Injuries
Bowers (knee) will practice this week, Kubiak said.
asserted
Kubiak → practice → Injuries
He almost was cleared to play at Los Angeles.
asserted
He → clear → Angeles
CB Darien Porter (foot) will be evaluated in practice Wednesday.
asserted
Porter → evaluate → practice
Key number
14 — The Raiders have allowed those number of points or fewer in each of the first two games for the first time since 1995.
asserted
Raiders → allow → 1995
Going back to last season, Las Vegas has held opponents to that mark or less three games in a row, the first time the Raiders have accomplished that since 2006.
asserted
Raiders → go → 2006
Next steps
The Raiders visit New Orleans on Sunday.
asserted
Raiders → visit → Sunday
The Aporia
