ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. – The Raiders offense erupted last week against a good Kansas City. It put up 31 points, averaged seven yards per play and ran 71 official snaps.
Good day at the office. Tape suggested the performance could be cloned, that a talent-laden unit realize vast potential.
Nope. They regressed right back to previous form, scuffling through a 34-14 whooping by the Buffalo Bills.
Well, after the first drive anyway.
The opening series covered 81 yards in 13 plays, with two passes over 20 yards. Jamize Olawale hammered it home from a yard out. All was right in the Raiders' world.
Then everything went wrong. They piled up 367 yards but few points thanks to a DeAndre Washington fumble returned for a touchdown and two Derek Carr interceptions.
He has six on the season, equaling last year's sum, and the offense has lost possession 10 times already.
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Turnovers weren't the only problem. The Raiders seemed content checking down, playing it safe despite being down multiple scores. They took what was given and tried to play fast.
The Bills slowed the attack exactly as others have, by taking away the big play. Forcing the Raiders to dink and dunk downfield has worked wonders, with inconsistency killing drives at a heavy clip.
The Chargers did that successfully. So did Washington. Denver was typically stingy in its own way.
The Raiders seemed to let it rip against Kansas City, with Carr throwing people open or allowing playmakers to win the ball downfield.
Whether it's play calling or quarterback decision, the Raiders didn't push it much in a game the Raiders needed to win.
"Nobody was saying, ‘Don't take a shot," head coach Jack Del Rio said. "I feel like, you know, don't have four turnovers. I think it would probably look a little better."
Carr says the deep option is always there. Sometimes it's smart not to take it.
"In my mindset, the way I play is that I'm looking vertical. I'm looking for the big one," Carr said. "I've trying to take it, and if it's not there I have to get it out quick and let our guys run with it and go get what we can."
The Raiders aren't getting enough. They're averaging 13.4 points in five losses. The Raiders can't win when the offense struggles. They don't have the defense for that. That was understood this offseason.
The offense hasn't done enough to remain explosive, especially when teams protect against the big play.
"You have to aggressively take what they give you, which is at times frustrating when you're trailing," Carr said. "You want to get your chunk throws and things like that. We're on the sidelines seeing what they're doing and still putting our team in a good position."
