NFL

Raiders Take a Beating in Season Opener

Carr knocked from game early as Del Rio's debut as head coach ends with 33-13 loss to visiting Cincinnati Bengals

Sunday began a new season with a new head coach, new personnel and fresh hopes for the Oakland Raiders.

By midafternoon, those hopes were trampled and buried in the dirt of O.co Coliseum. By halftime, Raiders fans were booing their team as it headed to the locker room down 24-0. It was the Raiders’ largest halftime deficit in a season opener since 1998.

Oakland was down 33-0 to the Cincinnati Bengals by the end of the third quarter. The end result was ugly, a 33-13 loss.

New season, same old Raiders.

A team that hasn’t had a winning season since 2002 was coming off an offseason filled with moves that sparked optimism. Yet less than one game in, some fans already were holding general manager Reggie McKenzie responsible.

Tweeted one, late in the third quarter:  “This is a total humiliation! Absolutely embarrassing! McKenzie should be fired. That’s right … Fired!!”

For the Raiders, nothing went right. Starting quarterback Derek Carr was knocked out of the game with a hand injury early. Starting safety Nate Allen also suffered a knee injury. Star rookie wideout Amari Cooper was mugged by Bengals cornerback Adam Jones, who slammed Cooper’s head to the turf after he already was down. Oakland defenders missed tackles and flubbed coverages. Cornerback DJ Hayden was picked apart by Bengals quarterback Andy Dalton.

And the Raiders – who talked during the offseason of establishing a more powerful ground game – gave the ball to running back Latavius Murray just twice in their first three possessions.

Tweeted Bill Williamson, who covers the Raiders for the San Francisco Chronicle: “Raiders being completely hammered as if nothing has changed.” Wrote Damon Bruce of 95.7 The Game, as the game clock ticked down in the fourth quarter: “The #Raiders look as bad today as they did any day under Dennis Allen. They should be absolutely ashamed of themselves.”

The Raiders avoided the shutout with two late touchdown passes from Matt McGloin to Marcel Reece of 11 and 9 yards. McGloin finished 23-of-31 for 142 yards, two TDs and one interception in relief of Carr, who was just 7-of-12 for 61 yards.

In his NFL debut, Cooper caught five passes for a team-leading 47 yards. Newly signed pass rusher Aldon Smith was in on two tackles and had a pressure of Dalton.

But for the Raiders, Game 1 of this season was pure disappointment. Fifteen games remain. This team has time to improve. But based on Game 1 results, optimism will be in short supply this week among Raiders fans.

Whether Carr will be able to return for next Sunday’s game against the Ravens – who lost to the Broncos in their opener Sunday – is unknown.

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