This past week, Raiders head coach Jack Del Rio said he knew his team faced a tough task to travel across country to win its third straight game.
“We have to do it the right way, manage it,” he said. “Take care of business. It’s a business trip. Be excited to show up Sunday night full of energy.”
Unfortunately for the Raiders, that didn’t happen. After starting 2017 with two victories, Oakland fell at Washington 27-10. They didn’t take care of business.
Then again, it was a strange day for the Raiders and every other team across the NFL, as football seemed to take a backseat to politics. There was as much focus on what teams and players would do for the national anthem as what they would do on the field.
After President Trump on Friday said players who kneel for the national anthem should be fired, players across the NFL showed solidarity during the anthem, and the Raiders perhaps had more players kneeling or sitting during the anthem than any other team. And, owner Mark Davis – who stood with his team on the sideline with his hand over his heart – released a statement in support of Raiders’ players right to protest.
So, perhaps it was the distraction. Or, maybe it was that 3,000-mile trip. Whatever it was, the Raiders came out flat. By halftime, they trailed 14-0, on two Kirk Cousins touchdown passes. By the time the Raiders finally scored – on a 21-yard pass from Derek Carr to Jared Cook in the third quarter – they were down 21-0.
Carr – who hadn’t thrown an interception over the first two games – was picked off on Oakland’s first possession, setting up Washington’s first TD. Carr was picked off again, just before halftime, to set up Washington’s second score.
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Carr, who came in with a passer rating of 126.5 – the third best in the NFL – had an abysmal game, completing 19-of-31 passes for just 118 yards. The running game, too, which had been dominant, disappeared. Marshawn Lynch carried six times for a team-leading 18 yards.
The Raiders, now 2-1, will try to get back on the winning track next Sunday in Denver vs. the Broncos.
