After one game, it appears NaVorro Bowman is going to make a big impact on the Raiders.
The veteran inside linebacker started for Oakland Thursday night in its 31-30 victory over the Kansas City Chiefs after signing with the team just 72 hours earlier. He played 60 of 62 snaps, had a team-high 11 tackles (which included one for a loss) and a quarterback hit and provided leadership and smarts to a unit that has been searching for a middle linebacker for several seasons.
Said Raiders head coach Jack Del Rio after the victory: “I just absolutely love the football player in him. He’s a hunting dog. He loves to play. He brought experience during the week. He was a settling influence, kind of a determined influence on the sideline. I thought he did a remarkable job. Really happy to have him and glad that he stepped in and did such a nice job.”
The analytic website Pro Football Focus graded Bowman’s performance as one of the five best in the Raiders’ victory that broke a four-game losing streak.
Bowman, once a mainstay on a strong 49ers team that went to the Super Bowl but was 0-6 with Bowman in 2017, says he’s excited to be a part of something new.
“I’m hungry for wins, man,” he told Matt Kawahara of the San Francisco Chronicle after the victory over K.C. “This is my first one this year.”
Bowman says he wants to take a leadership role on this team, and told quarterback Derek Carr, “Man, you handle the ‘O’ and I’m going to get this defense right.”
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Kawahara pointed out that Bowman at times had trouble in pass coverage, especially on a 10-yard touchdown pass to Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce in the first quarter. But late in the game the Raiders’ defense held on a couple of crucial drives and got the ball back to Carr for what turned out to be the game-winning drive.
Bowman told the media the defense “fixed what we needed to fix” and got stronger.
Now, as the 3-4 Raiders prepare to go on the road to Buffalo this Sunday to take on the 4-2 Bills, Bowman will get a full week of practice in with his new team. Carr, for one, believes Bowman will be a big factor in this Sunday’s game, and beyond.
“He’s just on a mission to dominate,” Carr told Paul Gutierrez of ESPN.com. “As a young player watching him, it’s very encouraging and it helps me. What determination. The vibe off him, you can feel it. It’s definitely nice having him on our team.”
Sunday’s game is set for a 10 a.m. kickoff in the Bay Area.
