The Raiders do not get a week to catch their breath after getting blown out, 45-17, by the Patriots on Sunday.
asserted
Raiders → get → Sunday
They get the Buffalo Bills.
asserted
They → get → Bills
Whatever answers they have for a running game going nowhere, a passing attack asking too much of too few, and a defense absorbing painful lessons had better come quickly.
asserted
game → go → lessons
Two straight losses have changed the conversation around a team that opened with three straight wins.
asserted
that → change → wins
Sunday’s blowout loss to the Patriots was a reminder that a good September did not erase everything that made this a rebuilding project.
asserted
this → erase → everything
They also have a long way to go.
asserted
They → have → way
Now coach Klint Kubiak must get them back on track against opponents equipped to exploit the weaknesses they have yet to resolve.
asserted
they → get → weaknesses
“We’re not happy with what happened today, and we have to go do something about it,” Kubiak said.
asserted
Kubiak → ’re → it
“We have to fix it and move on.”
asserted
We → have → it
Easier said than done with two playoff teams arriving in Las Vegas over the next two weeks.
asserted
teams → say → weeks
“We’re all gonna look at the mirror.
asserted
We → go → mirror
It takes every single one of us,” defensive end Maxx Crosby said.
asserted
Crosby → take → us
“We’ve just got to improve from it.”
asserted
We → get → it
Start with the running game, where too many of the offensive problems begin.
asserted
many → start → problems
The Raiders managed 38 yards on 18 carries Sunday.
asserted
Raiders → manage → carries
Another week, another afternoon searching for room that never materialized.
asserted
that → search → room
Falling behind pushed them toward the pass and away from the ground game Kubiak wants to establish as their identity.
asserted
Kubiak → fall → identity
But the coach put that decision on himself.
asserted
coach → put → himself
“I abandoned the run game too early and didn’t give it a chance to get going,” Kubiak said.
asserted
Kubiak → abandon → chance
Ashton Jeanty’s health belongs in the discussion.
asserted
health → belong → discussion
Limited in practice Thursday and sidelined Friday, he needed a pregame workout to determine whether his ankle and foot injuries would allow him to play.
asserted
him → limit → workout
He got clearance.
asserted
He → get → clearance
“Unless I can’t run, jump, cut, I’m playing,” Jeanty said.
asserted
Jeanty → run → ?
Jeanty, though, wanted no part of an injury excuse.
asserted
Jeanty → want → excuse
“Football’s a tough game.
asserted
Football → ’ → ?
Like, you’re never going to play feeling one hundred percent,” Jeanty said.
asserted
Jeanty → go → ?
“At the end of the day, I just want to go out there and do my best for my teammates and whatever it takes.”
asserted
it → want → whatever
Reducing this to his health would let too many others off the hook.
asserted
others → reduce → hook
The Raiders are not consistently opening lanes.
asserted
Raiders → open → lanes
Their inability to move defenders is undermining everything Kubiak wants to build.
asserted
Kubiak → move → everything
An offense designed to have its parts complement one another keeps operating with one missing.
asserted
one → design → one
The consequences ripple through every possession: difficult down-and-distance situations, fewer chances to keep defenses guessing and more pressure on the quarterback to rescue drives.
asserted
defenses → ripple → drives
And when the Raiders turn to the pass, another limitation becomes impossible to ignore.
asserted
limitation → turn → pass
Who else consistently scares anybody?
asserted
Who → scar → anybody
Tre Tucker can stretch the field.
asserted
Tucker → stretch → field
Michael Mayer can contribute.
asserted
Mayer → contribute → ?
The other receivers have roles.
asserted
receivers → have → roles
The Raiders need an outside receiver who changes how defenses line up.
asserted
defenses → need → receiver
Someone who beats good coverage, creates something when a play breaks down and makes opponents reconsider how much attention they can devote to Bowers.
asserted
they → beat → Bowers
It is why, if the Raiders were not involved in pursuing Marvin Harrison Jr., they should have been.
asserted
they → involve → Jr.
…and 32 more, not listed.
The Aporia
