3 Takeaways from Raiders' Week 4 Win vs. Broncos
The Las Vegas Raiders picked up their first win of the season on Sunday, notching a huge 32-23 victory over the rival Denver Broncos.
Las Vegas had been, arguably, the NFL's biggest disappointment through the first three weeks of 2022. A playoff team last season, it added star wideout Davante Adams and standout pass-rusher Chandler Jones in the offseason.
However, the Raiders failed to put together complete games against the Los Angeles Chargers, Arizona Cardinals and Tennessee Titans. Against Denver, though, we saw exactly what this team can be.
Las Vegas dominated on the ground (212 total yards), got solid play from quarterback Derek Carr and did enough defensively to offset Broncos quarterback Russell Wilson, who had his best outing yet as Denver's signal-caller.
The result was a nine-point victory and proof that Las Vegas can get right back in the playoff mix. Here's what else we learned in the win over the Broncos.
Running the Ball Is a Good Idea
Las Vegas got a relatively clean game from quarterback Derek Carr, who finished 21-of-34 for 188 yards, no touchdowns and no interceptions. The lack of mistakes was huge, but so was the Raiders' running game.
Josh Jacobs racked up 144 yards and two touchdowns on the ground. Carr chipped in 40 rushing yards, while rookie Zamir White carried three times for 24 yards. In all, the Raiders logged 38 carries and averaged 5.6 yards per rush.
This was big because it helped keep Wilson and the Broncos offense off of the field. The quarterback (two passing TDs, one rushing score) played like the star signal-caller we saw with the Seattle Seahawks. However, his opportunities were limited, as Las Vegas held the ball for just under 35 minutes of game clock.
This was a departure from what we saw over the first three weeks, as the Raiders lean heavily on their passing game. Las Vegas didn't hit 100 yards rushing over the first three games and still ranks just 23rd in rushing attempts.
However, Sunday's game proved good things can happen if coach Josh McDaniels is willing to commit to the run.
Derek Carr's Chemistry with Davante Adams Is Just Fine
Raiders fans may have been worried about the connection between Carr and Adams coming into this game. The prolific receiver wasn't heavily utilized in Weeks 2 and 3 (48 combined receiving yards), though he did find the end zone in each contest.
ESPN's Dan Orlovsky made a little noise when he suggested the quarterback wasn't targeting Adams on purpose.
"The defense always tells you where to throw the ball," Orlovsky said on NFL Live (h/t Heavy's Austin Boyd). "The tape tells me ... Derek Carr is purposefully not throwing the ball to Davante Adams."
Given Adams' lack of yard production, Orlovsky's take didn't seem that outlandish.
Against Denver, though, Carr went to the former Green Bay Packers star early and often, mirroring his strategy in Week 1. The receiver finished that game with 10 receptions and finished Sunday's game with nine catches and 101 yards.
Las Vegas needs to find ways to consistently keep Adams involved, but it's obvious that when Carr wants to lean on the five-time Pro Bowler, he can.
Pass Rush Could Still Use a Boost
The win over Denver was impressive, but it wasn't flawless. The Raiders can still find ways to improve, and they need to on the defensive side of the ball.
A pass rush that logged only 35 sacks last season is still a work-in-progress.
On the positive side, Maxx Crosby was all over the place in Sunday's win. He kept pressure on Wilson and finished with two sacks. On the negative side, he continues to be a one-man show as a pass-rusher.
Las Vegas notched a third sack on Sunday, but it came from cornerback Nate Hobbs. Chandler Jones, who was supposed to boost the pass rush significantly, finished his fourth game this season without a sack.
While the 32-year-old has provided six quarterback pressures, according to Pro Football Reference, he has failed to notch a quarterback takedown this year. Crosby has logged four of Las Vegas' five sacks in 2022.
Sacks don't always tell the whole story, and Jones is providing pressure. However, Las Vegas could really use a reliable third option in the pass-rushing rotation. This is something the Raiders will have to heavily consider heading into next month's trade deadline.