Maybe this was something we should have seen coming, but the Raiders are once again among the worst in the league at pressuring the quarterback.
After four games, only the Eagles (3) have fewer sacks than the Raiders (5), who haven’t recorded a sack in either of the last two games. In those games, opposing quarterbacks threw 67 times without being sacked.
The Raiders were blown out in week 3 by the Vikings as Kirk Cousins was able to play conservative for most of the game, but on Sunday the Raiders led the entire game and still couldn’t get to the pass-happy Jacoby Brissett on 46 pass attempts (a few more if you consider scrambles).
Unfortunately, this looks like an issue destined to haunt the Raiders all year. Benson Mayowa is the team sack leader with 3.5, but for some reason his snap counts have been reduced each week and he wasn’t even active against the Colts. Rookie Maxx Crosby played well in his place, but the Raiders could have used another pass rusher down the stretch.
For whatever reason, Mayowa has played only 56 snaps all year, compared to 218 for Clelin Ferrell. Making matters worse, Ferrell and second-year edge rusher Arden Key have been inconsistent as pass rushers – and that’s being nice. Both were being counted on to carry some of the void left by Khalil Mack, but they’ve been virtually invisible as pass rushers. If anyone has been exceeding expectations along the defensive line, it’s been Crosby and second-year defensive tackle P.J. Hall, who some thought might not even make the team this year.
The Raiders were fortunate on Sunday that Colt receivers couldn’t catch (and T.Y. Hilton wasn’t playing), but against against better offenses the Raiders will be in big trouble without a pass rush. It was good to celebrate a win this week, but if the Raiders can’t find ways to get to the quarterback, it’s going to be another long year for Jon Gruden.
twitter: @raidersbeat
