Grading the Raiders’ Week 5 loss to the Ravens

How the team performed in a 30-17 loss to Baltimore:

Offense: D

EJ Manuel (13 of 26 for 159 yards with a touchdown) had his moments in place of injured quarterback Derek Carr, but how in the world is wide receiver Amari Cooper only targeted twice and finish with just one catch for 8 yards? Cooper has had his issues with drops, but that doesn’t mean he should ever play this insignificant a role. The run game (25 carries, 108 yards) showed flashes, but might have been limited by the Raiders playing catch-up all day. Production was found via wideout Michael Crabtree (eight targets, six catches, 82 yards, TD), but tight end Jared Cook had his fumble returned for a score and the Raiders totaled just 245 yards.

Defense: D

The injuries at cornerback have reached the point of being silly, with Antonio Hamilton now lost with a serious knee injury. Starting linebacker Marquel Lee (ankle) also hobbled off and the defensive front was anything but stout, allowing 143 yards rushing and not recording a sack against Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco. When four of the five scoring drives you allow are for 70 or more yards, and Mike Wallace catches three balls for a whopping 133 yards, you didn’t get the other guys off the field nearly well enough.

Special teams: C-minus

Giorgio Tavecchio (32-yard field goal, 2-for-2 on extra points) remains perfect on the season as the team’s new placekicker, but when the Raiders needed a fourth-quarter punt from Marquette King to be downed inside the 20 more than anything, it advanced into the end zone for a touchback. Keith McGill II came within inches of blocking a Baltimore punt and swinging momentum to the Raiders, but missed.

Coaching: F

Jack Del Rio chose to punt instead of going for it on fourth-and-3 at the Baltimore 44 and his team trailing by 10 with 8:50 left. Bad decision. Also, while the feel and rhythm of every game is different and situations dictate calls, the inability for coaches to involve Cooper more is perplexing. The Raiders are every bit a 2-3 team now, and that reality begins with those making such decisions. The Raiders weren’t ready to play, no matter how long Del Rio purposefully paused at such an insinuation afterward. He did so for 13 seconds, by the way.

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