Raiders’ coaching staff would probably like to have two play calls back following 30-27 loss to the Chiefs
Sunday’s game against the Chiefs was arguably the most anticipated regular season game in Allegiant Stadium history, and the despite the outcome, the game did not disappoint.
The Raiders fell to 3-1 with Sunday’s loss but proved to the rest of the league that they are no longer one of the NFL’s bottom-feeder teams.
First year head coach Klint Kubiak has turned the Raiders into one of the most disciplined teams in the league, and improvement over a year ago has been evident on both sides of the ball.
Nevertheless, there were a couple of calls on Sunday afternoon that Kubiak and defensive coordinator Rob Leonard would probably like to have back.
Kubiak said he didn’t regret taking 3 points off the board in the third quarter
“I took three points off the board, and we were going to be aggressive going into the game,” Kubiak told reporters after the game. “I don’t regret it. I regret not getting it.”
The players love Kubiak’s approach, but there are times where coaches can show confidence in the team by keeping points on the scoreboard and giving the team opportunities to win the game later.
By erasing the field goal and going for fourth down, it was a show of respect for Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City offense as much as anything.
Kubiak would probably make the same call again, but there’s no question it ended up being the wrong decision on Sunday.
Blitzing Patrick Mahomes proved to be a dangerous game
Rob Leondard deserves a lot of credit for what he has done with the Raiders’ defense in the first month of the season, but his aggression against the Chiefs did not pay off on three Cover 0 play calls – and especially on the 55-yard strike to Tyquan Thornton in the fourth quarter.
Former head coach Antonio Pierce frustrated Mahomes two years ago by keeping him in the pocket with a four-man rush.
In hindsight, it would have been interesting to see how that approach would have played out a few more times on Sunday.
Raiders are committed to being aggressive
It might not have worked this week, but the message is being sent this year by the Raiders’ coaching staff that they aren’t going to back down from making aggressive decisions.
Whether it worked or not this week, that’s the identity of the team, and players want to play for a coach that believes in them.
Sunday is in the books and it’s on to New England in week 5 to face the Patriots…
x: @raidersbeat
Completely agree on 1st point. 2nd point I mainly do, but I think you still have to go cover 0 at times. Spags does it lots