Grading the Raiders in Sunday’s loss to the LA Chargers

How the team performed in a 17-16 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers:

Offense D*

The Raiders scored only 16 points against a Chargers’ defense that ranked 24th in the NFL. Derek Carr was adequate in his return but was intercepted twice. Marshawn Lynch churned as he usually does, for 63 yards on 13 carries. Michael Crabtree caught six passes for pedestrian yards. Amari Cooper caught five passes for pedestrian yards but at least he didn’t drop any this week. In fact, Cooper made a couple of fine catches, including a 27-yarder from Carr that was erased by a penalty. This also explains the asterisk on the ‘D’ grade: Every time the Raiders showed some offensive continuity, it seemed they were whistled for a dubious infraction.

Defense C

The Raiders turned away the Chargers twice on the semi-doorstep early. QB Phillip Rivers completed 25 of 36 passes for 268 yards and was not intercepted by a Raiders defense that has not intercepted a pass this season after intercepting a bunch in 2016 — last year the Oakland defense was second in the NFL with 30 takeaways. Takeaways can be crucial in a game that comes down to a field goal on the last play.

Special teams C-

Marquette King punted four times for a 56.5 average and a net average of 55 yards and booted one into the stratosphere early in the second quarter that went 59 yards before checking up inside the Chargers’ 10-yard line. But Giorgio Tavecchio, 8 for 8 on field goals and 12 for 12 on extra points before Sunday, missed wide left following the Raiders’ last touchdown which proved decisive, or at least changed the way Rivers and the Chargers approached their final possession.

Coaching C-

Quarterback Carr said he has total confidence in the Raiders’ scheme, and the hosts even executed a hook-and-ladder play on their final possession — that gained 4 yards. Gadget plays like that are drawn up to gain much more. When the trickeration came up short, the Raiders were forced to punt, allowing Rivers time to guide the Chargers down the field for the winning field goal.