After getting smacked down by the Kansas City Chiefs last weekend, the Oakland Raiders were looking to get right against a struggling Jacksonville Jaguars team. And after what was hands down their worst performance of the season, the Raiders turned in one of their more solid performances of the year and had their first win that didn’t require scheduling an appointment with your heart doctor.

MVP – Michael Crabtree

Last week it was Amari Cooper, this week it’s Michael Crabtree who finished the game with 8 catches for 96 yards and a touchdown. The Raiders were able to get out to a lead in this game thanks in large part to Crabtree who had a big first half for the Raiders. Overall, it was not a very pretty game and was won mostly through team play, but Crabtree’s performance helped force Jacksonville to play catchup all day long.

LVP – Run Defense

There wasn’t any one particular player in this game who struggled more than anyone else. Bruce Irvin continued to struggle in run defense but he also forced a fumble. Malcolm Smith might have had the worst game but his boneheaded personal foul was negated by an offensive penalty and the touchdown where he should have had the interception came when the game was all but over.

When watching the game, it was the failure to stop the run and the fact that they allowed a number of big plays in the run game that was the most frustrating part of this Raiders team. It goes to show that this defense is still a work in progress.

Key Stat – 3 to 0

The Raiders won the turnover battle and it was a major reason why they won this game. The defense played better against a bad offense but was far from impressive. They still gave up over 100 yards and would not have looked so hot if they were playing against a better team. Turnovers are a major part of the reason the Raiders have done as well as they have this season and it appears they will need to continue forcing turnovers if they want to keep winning.

Tweet of the Day

I wouldn’t say that the Raiders did what Chase called for but at least this game never got THAT close.

What this Win Means

That the Raiders aren’t going to tuck it in after a bad loss. This is a game that they were supposed to win and supposed to win comfortably. No, it was not a game where the Raiders looked great, but it also wasn’t a game where you felt overly concerned that they were going to lose. Oakland is now 5=2 on the year and still very much in playoff contention.

Up Next

Oakland Raiders at Tampa Bay Buccaneers

October 30, 2016 10:00 a.m. PST

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